With so many incredible things to do and see, planning the perfect 3 day Glacier National Park itinerary can be tricky. We put together this itinerary to help you do exactly that, with several easy ways to customize it if you have more time, and some helpful tips for first-time visitors.
With pristine alpine landscapes, epic hikes, a world-famous scenic drive, and plenty of majestic wildlife, it’s easy to call Glacier one of the most stunning national parks in the US.
But where do you even start? That’s where we come in!
We’ve visited Glacier National Park on multiple occasions and have come up with the perfect 3 day Glacier National Park itinerary. The best part: We’ve added some suggestions at the end in case you have more time to spend in this incredible national park.
Whether you’re a seasoned backcountry hiker or more of a casual explorer, this itinerary will help you maximize your time in Glacier.
Even if you only have a long weekend, you can see the park’s most famous sights, like Going-to-the-Sun Road and Lake McDonald.
And with extra time? You’ll discover even more of Glacier’s rugged wilderness.
Glacier National Park Itinerary Guide
- Park overview
- Vehicle reservations
- Itinerary overview
- How many days
- When to go
- Where to stay
- What to pack
Whether you simply aspire to the visit the parks in your neck of the woods or want to hit them all, be sure to download our FREE national park checklist by clicking below to keep track of your progress!
Glacier National Park overview
- Open: year-round, but accessibility varies by season
- Good to know: Most business and services in the park are only open from late-May through September. Going-to-the-Sun Road closes seasonally.
- Entrance fee: $35 per vehicle or free as part of an annual America the Beautiful Pass
- Established: May 11, 1910
- Area: 1,013,322 acres
Glacier National Park spans over one million acres and over 90% of that is designated wilderness. And believe it or not, two days is enough to hit several highlights.
Admittedly not ALL of them, but you may be surprised at just how many.
This itinerary offers a nice mix of day hikes, scenic drives, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and even some time on (or in!) one of Glacier’s famous lakes. You’ll also visit several different areas, so you’ll leave feeling like you truly experienced the park.
America the Beautiful annual park pass
If you’re planning to visit more than one of the US National Parks, we’d highly encourage you to look into getting an annual park pass. At $35 per vehicle upon entry, visiting the national parks in the U.S. can get expensive.
For just $80 per year, you can purchase the America the Beautiful park pass. This pass grants you free access to all of the national parks. Plus it also covers your entrance to over 2,000 natural, historical, and recreational sites across the United States.
If you still need convincing, check out our article: National Park Annual Pass: Is it Worthwhile? + How to Buy
Vehicle reservations
As is becoming the norm with many other popular national parks, you need a reservation to visit Glacier during peak season. Exact dates vary year to year, but in general, it’s late May through early September.
The reservation system is a bit complicated, largely because of how Glacier is laid out. In 2024, reservations were required for Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Many Glacier and North Fork entrances. Visitors did NOT need reservations at the St. Mary or Two Medicine entrances.
Further complicating it, the exact dates and times of day when reservations are required varies between each entrance. Also like other parks, you can enter the park without a reservation before or after specified times.
The park releases reservations in two batches, four months in advance on a rolling basis and again the night before. For example, if you want reservations for July 18, you can try to get one on March 18.
The next year’s requirements are typically announced in late fall, so keep your eye on the park’s official reservations page.
Glacier National Park itinerary overview
Day 1: West Glacier
You’ll start this 3 day Glacier National Park itinerary in West Glacier, which is—of course—nearest to the west park entrance on US-2. This is the most accessible part of the park, which also means it’ll be the most crowded.
Note: You can do this itinerary in reverse, if you are coming into the park from the East side!
Apgar Village
Begin your day at Apgar Village, at the foot of Lake McDonald near the West Glacier entrance. This charming area has the park’s largest gift shop, Cedar Tree, as well as a few other stores, Eddie’s Cafe (grab a coffee for the drive!), and lodging.
You can also rent bicycles, kayaks or SUPs, and bear spray, and there’s a backcountry permit center here for picking up overnight permits.
Lake McDonald
The biggest lake in Glacier, Lake McDonald is famous for its (super cold!) crystal-clear water and colorful Fruity Pebbles-like rocks.
At the very least, stroll along the shore and snap some pictures. If time allows, rent a kayak or SUP and get out on the water for a bit. If a guided tour is more your jam, book a scenic one-hour boat tour, offered daily May through September.
Hike Trail of the Cedars or Avalanche Lake
Once you pass Lake McDonald, one of the first major stops you’ll come to is the Avalanche area. Here, you’ll find Avalanche Campground, plus the trailheads for Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake.
Trail of the Cedars
- Distance: 0.9-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 49 ft
- Difficulty rating: easy
- Trail notes on Alltrails
One of the shortest, easiest hikes in Glacier, Trail of the Cedars is actually the first section of the Avalanche Lake hike. This pleasant, kiddo-friendly trail passes through an enchanting forest of old-growth cedar trees and alongside milky blue Avalanche Creek.
Avalanche Lake
- Distance: 5.9 miles, out and back
- Elevation gain: 757 ft
- Difficulty rating: moderate
- Trail notes on Alltrails
If you’re up for a longer trek, continue to Avalanche Lake. The almost-six-mile trail is on the easier end of moderate, with some mild elevation gain but no real obstacles.
Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road
No Glacier National Park itinerary is complete without exploring iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. This scenic 50-mile drive packs jaw-dropping views, great opportunities to see wildlife, and access to some amazing hikes.
Start on the west side and drive east, all the way to St. Mary’s Village. Along the way, you’ll experience several pristine glacial lakes, ancient forests, and scenery that somehow gets better and better, ending the day with a well-earned cocktail.
Driving the full length of Going-to-the-Sun Road, hands down one of the most scenic drives in the world.
We’ll dive a bit deeper into some of the highlights below, but basically, you’ll gradually climb up to Logan Pass, the highest point on the road, before descending down into St. Mary.
Budget 4-6 hours for the drive and hiking along the way. Although you can do it in just over two hours, you’ll want plenty of time for frequent stops to take in the incredible views. Plus, you never know when you may get caught in a wildlife traffic jam!
Highlights on the Going-to-the-Sun Road
There are literally dozens of worthwhile stops along the road, but here are a handful of the best.
- Logan Pass: Going-to-the-Sun Road’s high point (and the highest elevation in the park accessible by vehicle), home to several very popular trailheads and a large visitor center.
- Hidden Lake Overlook: A short, easy hike from Logan Pass brings you to a spectacular viewpoint of Hidden Lake, where mountain goats frequently hang out.
- Wild Goose Island Overlook: One of the most photographed spots in Glacier, teeny-tiny Wild Goose Island sits in the middle of St. Mary Lake, dwarfed by the mountains.
- St. Mary Falls, Baring Falls, and Virginia Falls: The fairly easy 3.1-mile hike to St. Mary and Virginia Falls is one of the most popular in the park, but you can easily add Baring Falls with a short detour or by starting at Sun Point.
Hidden Lake Hike
- Distance: 5.1 miles, out and back
- Elevation gain: 1,338 ft
- Difficulty rating: moderate
- Trail notes on Alltrails
The Hidden Lake trail is slightly more challenging than the hike to the overlook, mostly because the path down to the lake is steeper. However, it’s still one of the easier hikes in the park.
As a bonus, you’ll leave the crowds behind at the overlook, increasing your chances of spotting wildlife. Keep an eye out for mountain goats and bears.
Day 3: Many Glacier
Your third day in Glacier National Park takes you to Many Glacier, a valley known for its rugged beauty, epic hiking, and crystal-clear lakes.
Start at tranquil Swiftcurrent Lake, then head back toward the west side and stop at Logan Pass for an afternoon hike to Hidden Lake.
Good to know: Even under the best circumstances, parking at Many Glacier is limited. In 2025 and 2026, construction will limit it even further. Arrive early (ideally, by sunrise!) and be sure to have any necessary permits or reservations.
Morning: Kayak or SUP Swiftcurrent Lake
Kick off your morning by renting a kayak or SUP (or canoe) from Glacier Park Boats, at the dock behind Many Glacier Hotel.
Swiftcurrent Lake is surrounded by towering peaks, and there’s an excellent chance you’ll spot resident moose or bears stopping for a drink or walking along the shore.
While the lake is often calm and glassy, it’s not uncommon for wind to pick up and make the water choppy, especially mid-day. If at all possible, nab the first rental slot of the day (usually around 8:30 am).
Bout tour on Swiftcurrent Lake
Prefer not to paddle? Or maybe you want to try both?
You can take a boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake with Glacier Park Boats. The tour includes two boat rides, one across Swiftcurrent Lake and one across Josephine Lake, with a short walk between them. The whole excursion costs $35.25 per adult and $17.50 per child.
Go for a hike
Known as “the Switzerland of North America,” there are plenty of hiking options around the Many Glacier area. Here are a few we’d recommend for different levels of difficulty:
- Fishercap Lake via Swiftcurrent Pass: This short-and-sweet loop hike will bring you on a leisurly stroll to Fishercap Lake. The hike is just 0.9 miles with relatively no elevation gain and should only take about 15 minutes.
- Redrock Falls: Continue past Fishercap Lake on this 3.7-mile out and back hike. Rated easy, with 242 feet in elevation gain, it should take you about 1.5 hours to reach Redrock Falls and get back.
- Grinnell Lake Trail: Hike 6.9 miles (round trip) to reach this beautiful glacial lake. Rated moderate with 465 ft in elevation gain, this hike should take you about 2.5 hours in total.
- Iceberg Lake Trail: Said to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the park, this moderately difficult 9.6-mile out and back trail takes you to a stunning glacier lake (just look at the photo above!). Budget over 4 hours for your hike and know there is 1,459 ft in elevation gain on the trail.
- Grinnell Glacier Trail: Another one of the most famous hikes in the park, you’ll need to budget a full 5 hours for this 10-mile out and back hike. With 2,047 ft in elevation gain, this challenging hike is no easy stroll.
Huckleberry Cocktails at Many Glacier Hotel
End your day in true Montana fashion: with a huckleberry cocktail, enjoying the views. The Swiss Lounge inside Many Glacier Hotel is the best place to grab a quick drink, but you can also sit down to dinner in the The Ptarmigan Dining Room (also inside the hotel).
Have more time?
If you have extra time to spend on your Glacier National Park itinerary, we’d highly suggest you get into the backcountry on one of the park’s incredible hikes!
You can do either of these hikes as a single day hike, though it would be a long day! Instead we’d recommend breaking the hike into 2 days and spending an extra night in the backcountry.
Here are 2 of our top suggestions:
Option 1: Cracker Lake Hike
Cracker Lake is an anomaly in Many Glacier. Whereas most other hikes are consistently jam-packed, you may only see a few other hikers. Not because it isn’t a phenomenal hike, but because it’s overshadowed by the uber-famous Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake hikes.
It’s also a LONG day on the trail, so visitors who have just one day to spend in Many Glacier tend to choose one of the other hikes.
The hike itself is a bit of a slog for the first half, but once you enter the canyons and the views open up, you’ll forget all about that. And icy, milky green-blue Cracker Lake makes every step worth it!
If you want to turn this into an overnight backpacking trip, Cracker Lake has three amazing backcountry campsites and you’ll need a wilderness permit to stay overnight.
Psst! This was our favorite part of visiting Glacier National Park!
Option 2: Highline Trail
Completely opposite from Cracker Lake, the Highline Trail is one of Glacier’s most popular hikes—if not THE most popular. With in-your-face views the entire time, a historic chalet, and sections of thrilling exposure, it’s easy to see why!
While the ‘official’ out-and-back route is 15 miles, there are multiple ways to do the Highline. Also, it’s never particularly steep or technical, so it’s on the more moderate end of ‘challenging.’
No matter what route you choose, start at Logan Pass. You can go to Granite Park Chalet and back, head down to The Loop and shuttle back, detour to Grinnell Glacier Overlook, hike all the way into Many Glacier, or hike the first few miles.
How much time do I need in Glacier National Park?
For most visitors, 3-5 days is the perfect amount of time for a Glacier National Park itinerary.
In 3 days, you can explore the park’s highlights, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, a few popular day hikes, and those iconic glacial lakes.
If you have 4 or 5 days, you can dive deeper into the park’s vast, untamed beauty. With an extra day or two, you can spend a night in the backcountry, taking advantage of Glacier’s incredible backpacking opportunities.
Best time to visit Glacier National Park
The best time to visit Glacier is early September, just after Labor Day. The weather is still (usually) very pleasant, Going-to-the-Sun Road is still accessible, and most park facilities like visitor centers and campgrounds are open through mid-September.
Fall comes early in this alpine environment, so you’ll also see some color change in early September, and wildlife also tends to be more active in preparation for the winter.
While summer is the high season, and also a great time to visit Glacier National Park, we wouldn’t advise visiting in winter as many of the parks roads and trails are closed due to weather. We visited Glacier in October (and it was freezing – the weather wasn’t great) and in August (which gave us a much better experience in terms of weather).
One thing to note is that summer crowds used to thin out right after Labor Day, but in the last few years, as long as the road is open, there really is no ‘off-season’ in Glacier. While there may be slightly fewer people, expect traffic and crowds through mid-October.
Where to camp at Glacier National Park
The campgrounds in Glacier National Park are highly, highly sought after. Luckily, there are a ton of options and both reservable and first-come, first-served sites.
Reservable campgrounds
These campgrounds become available on a six-month rolling basis and book out within literal seconds. Although you may snag a spot due to cancellations later, plan well in advance to get your first choice.
- Apgar: The largest campground in the park, with 194 sites at Lake McDonald
- Avalanche: One of the most popular campgrounds, with direct access to the Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars hikes
- Fish Creek: Another large campground at Lake McDonald near Apgar
- Many Glacier (closed in 2025): The most coveted reservation in the park because of its access to epic hikes
- St. Mary: Close to the east entrance and one of the only year-round options
- Sprague Creek: A small campground designed for smaller vehicles, at the north end of Lake McDonald
- Two Medicine: Large campground in the quieter Two Medicine Valley, some sites with lake views
First-come, first-served campgrounds
While most of Glacier’s FCFS campgrounds are smaller and fairly remote, some are quite large and easily accessible.
- Bowman Lake
- Cut Bank
- Kintla Lake
- Logging Creek
- Quartz Creek
- Rising Sun
What to pack for your Glacier National Park itinerary
- Navigation: we recommend using Alltrails+ to download the offline trail map
- Get your first week of using Alltrails+ for FREE when you sign up using our link!
- Hiking daypack
- Water bottles and/or bladder for your Camelbak
- Bug repellant
- Sun protection: sunscreen, hat, sun glasses
- Headlamp
- Camera/tripod (this one’s our favorite for hiking)
- Hiking layers (here is a great resource if you’re wondering what to wear hiking)
- Rain jacket
- Comfortable hiking boots or shoes
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Bear spray (highly recommended)
- Plenty of snacks: check out our favorite hiking snacks here!
- Camping gear – if you are staying at one of the park’s campsites
You may also like…
- Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
- Camping in Glacier National Park: Best Campsites
- 5 Day Glacier National Park to Yellowstone Itinerary
- Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park
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