Glacier National Park contains a number of hotel and lodging options both in and near the park. From major hotel chains in nearby Whitefish and Kalispell to the historic lodges of the Great Northern Railway built over 100 years ago, Glacier presents both budget and luxury accommodations for visitors to one of the nation’s oldest national parks.
The first decision for many who are visiting the park is whether you are going to stay inside or outside the park. Staying outside of the park can add 15 minutes to an hour to your morning and evening since you have to enter/leave the park. At the same time, staying inside the park usually costs more (unless you are camping). But if you are like us, you will probably try to stay inside the park, since there are few things in life as pleasant as waking up to the beauty of a national park outside your window.
If you want to stay in the park, you also need to choose between a lodge/hotel or a campground. There are more than 1000 campsites to choose from in the park, including both frontcountry and backcountry sites. They are more affordable than a hotel, but offer fewer amenities for those who prefer a modern lifestyle. If you are going to stay in a Glacier national park hotel or lodge, be sure to make your reservations early. The popular season to visit Glacier is July and August, which makes it a fairly short window for more then 2 million people to enter the park.
Hotels, Lodges and Rooms Inside Glacier National Park
There are a number of historic lodges and other accommodations inside the park, for those who want to stay in the areas of Lake McDonald, Many Glacier or Saint Mary Lake, as well as backcountry options.
Apgar Village Inn
The Village Inn offers 36 rooms located on the shore of Lake McDonald, two miles from the west entrance to Glacier National Park. It was built in 1956 and renovated in 2015. It usually opens in late May and closes in late September.
Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins
The Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins offers cabins and one or two bed motel rooms near the shores of Lake McDonald in Apgar Village. It usually opens in mid-May and closes in early October. It also contains the Cedar Tree Gift Shop.
Granite Park Chalet
This lodging for backcountry hikers was built in 1914-15 by the Great Northern Railway. It is located at the intersection of the Granite Park Trail and the Highline Trail. It is typically open from late June through mid-September. Reservations are available beginning in January of the year that you plan to visit.
Lake McDonald Lodge
This Swiss Chalet style lodge contains 82 guest rooms split between several buildings and cabins. It is located ten miles inside the west entrance to the park. It is located along Going-to-the-Sun Road on the shores of Lake McDonald and was built in 1913.
Many Glacier Hotel
The Many Glacier Hotel contains 2 suites, 7 family rooms and 205 guest rooms. It is located on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake in the Many Glacier area. The hotel was built in 1914-15 by the Great Northern Railway and partially renovated in 2016.
Rising Sun Motor Inn
This motel has 72 motel rooms and cottages. It is located on the east side of the park along Going-to-the-Sun Road across from Saint Mary Lake and six miles from the Saint Mary Visitor Center. It was built in 1940 and renovated in 2015.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
Located in the Many Glacier area, Swiftcurrent has 95 rustic cabin and motor inn rooms. It is open from early June to mid-September. Nearby trailheads for hiking include the Iceberg Ptarmigan Trailhead, the Swiftcurrent Trailhead and the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead. It is located near the Many Glacier campground and one mile from the Many Glacier Hotel.
Sperry Chalet
This primitive and rustic lodging offers accommodations to backcountry hikers from mid-July to mid-September. It is reached by a strenuous uphill hike on the Sperry Trail from Lake McDonald Lodge. There are 17 private guest rooms. The dormitory was damaged in a wildfire in August 2017 but will reopen in 2020 after a reconstruction project.
Hotels, Lodges and Rooms Near Glacier National Park
If you are looking for the familiarity of a national hotel chain, consider looking in Whitefish and Kalispell which contain numerous options thirty minutes away from the west entrance for those looking to rack up rewards points. If you are interested in staying closer to the park, without the extra expense of staying in the park, there are several rustic and local options close to the park border in the West Glacier, Saint Mary and East Glacier areas.
West Glacier Hotels
Located at the intersection of Highway 2 and Going-to-the-Sun Road near the west entrance to Glacier, this community contains several chalets, rustic hotels, motels and other accommodations.
Saint Mary Hotels
Located along Highway 89 outside of the east entrance to the park and Going-to-the-Sun Road, near the Saint Mary Visitor Center, this gateway town contains a few local motels, cabins, an RV Park and a KOA campground.
East Glacier and Browning Hotels
These small towns are located in the Two Medicine Lake area and contain several local inns and establishments with lodging.
Highway 2 Hotels
Highway 2 runs along the park’s southern border and contains a number of local inns and ranches with rooms. They are an option if you are skirting the southern border of the park or if you are traveling around the park because GTSR is closed.