How to Plan Two Days in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is my favorite national park in the United States. The immediacy of this one may have something to do with it.

Looking up at those glaciers, many of which take quite a bit of effort to see, you just know that this place will look different on your next visit and the visit after that.

Climate change is real, and the evidence is in our retreating glaciers.

If you only have two days in Glacier National Park, that’s enough time to introduce yourself to some of the best vistas and a long hike or two. You’ll want to come back, but that’s something you’ll contend with no matter how much time you give this one.

How Many Days You Need in Glacier National Park

You need at least two days at Glacier National Park to fit in the scenic stops along the Going-to-the-Sun Road and a good day hike or two.

Three days in the park are even better, but don’t let me talk you out of a visit if you’re limited on time. If you only have one day, you may be limited to some of the more accessible spots along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Fun fact: The Going-to-the-Sun Road, a highlight for first-time visitors, typically doesn’t open until mid-June. Otherwise, you may be snowed out and forced to do more off-the-beaten path kind of things, which could be fine depending on the type of visit you’re planning.

You’ll just need to set aside some time to think about plans for a return trip.

When to Visit Glacier National Park

The best time to visit Glacier National Park is during the summer months from mid-June through about mid-September. You’ll have access to all of the park’s amenities and won’t be affected by any potential road closures.

If you’re OK with inclement weather and are a flexible human who doesn’t need park services, mid-September through the beginning of October is leaf-peeping season.

How to Get to Glacier National Park

To access Glacier National Park, the most convenient airport to fly into is Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, but you may have trouble finding decent flights there.

Here are a few more options:

• The airports in Missoula and Great Falls are between 130 and 165 miles from the park, depending on the entrance you’re targeting.
• If you like long-distance train travel, Amtrak has 15 different rail packages that include the park.
• We were on a road trip, so driving from Bozeman to Glacier National Park was the leg that brought us to the park. If you’re able and have the time, it’s reasonable to plan the double whammy of Glacier and Yellowstone National Park in one trip.

READ MORE: Love the sound of that last idea? Use this guide to help you find accommodations at Yellowstone.

Getting Around Glacier National Park

To get around Glacier National Park, you’ll need a car. A self-drive tour offers the most flexibility for you. Even when we went in the peak of summer, we didn’t have issues with traffic throughout the park.

We started each morning early, though. The later a start you get each morning, the more likely it is that you’ll encounter some crowds and parking hassles at the main tourist spots.

If you’re unable or not interested in renting a car, there is a complimentary shuttle along the Going-to-the-Sun Road between the Apgar and Saint Mary visitor centers.

Keep in mind that depending on where you’re going or being picked up from, you may have to wait between 30 minutes to an hour for your shuttle.

The fee to enter the park is $35/vehicle or $20/person if you’re on foot. If you’re on a road trip that involves a few of the country’s incredible parks, I’d recommend buying the annual America the Beautiful pass. We’ve saved so much money that way.

Day 1: Glacier National Park

If you only have one day in Glacier National Park, you’ll likely be focused on what you can see off the main tourist drag, the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It’s a 50-mile, two-lane highway that cuts the park from the east to the west entrance, and the reverse.

The park service has been working to reduce congestion along this scenic road by requiring visitors to book vehicle reservations ahead of their trips.

If you’re visiting in the summer months, check the NPS website to determine whether you need to make reservations to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Reservations must be made in advance, not the day of your travel.

Any reservation fees are on top of your park fees, but trust me: It’s worth it.

Once you’re on this spectacular drive, take advantage of any pullout that speaks to you as you navigate this photogenic corner of the world.

This day will be focused on what you can see along that stretch of some of the best scenery you’ll find in the United States.

I’d highly suggest that rather than seeking out a sit-down breakfast before you head out for the day, you grab some snacks the day prior from one of the local grocery stores. Getting out there early will allow you to beat the crowds who didn’t follow that advice.

In fact, it’s best to stock up on some food that’ll do for a picnic lunch, too. Do you really want to compete with all of the tourists come lunchtime at the scattered food options in the park? The answer is no, you do not.

Stop 1: Lake McDonald

The views along the Going-to-the-Sun Road are good whether you’re traveling from west to east or in the opposite direction. This Glacier National Park itinerary assumes you’re starting from the west and the West Glacier entrance and ending in Saint Mary.

If you’re coming from the east, just reverse the stops and have yourself a wonderful time.

Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park at 10 miles long, brought to us courtesy of glacial carving. I’d recommend at least a visit to its shores before hitting the road.

If you’re traveling with swimmers, lake access points from Apgar Village on the southwest shore will have the best options for swimming in Glacier.

It’s also a hub for boat tours from the Lake McDonald Lodge and rowboat, kayak, and motorboat rentals.

READ MORE: Love that lake life? Check out my guide to Lake Oconee, a jewel of a spot in Georgia.

Stop 2: Trail of the Cedars/Avalanche Lake

The Trail of the Cedars is an easy nature trail that loops for a mile. It’s wheelchair-accessible, with a paved path and a good view of the cedars that make this region home.

If you have the time, though, you should tack on the hike to Avalanche Lake, a 4.5-mile round-trip hike to a view you won’t get anywhere else. You’ll start at the same spot as the Trail of the Cedars.

Avalanche Lake is one of the most popular hikes in the park, and the scenery here is spectacular. Expect waterfalls coming down the mountainsides into the basin with the landscape reflected in the water.

Note: About midway through, you’ll see a spur trail that looks like you’re not welcome to explore, but I promise that you are. If you head down the spur, you’ll be able to see an overlook of the kinds of avalanches this trail is so aptly named after. The evidence you’ll see here is from an avalanche in 2011.

This isn’t the highlight of this hike, though. Keep going until you reach Avalanche Lake, the postcard-perfect scene that makes the hike worth the effort.

There’s also a nice beach if you keep walking around to the head of the lake, but you’ll have to cross a creek to get there. It’s much less intimidating than it sounds.

Stop 3: Big Bend

As you continue driving along the Going-to-the-Sun Road toward Logan Pass, you’ll pass what’s known as the Weeping Wall. Enjoy the car wash!

You won’t be stopping there, but I would recommend a stop at the next pullout, a spot known as Big Bend.

You’ll be able to catch a vista of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Oberlin and Cannon Mountain. Take a few minutes to enjoy the view.

Stop 4: Logan Pass

Ideally, you’ve made it to Logan Pass before lunchtime. As the highest elevation point reachable by car in the park, it’s super popular with visitors. The parking lot does get intense if you arrive after about 11am.

Those who slept in will be treated to passive-aggressive parking strategies. You know the ones. It’s vehicles creeping behind you and cars playing chicken to snag a spot, no matter who got there first.

It’s all worth it, though. If you’re not hiking, make sure you check out the Logan Pass Visitor Center and the surrounding wildflower beds.

If you are hiking, two fantastic hikes start here.

The Hidden Lake Overlook trail is just under three miles from start to finish. If you want to live life aggressively, there is an opportunity to head all the way down to the lake on the Hidden Lake trail.

Even if you just hike to the overlook, this trail is a great place for some bighorn sheep and mountain goat spotting, animals I prefer to grizzly bears.

You could also catch some marmots, which are basically chunky ground squirrels. They’re also a preferred sighting to grizzly bears.

The Highline Trail is nearly 11.5 miles of some of the best scenery in the park, with wildflowers, streams, and views of the surrounding mountainside.

Despite the length, it’s one of the most popular hiking trails in the park and a good way to access the Granite Park Chalet. Expect all kinds of wildlife no matter what you decide, including mountain goats!

Stop 5: Jackson Glacier Overlook

This is a quick pullout stop to check out Jackson Glacier, the seventh-largest glacier in Glacier National Park. That may not sound that impressive, but the views here are.

Stop 6: Sunrift Gorge/Baring Falls

At Sunrift Gorge, a short walk will take you to a beautiful gorge, carved out by water cutting through a break in the surrounding rocks. It’s quite lovely.

If you’re interested in a little leg-stretcher here, consider the Baring Falls trail that starts here. It’s only 0.8 miles round-trip, so what do you have to lose?

At the end, you’ll be treated to a view of Baring Falls, a waterfall that drops about 25 feet and flows into Saint Mary Lake. There’s a small ledge you can climb to get closer to the falls, but do be careful if you head out there. Things get slippery when water is involved.

Stop 7: Sun Point

This is a popular stop along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Luckily, the parking lot is quite large. The views from here are gorgeous, but it’s also a historic location.

Fun fact: This is where the Going-to-the-Sun Chalets, demolished in the 1940s, once stood.

If you’d like to walk to the actual Sun Point, it’s nearly two miles round-trip on an easy nature walk. You’ll get a better view of Saint Mary Lake and the surrounding peaks.

Stop 8: Wild Goose Island Lookout

Wild Goose Island is one of the most well-known photo spots in Glacier National Park. This is a classic Glacier vista and an exercise in perspective. The island you’re looking at is dwarfed by the surrounding peaks.

Stop 9: Saint Mary

We stayed at St. Mary Village for our trip to Glacier, which I’d recommend. You don’t have to stay in Saint Mary tonight, but it’s convenient and budget-friendly.

For dinner, there are two options near the lodges and the Saint Mary Visitor Center: the Snowgoose Grille and the Curly Bear Café. They’re both fine.

Look, you’re not here for a culinary escape. You’re here for the scenery and that’s what you’ll get. Both eateries are only open from June through September.

Day 2: Glacier National Park

You have an idea now of what makes the park so special, but you won’t really know until you get off the main tourist trail and hit the real trails. Set a day aside to tackle one of the park’s spectacular hikes.

Stop 1: Grinnell Glacier

If you only have time for one long hike, I highly suggest the Grinnell Glacier Hike (7.6-11.3 miles), the highlight of our trip. You get up close to the spectacular Grinnell Glacier.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, there’s just something magical about getting that close to a glacier. Knowing that the glaciers are expected to melt at some point this century — the timing changes depending on who you ask — makes this day hike even more powerful.

The Grinnell Glacier hike is just over 7.5 miles round-trip if you take the two available shuttle boats across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine.

Ideally, book one of the first boats over so you’re starting your hike in the morning. Book well in advance during high season with the Glacier Park Boat Company. Some of the tours include a scenic tour and an optional hike.

Once you’re back on land, you can hike with the group or move ahead if they’re too slow for your pace. There’s no requirement to hike with the group, no matter the ticket type, and you can return on any of the boats throughout the day.

If you’d prefer to hike the full trail, it’s over 11 miles round-trip. The official Grinnell Glacier trailhead starts in the parking lot at the Many Glacier Hotel, making this one of the best hikes in Many Glacier. (This is essentially “east Glacier,” too.)

The hike is rated as difficult, but as someone who describes herself as “relatively” fit, it’s very doable. The most challenging things you’ll contend with are the trail length, the elevation gains, and the sections where you’re faced with steep drop-offs.

Note: Make sure you’re making all kinds of noise around those corners, too. This is grizzly country. We saw all kinds of bear scat on the trail, but luckily, no bears.

The time you’ll need to budget for this one and the energy you exert will be a small price to pay for what you’ll find along the trail. Expect lake views, waterfalls, alpine meadows, wildflowers, and the Grinnell Glacier overlook.

The glacier itself is massive, and despite the popularity of this trail, the length of it spreads out the foot traffic. You’ll then likely only encounter a small group of hikers once you get there.

Spend some time taking it all in because no one really knows how long we’ll have at these scenic spots.

Stop 2: Many Glacier Hotel

If you take my advice and hit the Grinnell Glacier trail, you’ll be returning to the historic Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel in Glacier National Park.

It’s within the region of the park nicknamed the Switzerland of North America, and one of the best things to see in the park.

You’re not here to take a nap unless you’ve booked a room. In that case, moneybags, go for it.

You are here to relax after an aggressive start to the day. It’s likely mid-afternoon at this point, so you’ll need to rehydrate. By that, I mean both a tall glass of water and some cocktails.

Keep in mind that most amenities are only open in-season, which is typically from June through September.

If you’re hungry, you have options for a late lunch at this point, too. The more casual option for burgers, bison chili, and healthy pours of wine is the Swiss Lounge. The Ptarmigan Dining Room is the pricier option, but they say casual gear is welcome.

Stop 3: Fishercap Lake

Just about a mile west of the Many Glacier Hotel, you’ll find the Swiftcurrent Trailhead and associated parking lot. From here, you’ll set out for your 14-mile hike up the Swiftcurrent Pass.

Just kidding. It’s a real trail, and I’m sure it’s awesome, but please don’t start a day hike in the waning light.

You’re taking a short walk from the trailhead down to Fishercap Lake. It’s a great place for potential moose spotting. They like to swim in the lake, which is as adorable as it sounds.

Stop 4: St. Mary Village

That was an active day, right?

We stayed at St. Mary Village for both nights near the park. If you’re doing the same and want to explore more on the food front, perhaps you’re craving pizza by this point.

We tried Rising Sun Pizza one night. It was fine. It’s pizza. Seriously, you’re not here for the food.

Check ahead if you’re traveling outside of June through September, as they may have limited hours by then.

More Things to Do in Glacier National Park

If you’re lucky enough to have three days in Glacier National Park, spend your third day in the Two Medicine region, about 30 miles south of Saint Mary.

Much like the rest of the park, Two Medicine is best experienced on your feet. Hike to Upper Medicine Lake, a 10-mile round-trip trek with minimal elevation, or challenge yourself with eight miles and 2,300 feet of elevation gain to Scenic Point.

If you’re looking to get a little more up close and personal with Two Medicine Lake, consider a boat tour instead. Book your reservations in advance, and pay attention to what you’re booking. Some of the tours also include guided walks to Twin Falls.

If you’re interested in checking out Twin Falls, it’s just under two miles round-trip from the South Shore Trailhead. That’s where you’ll be dropped off on the Two Medicine Lake Boat tour.

If you’re lucky enough to have even more time in and around Glacier, here are a few extra ideas:

• Did you bring your passport? Head over the border into Canada to explore Waterton Lakes National Park and the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
• Explore more waterfalls of Glacier National Park. Start with Apikuni Falls. Connect with the trail at the Poia Lake Trailhead in Many Glacier.
• Go stargazing. The night skies in the park are divine. Put the smartphones away and set some time aside to see what you can find just above.
• Make the trip to Bowman Lake. We didn’t have the right vehicle for this one, but if you’re prepared for six miles of unpaved road, the backcountry awaits.
• Extend your national park trip. Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are both doable if you have more time for a national park road trip.

Wildlife at Glacier National Park

Wildlife you can expect to see in Glacier National Park includes moose, bighorn sheep, elk, deer, coyotes, and bears, among many other smaller critters.

Yes, there are bears in the park. Glacier is home to both grizzly bears and black bears.

The National Park Service recommends at least 100 yards (or 300 feet) between you and any bears and to generally avoid any intentional bear-spotting.

They also recommend hiking in groups, making noise around corners while out on the trail, and just being aware of what’s going on around you.

Bear spray is also recommended. We didn’t carry any, as we figured if you need to be that close to a bear for it to be effective, you’re doing it wrong, but we were also on the more populated trails.

For more bear safety tips, check out the park service’s bear safety guide.

Where to Stay in Glacier National Park

If you’re a camper, I applaud you. There are a few first-come, first-served campgrounds near the park, but if you’re here in high season, make camping reservations. They’re more accessible to what you’d want to see in the park, especially as a first-time visitor.

For conventional accommodations, it’s more economical to stay just outside of the park. That said, Glacier National Park does offer a few options within its borders:

• Lake McDonald Lodge
• Many Glacier Hotel
• The Village Inn at Apgar

You’ll need to book those through the national park websites I link to above. Do so well in advance if you’re traveling during the high season.

We stayed at St. Mary Village for two nights during our trip because The Garrison Inn was all booked up. We didn’t mind the alternative. Access to the park was still great.

We also stayed at the Hampton Inn for a night toward the end of our trip. I’d recommend it as a clean, budget-friendly option for travelers looking to access the Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell.

Check out additional highly-rated properties using the map below:

Glacier National Park is worth the effort.

Glacier National Park is worth visiting if only to see some of the most accessible glaciers in the United States. It’s also one of the best parks for wildlife spotting and day hikes through pristine wilderness.

On a two-day Glacier National Park itinerary, you can see quite a bit of this impressive place. You’ll just need to be OK with the fact that you’ll want to make a return trip at some point.

We’ve seen dozens of national parks at this point, and Glacier remains at the top of our list for a reason. This park is spectacular.

Love national parks? Check out these guides:

• Accommodations Guide for a Yosemite National Park Trip
• Jackson Hole to Yellowstone: Plan Your Trip
• Crater Lake National Park Hikes & More
• An Itinerary for North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt
• Take a Trip to Magical Badlands National Park

I’m not done yet. Here are a few more ideas for long road trips:

• Use This Guide for San Francisco to Los Angeles
• How to Plan an Incredible Oregon Road Trip
• Visit Five of Utah’s Impressive National Parks
• Love Weird Trips? Visit the Extraterrestrial Highway
• How to Plan a Drive Through the American South

Want to see more?