A Few Quick Tips For Visiting Glacier National Park

I recently had the opportunity to partner with Radisson Rewards to visit Kalispell, Montana and Glacier National Park. Visiting Glacier had been on my wishlist for a long time, and I’m so glad I got to experience it before all the glaciers have melted. I decided to write a quick guide based off of my own visit to help make your own trip easier. Enjoy the park!

Where to Stay

Kalispell is the most convenient airport to fly into in order to visit Glacier National Park. The closest entrance, Apgar, is less than an hour drive away from the airport. We stayed at the brand new Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Glacier Lodge located right across from the Kalispell Airport. They offer a free shuttle to the hotel, and it is a very quick ride over. The property offers free parking and free breakfast for guests, which I also found to be big bonuses for the trip. I used my
Radisson Rewards
points to book my stay for only 44,000 points a night – a total of 220,000 points for five nights!

SEE ALSO: A Week In Montana and Minneapolis with Radisson Rewards

Take A Guided Tour

If you don’t want to drive yourself all over the park, there is another option. The 1930s Red “Jammer” Buses can be seen everywhere you go around the park, and tours depart daily from both the west and east sides of the park. The tours do tend to book out well in advance though, especially during high season, so head to the
Red Bus website
to pick the tour that interests you most and book it.

Beyond the buses, there are also lots of boat tour options across lakes around the parks. Some lakes include Saint Mary Lake, Lake McDonald, and Two Medicine Lake. Beyond being scenic, they can also be a handy way to get you from point A to B and cut down on hike times.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road

Perhaps the most famous thing in Glacier National Park, the 53 mile Going-to-the-Sun Road offers unparalleled views as it winds from Apgar to Saint Mary. Instead of taking the highway around to the east entrances of the park, make sure to find the time to drive this road at least one way of your journey. Heads up though – early in the season it can sometimes still be snowed in, so plan accordingly to go once the snow has melted.

Take A Trail Ride

Another way to see the park is by horseback, just like the park’s early visitors did! Swan Mountain Outfitters offer the only horseback tours within Glacier National Park – they even offer an overnight trip option for those really looking to saddle up.

Find the Best Photo Opps

There are so many great photo moments to be had around Glacier. It really is a photographer’s dream. Some of my favorite Instagram spots I found during my trip included Running Eagle Falls, Lake McDonald (especially at sunset!), Kintla Lake, and of course the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

I hope this quick guide helps you to plan your own trip to Glacier National Park. Scientists estimate the glaciers will have melted by 2020, so make sure to plan your own trip sooner rather than later!

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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Radisson Rewards. As always, all opinions are my own.