2 weeks in Glacier August 2018

A lot of people spend some time on both the East Side and the West Side of the park. That can make seeing more of the park more convenient because you don't have to traverse the park every time you want to do something on the other side. We stayed at the West Glacier KOA a few weeks ago. It's a bit expensive, but we thought well worth the price and would highly recommend it. We would definitely stay there again. There is also a KOA on the east side in St. Mary. Haven't stayed there so can't make an informed recommendation.

Also, if I were you, I would try to get to Glacier before fire season starts.

Spent 5 days at Glacier last week.

Recommend 4-5 days on the east side and the rest of the time on the west side.

You will spend half of a day crossing the park from one side to the other. Going to the Sun Road will take 2-4 hours to cross the park. US-2 around the bottom might be faster, but still takes time.

Stay on the East side and take the bus to the main sites. No reason to drive your MH to the west side. If you wish make a day trip in the TV to the west side so you can brag that you drove the GTS highway. St Marys Campground (?) (dry camping) the one near the East visitors center is in walking distance to the bus pickup at the visitors center.

In August the parking lot at Logan Pass will be full by noon.

2 weeks at Glacier is a LOT of time unless you hike a lot. The Canada park side (Waterton) is much more scenic and better hiking trails. The Townsite CG at Waterton has full hookups and as the name implies is in walking distance of a small town with expensive food.

The KOA on the east side is well-run and very short drive to visitor center. I'd recommend it. The red Jammer tours for the GTS road will pick up and return there if you reserve that way.

I definite would spend a couple of days in Waterton. We regretted not overnighting there.

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Spent 5 days at Glacier last week.

Recommend 4-5 days on the east side and the rest of the time on the west side.

You will spend half of a day crossing the park from one side to the other. Going to the Sun Road will take 2-4 hours to cross the park. US-2 around the bottom might be faster, but still takes time.

You will not be permitted to take anything near as large as a 40' motor home over Going to the Sun road. I believe the limit is 25'.
Use Hiway 2.

The OP would use his toad for the GTS Road.

The weekend before Labor Day most parking lots on GTS were filled before 9 am. People were blocking traffic waiting for a spot to open on some turnouts. Driving or taking the bus was taking up to five or six hours each way across the park.

We met several people complaining about the free shuttle and the paid tour bus advising passengers to not get off at any of the stops and look at sights in detail. The entire out and back trip was taking the whole day.

That weekend it was faster to take US-2 around the bottom of the park than to take GTS to get from east to west or the opposite.

I still strongly recommend that on a first trip to Glacier, spend some time at an east side campground, some time at a west side campground. Do not expect to be able to easily drive back and forth from one side to the other.

Mikeborney, As frequent visitors to Glacier at that time of the year, please have a back-up plan in case of smoke and fires. We are retired so we just move on and this August never went to Glacier. But the last several years the fires in Montana and smoke from numerous other locations from the middle of summer have been brutal. We have encountered several folks the last couple of years that have had to re-do what they wanted they wanted to do. Hopefully next year will be better.

When we went we stayed at the East side KOA because they had a dog walking service where they would come to the RV during the day feed our dog and take hie for walks so we could take the all day Red Jammer Tour. The West side KOA did not have this service they had a business in the area that came and took your dog to there kennel.

East side is our favorite as it is the nature side and up to Logan Pass. West side is commercial side. Stay at KOA on east side. Not saying to drive the hwy 2 around to the west and even a day or two - but concentrate on the east side. Take bus tours if you want; we have been there a few times and do no as they are limiting....we like to spend our time as WE choose when driving the Going To The Sun road. And head our early when doing that drive.

No matter which side of the park you stay at, take the toad & drive out to the Polebridge Mercantile on the west side for a cinnamon roll or sticky bun. A great bakery!