Stay where you want to hike
Glacier looks manageable on a map, but traffic, entrance lines and difficult parking can turn a short-looking transfer into a frustrating part of the day. Going-to-the-Sun Road is spectacular, but we would not want to drive back and forth across it just to reach trailheads.
For us, the best hiking was on the east side. Many Glacier and Two Medicine had the trails we were most excited about, so if hiking is the priority, we would put most of our nights there.
Do not skip the west side completely
We spent one night at Lake McDonald Lodge and were really glad we did. The sunset over the lake was amazing, the drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road felt like part of the experience, and it put us close to Avalanche Lake and McDonald Falls.
St. Mary is worth considering
We did not stay in St. Mary, so this is not a lodging review, but geographically it looks like a very practical base if your plans include Logan Pass, Many Glacier and Two Medicine. It will not eliminate driving, but it can be a useful compromise for an east-side-heavy itinerary.
Choose your big hikes
You do not need to turn every famous trail into an all-day commitment. We made Dawson-Pitamakan our huge hiking day and shortened the Highline to an out-and-back from Logan Pass. We still got the open views and the chain section without spending another entire day on a long point-to-point hike.
That is how we would plan Glacier again: pick one or two hikes that deserve a full day, then use shorter hikes and lake time around them.
Logan Pass requires a plan in 2026
In summer 2026, private vehicles at Logan Pass are limited to three hours and need a free timestamped dashboard permit. Longer Highline itineraries require the ticketed Logan Pass shuttle. Tickets are released 60 days ahead at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, with remaining tickets released at 7 p.m. the night before. These rules can change by season, so check NPS before your trip.
Get on the water
After several big hiking days, a boat ride or paddle is a great change of pace. Glacier has scenic boat tours and rentals on several lakes. If you bring your own kayak, canoe or inflatable, check current NPS watercraft inspection and launch rules before putting it in the water.
Download GuideAlong before you arrive
We use GuideAlong in national parks whenever it is available, and Glacier is a perfect place for it. Download the Glacier tour and offline content before you enter the park. Cell service and Wi-Fi can be unreliable. The GPS-triggered commentary gives you history, geology and suggestions for stops while you drive, especially along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
For now we are linking directly to GuideAlong. If we later join their affiliate program, we can swap this for the tracked link without changing the recommendation.
GuideAlong Glacier National Park tour