Glacier National Park, Montana

ByChristine Updated on

Glacier National Park is another of our favorite parks and we think that everyone should have a chance to experience it!

The road that runs through the park is called the Going-to-the-Sun Road and it is aptly named, as you will climb higher and higher as you wind your way through the park on this road.

Here is a quick guide to driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road and a few other things you can do in the area.

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Driving The Going-to-the-Sun Road

One way to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road is from the West Entrance up to Logan Pass and then down again to the Saint Mary entrance.

It’s about 50 miles long and will take you at least 2 hours, more with stops so this is an experience in and of itself even without stopping for any major hikes. It will take you up and over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.

Stop at Logan Pass to check out the Visitor Center and take a bathroom break.

Be aware that parts of the road will close during a significant portion of the year because of snow.

Watch A Local Rodeo

Kevin’s Aunt and Uncle live in Columbia Falls, Montana. They were really gracious and hospitable and invited us to park on their lawn for the week we were there. It was a great site to park the trailer and we were so close to the West Glacier entrance that it couldn’t have been more convenient!

Kevin’s cousin and her husband as well as their three sons also live nearby (not to mention their horses (and a cute new foal), cows, chickens, rabbits, pigs, dogs, cats…). One night we went to the local rodeo where we met up with then. This was Kevin’s first rodeo. It was a fun time.

Side story about my experience with a rodeo as a child. When my Dad was still in the Army, they once had French exchange soldiers and decided to show them something distinctly American and so they put on a rodeo. I very vividly remember my Dad roping a calf. Somehow, in my child-mind, I thought “my Dad is a rodeo star”. So years later, when I remarked to my Dad, “oh, when you used to be a rodeo cowboy…” we both got a good laugh out of it. 🙂

Explore Nearby Towns

Take some time to explore the town of Whitefish and Columbia Falls or Kalispell a bit further away. Check out local shops, restaurants, breweries, playgrounds for the kids, and farmers markets on certain days.

If You’d Like More Active Adventure

Here are a list of Glacier National Park hikes and the ones we think are worth it, or not!

Christine is the co-founder of Never Stop Adventuring, and an avid traveler who started traveling the world as a child growing up in a military family. She even lived in Germany for numerous years. Since then she has been to 48 U.S. states, 17 countries, and traveled the U.S. in an RV for over 7 years.

With her 3 kids, the adventures continued family travel style. She has planned and coordinated travel with kids for the last 10 years and shares family travel tips and tricks, destinations, costs and even the mistakes so you can be empowered to take your own family trips with confidence!