Glacier National Park Lodging: Where to Stay Inside and Near the Park

Planning a trip to Glacier National Park raises one big question early on: where to stay near Glacier National Park? You can stay inside the park or in a nearby town. Here is the quick answer:

• Inside the park: you are closest to the lakes and trails, but the lodges are seasonal, and rooms often sell out months ahead.
• In a nearby town: places like West Glacier, Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell offer more choices for food, shopping and lodging, and some stay open all year.

This guide covers Glacier National Park lodging in both places, with distances, season dates, and simple tips for choosing.

Glacier National Park Lodging at a Glance

Option	Where	When it is open	Good for
Historic lodges	Inside the park	Late spring to early fall	Sleeping close to the scenery
Motor inns, motels and cabins	Inside the park	Summer season	A simpler stay inside the park
Backcountry chalets	Reached on foot only	Set by the operator	Hikers who want a night in the mountains
Campgrounds	Inside the park	Varies by campground	Campers
Hotels and stays in nearby towns	West Glacier, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell and East Glacier	Varies. Some are summer only and some stay open all year	More choice for food, shopping and lodging

Lodging Inside Glacier National Park

The National Park Service lists two companies that run most lodging inside the park. Each has its own website and phone line, so it helps to know who runs what:

• Glacier National Park Lodges (Xanterra Parks & Resorts): Village Inn Motel, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Many Glacier Hotel.
• Glacier Park Collection (Pursuit): Apgar Village Lodge and Motel Lake McDonald.

Historic Lodges

A historic lodge is an early 1900s building that has kept its original style. Two of the best known are:

• Lake McDonald Lodge: built in 1913 on the shore of Lake McDonald. It sits about 10 miles inside the west entrance on Going-to-the-Sun Road, and our guide on how long Going-to-the-Sun Road takes will help you plan the timing. It has 82 guest rooms across the main lodge, cabins and other buildings.
• Many Glacier Hotel: built by the Great Northern Railway in 1914 and 1915 on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake. It has more than 200 guest rooms.

Expect old-fashioned charm, such as creaky floors and hand-carved staircases, not a modern city hotel. Both lodges are seasonal, so confirm them with the operator before you book.

Motor Inns, Motels and Cabins

A motor inn is a roadside, motel-style building. Glacier’s lodging also includes mid-century motor inns and rustic cabins. Examples include Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Village Inn Motel and Apgar Village Lodge.

Backcountry Chalets

Backcountry means far from any road. Glacier has two backcountry chalets, Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet, and you can only reach them by hiking. Both are run by Belton Chalets, Inc.

Camping

If you prefer a tent or an RV, the National Park Service lists 13 campgrounds with about 1,009 sites inside the park.

Places to Stay Near Glacier National Park

A gateway town is a town near a park entrance that visitors use as a base. The National Park Service notes that private businesses just outside the park offer lodging, groceries and restaurants, though many operate only in summer. For hotels near Glacier National Park, start with these four west side towns.

West Glacier

West Glacier Village sits next to the west entrance, the main gate on the park’s west side. The entrance is just past the village. The Belton Chalet is a historic lodging option here, and it is scheduled to open May 7 and close October 10 in 2027.

Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls is about 15 to 20 minutes from the west entrance, depending on where you start in town. It has a downtown with restaurants and shops, so you do not have to drive somewhere else for dinner. Our Columbia Falls travel guide covers the town in more detail.

Whitefish

Whitefish is a resort town about 25 to 30 miles from the west entrance. The drive usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. The town has an Amtrak station downtown, which helps if you arrive by train, and you can see what the town offers in our list of things to do in Whitefish. Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish stays open year-round, which makes it a useful choice outside summer.

Kalispell

Kalispell is the largest nearby city, about 33 miles from the west entrance. Glacier Park International Airport is in Kalispell, so it works well as a base if you fly in. Our guide to the closest airport to Glacier National Park has more on getting here, and our post on things to do in Kalispell covers the city itself.

Here is a quick comparison of the four towns:

Town	Distance to the west entrance	Good to know
West Glacier	Right at the entrance	Closest option to the park gate
Columbia Falls	About 15 to 20 minutes	Downtown restaurants and shops
Whitefish	25 to 30 miles, usually 30 to 45 minutes	Resort town with an Amtrak station
Kalispell	About 33 miles	Largest city, with the airport

East Side Options

The east side of the park has fewer towns. East Glacier Park Village is the main base, and Glacier Park Lodge is located just outside the park there. It was built by the Great Northern Railway, and it is scheduled to open May 28 and close September 20 in 2027. Going-to-the-Sun Road links the two sides of the park, so check how long the drive takes before you split your stay between them.

Where to Stay for Your Type of Trip

Use these examples to narrow down your choice:

• You want the shortest trip to the scenery: choose an in-park lodge, or a town close to an entrance such as West Glacier or Columbia Falls.
• You want restaurants and shops nearby: Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell all have downtowns to walk around in the evening.
• You arrive by plane or train: Kalispell has the airport and Whitefish has the Amtrak station.
• You visit outside summer: the park is open all year, but in-park lodges are seasonal. Look at nearby towns, and read our guides to the best time to visit Glacier National Park and Montana winter activities.
• You travel with a group and want a kitchen and extra space: a vacation rental can be a good fit. Our guide to vacation rentals vs hotels compares the two.

Tips for Booking Glacier Lodging

• Book early. Rooms inside the park often sell out months in advance.
• Check season dates every year. Lodge dates can change, so confirm them with the operator.
• Plan ahead. The National Park Service describes Glacier as extremely busy and advises planning ahead and reserving early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to stay for Glacier National Park?

It depends on your trip. Inside the park you are closest to the scenery. Nearby towns offer more restaurants, shops and lodging choices, and some stay open all year.

Can you stay inside Glacier National Park?

Yes. The park has historic lodges, motor inns, motels and cabins run by two companies. It also has two backcountry chalets that you reach on foot, and 13 campgrounds.

When are the lodges in Glacier National Park open?

The published 2027 dates are May 14 to September 30 for Lake McDonald Lodge and June 3 to September 20 for Many Glacier Hotel. Confirm dates with the operator before you book.

How far is Whitefish from Glacier National Park?

Whitefish is about 25 to 30 miles from the west entrance. The drive usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Is it better to stay on the east or west side of Glacier?

It depends on which parts of the park you want to see. The west side has more towns to choose from. The east side has East Glacier Park Village and Glacier Park Lodge.

Are there hotels near Glacier National Park that are open year-round?

Yes. Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish is open year-round. The park itself is open all year, but many lodges in and around it operate only in summer.

Choosing Your Base for Glacier

Your best choice comes down to how close you want to be to the scenery and what else you need from a base, such as restaurants, an airport nearby or space for a group. If you want a home with extra room near the park, browse our vacation rentals near Glacier National Park.