Stay by vibrant blue lakes with mountain goats frolicking around under tall jagged peaks. Choosing the best places to stay near Glacier National Park, can be confusing. But, don’t worry I’ve got you covered with this detailed breakdown.
I’ve been to this magical ✨ part of the country five times now. Each time, I’ve stayed in a different area and each one provided a wonderful and unique experience. Now that I know the lay of the land, I want to help you plan your trip!
This guide to lodging in Glacier provides everything you need to know. You’ll find an overview of the park’s geography, great family-friendly hotels, and enchanting campgrounds that will help make your vacation unforgettable.
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Where to Stay Near Glacier: A Breakdown
Where to Stay in Glacier at a Glance:
If you don’t want to read through all the details, here are my picks on where to stay in Glacier!
- Best Hotel in Town: Lodge at Whitefish Lake
- Best Campground in West Glacier: Apgar Campground
- Best Place to Stay on the East side: Many Glacier Hotel
- Best campground in East Glacier: St Mary Campground
Understanding Glacier National Park’s Geography
Honestly, understanding the geography of Glacier National Park can be so confusing. Especially, before you actually go and see it in person.
Glacier National Park has five main sections where you can base yourself: West Glacier, Polebridge (both on the West Side), and St. Mary, Two Medicine and Many Glacier (on the East Side).
The Going to the Sun Road cuts through the park and connects the East side to the West side. However, driving from East to West takes around 2 hours either through the park or around it.
👉 Need help planning your Glacier National Park trip? Check out the Ultimate Glacier National Park Itinerary here!
All of Glacier National Park is stunning and worth visiting, so it can be hard to decide where to base yourself.
West Glacier has lots of commerce with the towns of Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Kalispell near the park’s boundaries. Whereas most parts of East Glacier are surrounded by reservation land, so there are less places to stay.
I recommend either choosing one place to stay and just making the long drive to the other side. Or, spending most nights on the West and getting a campground on the East for a night or two.
Making Campground Reservations in Glacier National Park
Before I dive into the best places to stay near Glacier, I’m going to talk about making campground reservations for those who want to sleep under the stars. 😴
There are 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park- 7 of them are reservable, and 6 of them are first-come, first served. Or, you can check out free campsites around the park!
While the 7 campgrounds that take reservations are larger, they often book up months in advance. So, in order to get a spot you will need to check availability on recreation.gov.
In the breakdown below, I will talk about where each campground is and go into more details.
🏕 If you like glamping consider staying at Under Canvas Glacier, just outside the park!
Where to Stay Near Glacier National Park By Area
West Glacier & Apgar
West Glacier & Apgar are some of the most central areas of Glacier National Park. Just off of Lake McDonald with access to the Going to the Sun Road, it’s an amazing area to stay.
There are a number of gear outfitters, shops, and a couple restaurants in the Apgar area of the park.
However, because it’s within the park there are only a few options. You can choose to stay at the only hotel in the area, Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins or check out one of the various campgrounds.
This is truly the best place to stay if you want to be in the park, but also have access to food and shops.
Campgrounds in West Glacier
There are four campgrounds near West Glacier & Apgar. Apgar Campground is the largest site in the entire park with 194 sites, so it’s a great option for your stay.
The campgrounds in Apgar and West Glacier are:
- Apgar Campground (reservable 194 sites)
- Avalanche Campground (reservable, 87 sites)
- Fish Creek Campground (reservable, 178 sites)
- Sprague Creek Campground (reservable, 25 sites)
Whitefish, Columbia Falls, & Kalispell
These three towns are around 15-30 minutes outside of the park’s entrance and offer plenty of options for restaurants, lodging, and airport access. Here’s what sets them apart:
- Whitefish– is the most well known because of it’s great history, adorable downtown area, and ski mountain. Staying here will usually cost you a bit more.
- Columbia Falls– I usually choose to stay in Columbia Falls because it’s the closest to the park and has lower prices than Kalispell or Whitefish. You can also find great VRBOs near here.
- Kalispell– you’ll feel like you’re in the suburbs here. They have tons of chain establishments and larger hotels in this town.
I have stayed in all three and they all provide great access to the park. But, I’d choose Columbia Falls for myself due to price and proximity.
We stayed in a wonderful treehouse in the middle of the woods near Columbia Falls and we loved it! 🌳
Best Hotels in Whitefish, Columbia Falls & Kalispell
- Lodge at Whitefish Lake (Whitefish)
- Apres Whitefish (Whitefish)
- Good Medicine Lodge (Whitefish)
- Cedar Creek Lodge (Columbia Falls)
- Glacier International Lodge (Kalispell)
St Mary
St Mary is situated right on the stunning lakeshore of St Mary Lake and off of the Going to the Sun Road. It’s a wonderful area to stay if you want the peace and solitude of the lake with the dramatic landscapes of the Montana mountains.
This area is conveniently located near the East Entrance of the park. There are a few shops and restaurants just outside of the park here, but otherwise it’s very quiet.
From this spot, you can easily access the wonderful hikes in Many Glacier Valley or the iconic Going to the Sun drive.
I stayed at the St Mary Campground on one of my visits and it was so serene. ☺️ I would definitely stay there again.
St Mary Accommodations
- St Mary Village– A large hotel with seven different facilities, dining, and shopping options. It has something for everyone!
- St Mary Campground (148 spots, reservable)- this campground is the largest on the East side, so it’s one of the best chances to get a spot. Plus, it’s open year round.
- Rising Sun Campground (84 campsites, first-come, first-served)- Stay along the shores of St Mary Lake at the Rising Sun Campground. Red Eagle Mountain sits over this lovely area.
Many Glacier
Many Glacier Valley is on the East side of the park and is well known for the legendary hikes throughout it. It has some of the most epic trails in the entire park!
Although Many Glacier is a bit far from everything else, it’s my favorite area of the whole park and there’s a wonderful lodge that sits right in the center of the valley.
Within the valley you’ll find three spectacular lakes, Sherburne Lake, Swiftcurrent Lake, and Lake Josephine, two of which you can get boat tours on. From these lakes, you’ll find tons of great trails that climb into the mountains.
Check out my favorite hike in the park here! 🥾
If you’re lucky you may even see some wildlife on your stay like bighorn sheep, mountain goats, or even grizzly bears!
Stay in this area if you want to be close to the greatest hikes in the park! You’ll be right near all of the action.
Lodging in Many Glacier:
- Many Glacier Hotel – Nestled on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake, this lodge offers a large gift shop, restaurants, and bar. It’s a great spot to stay or grab a drink after a hike!
- Many Glacier Campground– This is a fantastic campground to stay. It’s got plenty of spots and you may even spot wildlife!
Two Medicine
Two Medicine is a very quiet area in the Southeastern area of the park. It’s named after the large Two Medicine Lake that lies below the mountains.
Here you’ll find a large campground, nice walking trails, and gorgeous scenery. People visit this area for hiking and tour boats on the water. 🚤
This is one of the best areas to stay in Glacier if you want to be completely immersed in nature. It’s close to the areas of St Mary and Many Glacier as well. So, it’s a good jumping off point.
Lodging near Two Medicine:
- Glacier Park Lodge– This is a wonderful lodge right outside of the East side of the park. It’s one of the few hotels on the East side and it’s a great place to base yourself.
- Two Medicine Campground– Find yourself sleeping right by the stunning lake at this campground. There are 100 sites here that take reservations in advance.
- Cut Bank Campground– If you really want solitude, stay at this quiet campground on the East Side. You’ll have to drive down a 5 mile dirt road to snag a spot at this small site.
- Looking Glass Basecamp– A former restaurant owner opened up their doors to host thru hikers instead. You can pitch your own tent for just a few dollars or pay a bit more to rent a shed! This is mostly marketed for individuals hiking the Continental Divide Trail.
Polebridge & the North Fork
If you are into the rustic feel, then you need to stay in the Polebridge area. Sitting in the Northwestern region of Glacier National Park, this area has an older, rustic feel to it.
The North Fork area has smaller campsites, family ranches, and rustic cabins. Plus, you can spend time with the locals at the The Northern Lights Saloon or Home Ranch Bottoms.
Even if you don’t stay in Polebridge, you need to stop by the Polebridge Mercantile for their famous bearclaw pastries! 😋
I love the quieter and more local feel to this area. We stayed at a free campsites along the river and it was a wonderfully peaceful night.
Lodging in Polebridge:
- North Fork Hostel
- Bowman Lake Campground
- Logging Creek Campground
- Quartz Creek Campground
- Kintla Lake Campground
Summary of Where to Stay Near Glacier:
- For convenience & centrality: West Glacier
- For being in town on a budget: Columbia Falls
- For hiking: Many Glacier
- For peace & views: St. Mary
- For remote vibes: Polebridge
- For upscale charm: Whitefish
- For airport proximity: Kalispell
Final Tips for Choosing Lodging Near Glacier National Park
Now that you’ve got the lowdown on all the accommodations near Glacier National Park, you can plan your trip!
Truly, there are amazing options in all the areas around this park. So, choose the area that speaks to you most.
Would you rather be immersed in nature? Opt for a quiet spot within the park. Or, would you rather be in town with lots of food and shop options? Then, choose one of the fun spots just outside the park’s boundaries.
No matter what, you’ll have an incredible trip! 🏕🥾
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments
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