My GF and I are planning a trip to Glacier National Park in the end of August and are looking at places to stay. There will be four of us going (the two of us plus her parents). We’re planning on being there about a week. We’re taking the Amtrak in to West Glacier, and flying out from [haven’t figured that out just yet].
Our lodging options are many: there are hotels and cabins in and around the park, and there are rental houses in the surrounding towns. The prices are all roughly the same. I know the park is humongous, and we’d like to stay half the time on each side of the park, probably starting on the West side first since the train comes in there.
Anyone have any recommendations? Experiences? Is our half & half plan unnecessary?
What were you planning on doing activity-wise? Were you going to go up to Waterton at all? I assume you’ll have a car?
If you’re spending a week, I think Polebridge is worth a day or two. It’s a quirky little village that’s about halfway up a dirt road that used to go to Canada but now goes nowhere. There’s some lakes up in the northwest corner of the park that rival the ones on the paved roads, but get way less traffic.
We’re still researching activities. Part of that is this thread. Usually what we do on these sorts of trips is a good deal of hiking. We just want to see what there is to see.
We were considering getting a rental car, but is it absolutely necessary?
I don’t think you can beat the ambiance/experience of staying in one of the park lodges/inns. Sure, the accommodations are “rustic”, but there’s something about waking up in the morning with the sense that you’re already “there”. Also, for those without a car, the famous “Red Bus” tours will pick you up right at the hotel. I haven’t stayed at the west side lodges, but my stay at the Many Glacier Hotel on the east side was wonderful.
I seem to recall there were some places to stay just south of the Gate at West Glacier. We went with a camper, but a few hotels had RV spots out back, so we had access to the pool and showers. There was a nice little grocery store there, too. Stayed there for a day or two before heading into the park. (just pulled out a map: Coram, Martin City, Hungry Horse) Admission to the park is good for a week (I think), so you can come and go if staying outside the park.
We camped up the west side of the park off the dirt/gravel road. It was AWSOME! The road scared all the flatlanders off and there was nobody up there. I got to rip all around on my dirtbike and enjoyed myself fantasticly. Rode up to the lakes on the west side, Polebridge (to buy some milk), and just to bomb around. We went all over the park, and visited the lodges, and I recall the prices were pretty high to stay in them.
They had shuttles running up and down the Going To The Sun road due to the ongoing consturction, but the driver of one of them told us that was a temporary situation and was going to be discontinued. Undoubtably to make the tours ($$) more attractive. I did the road about 4 times on the motorcycle while I was there. Worth the price of admission right there! I don’t remember when he said the shuttles would end, but as noted above, you can pay to take the tour. Again, not cheap and again, I would suggest having a car.
As for Polebridge: Funky little place, but I think you can pretty much see it all in about an hour.
Might not be for you, but I would recommend camping.
Yeah, a car is probably a good idea. There’s probably a good solid few days of stuff you can do car-free, but probably not a whole week. You could always spend a few days car-free staying at one of the fancy lodges and then take the train from West or East Glacier into Whitefish to get a car, or else I’m sure there’s shuttle service between the park and the airport.
With Polebridge, I was just suggesting it as a nice off-the-beaten-path place to stay while you explore that little seldom-visited corner of the park if that appeals; it’s not necessarily a destination unto itself. You definitely need a car to get up there, though!
I don’t remember when he said the shuttles would end, but as noted above, you can pay to take the tour. Again, not cheap and again, I would suggest having a car.