Glacier National Park and Whitefish are located in the northwest corner of Montana along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. Waterton Lakes National Park is located in southern Alberta, just north of Montana's Glacier National Park.
Most visitors can fly to Glacier Park International Airport, or other nearby airports with only one stop. Also, Amtrak's Empire Builder stops in East Glacier, West Glacier and Whitefish.
Of course, you can always pack up the car and make it a road trip! Glacier National Park is only approximately 10 hours from Seattle, 6 hours from Calgary and 4 hours from Spokane.
Visitors arriving by car will use U.S. Highway 2 to access Glacier National Park from either the east or west entrance. The park is also accessible via highways 89 or 17.
Near the communities of Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls, the west entrance to Glacier National Park is just past West Glacier Village and provides access to Apgar Village Lodge and Motel Lake McDonald. It is also the west entry point to Going-to-the-Sun Road. From Kalispell, take U.S. Highway 2 East to West Glacier.
St. Mary, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine are the three eastern entrances to the park and can be reached by taking Highway 89 north from Great Falls to the town of Browning (approximately 125 miles) then following signage to the respective entrance. From the west, follow U.S. Highway 2 into Browning. Glacier Park Lodge, St. Mary Village, and Prince of Wales Hotel are all located on the east side of the park.
From Kalispell, take Highway 2 north to West Glacier, turn left toward Going-to-the-Sun Road and Glacier National Park (approximately 33 miles). West Glacier Village is just southeast of Park entrance.
From St. Mary entrance, turn right onto Highway 89 south to Highway 49 south (approximately 19 miles), proceed on Highway 49 south to the Lodge (approximately 11 miles), Glacier Park Lodge will be on the right.
Located in Whitefish, Montana. From Kalispell, take Highway 93 north to Grouse Mountain Lodge (approximately 17 miles), Grouse Mountain Lodge will be on the left.
From Kalispell, take Highway 2 north to West Glacier, turn left toward Going-to-the-Sun Road and Glacier National Park (approximately 33 miles). Proceed through Park entrance, turn left on Camas Road, and take first right onto Lake View Drive. Apgar Village Lodge will be on the left.
From Kalispell, take Highway 2 north to West Glacier, turn left toward Going-to-the-Sun Road and Glacier National Park (approximately 33 miles). Proceed through Park entrance, turn right onto Going-to-the-Sun Road and proceed approximately 11 miles, turn left onto eastern and farthest end of Lake McDonald loop road. Motel Lake McDonald will be on the right.
Located inside Waterton Lakes Park, Alberta, Canada. From St. Mary, proceed north on Highway 89 and turn left onto Highway 17 to Canadian customs (approximately 27 miles). Then, head north on AB Highway 6 to AB Highway 5 (approximately 31 kilometers), turn left onto Highway AB 5 east to Mt. View Road (approximately 9 kilometers), turn left onto Mt. View Road to Waterton Avenue, Prince of Wales Hotel will be on the left.
St. Mary Village is just east of the St. Mary entrance and is the east entry point to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The Belton Chalet is located on U.S. Highway 2 just outside the west entrance to Glacier National Park. It is across the road from the historic West Glacier Railway Station, and just east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and Going-to-the-Sun Road. The West Glacier Motel and Cabins are in the Village.
From Kalispell, take U.S. Highway 2 north towards Columbia Falls. Glacier Basecamp Lodge is located in Columbia Falls, Montana, just 15 miles from the west entrance to Glacier National Park, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and 206. The lodge is also close to the resort town of Whitefish and the Flathead Valley.
From Kalispell, take U.S. Highway 2 north to West Glacier, turn left towards Going-to-the-Sun Road and Glacier National Park (approximately 33 miles). West Glacier RV Park is just southeast of the park entrance located on River Bend Drive.
Whitefish | West Glacier | East Glacier | St. Mary | Waterton | |
Seattle | 530 | 550 | 607 | 647 | 621 |
Portland | 602 | 622 | 677 | 672 | 700 |
Spokane | 253 | 272 | 329 | 368 | 351 |
Coeur d' Alene | 221 | 240 | 295 | 336 | 324 |
Missoula | 133 | 136 | 210 | 233 | 277 |
Butte | 241 | 244 | 253 | 268 | 312 |
Bozeman | 340 | 343 | 297 | 312 | 357 |
Billings | 468 | 417 | 359 | 374 | 419 |
Helena | 211 | 214 | 188 | 203 | 248 |
Great Falls | 222 | 199 | 142 | 157 | 202 |
Browning | 93 | 71 | 14 | 29 | 74 |
Kalispell | 16 | 33 | 89 | 130 | 174 |
Calgary | 286 | 277 | 220 | 204 | 169 |
Banff | 284 | 310 | 296 | 280 | 232 |
All distances given in miles and based on the shortest available route. Remember to check your route for seasonal road closures.
The most convenient airport to Whitefish and Glacier National Park is the Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) located in Kalispell, MT. The airport is 30 miles from the West Entrance of Glacier National Park and 12 miles from the town of Whitefish.
Other Regional Airports:
Amtrak services East Glacier, West Glacier, and Whitefish train depots on the Empire Builder line. The train can be taken from as far east as Chicago or as far west as Portland and Seattle.
We provide a complimentary shuttle to Grouse Mountain Lodge from the Whitefish Train Depot and from the East Glacier Station to Glacier Park Lodge. Our vacation specialists can also arrange a rental car to be waiting for you at the train depot or at your hotel.
Call an expert today at 1.844.868.7474.
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