Traveling from East Glacier to West Glacier

[astern2]

We will be going to Glacier park this summer. I'm trying to figure the best route to get from East Glacier to West Glacier. The gps takes us on route 2. We have a 43' MH towing a Jeep. Is Route 2 a good road or are we better backtracking and finding larger roads or interstates?

[JT]

you could mention that the suggested route is about 190 miles further than using US 2.
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You just did. 😉

[DRKMinWA]

From the National Park website for Glacier Park.

Are there vehicle size restrictions on the Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Yes. To help reduce congestion, vehicle size restrictions are in effect. Vehicles, and vehicle combinations, longer than 21 feet (including bumpers) or wider than 8 feet (including mirrors), are prohibited between Avalanche Campground and the Rising Sun picnic area parking. Vehicle and vehicle combinations over 10 feet in height may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass to the Loop, due to rock overhangs. Stock trucks and trailers are able to access Packers Roost on the west, and Siyeh Bend on the east.

[pulsar]

JT wrote:
You could also go north to Waterton, and cross the Rockies on AB/BC hwy 3. That's just as gentle a pass as US2.
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True, but if the OP and whoever else is in the vehicle aren't traveling with passports, taking a road in Canada is moot.

Glacier NP's website is an essential source for trip planning:

www.nps.gov/glac

And, X10 on Hwy. 2!

I ignore the post when it was posted, but since you brought it up again, you could mention that the suggested route is about 190 miles further than using US 2.

Tom

[JT]

You could also go north to Waterton, and cross the Rockies on AB/BC hwy 3. That's just as gentle a pass as US2.
----
True, but if the OP and whoever else is in the vehicle aren't traveling with passports, taking a road in Canada is moot.

Glacier NP's website is an essential source for trip planning:

www.nps.gov/glac

And, X10 on Hwy. 2!

[sweetnoni]

beautiful drive, and good road!

[crabbin_cabin]

agesilaus wrote:
Hwy 2 in this case is going to the sun road and it takes you over a 12,000+ ft pass. Logan Pass.

Road FAQs

There are vehicle restrictions and you may not be able to go over it in your RV. Very scenic road and you will want to go over in your toad if nothing else. We've seen mountain goats every time we traveled it.

It is a long drive around from the west to the east side and I'm not sure why you want to go over with your RV. There is not as much to see on the east side and a day trip with your toad will show you what there is, get an early start.

Highway US 2 is NOT the Going to the Sun road!! #2 is the highway that goes around the south end - outside of- the Park. It is a good highway and easily done in any vehicle, including RVs

[pulsar]

East Glacier is a village and is located on US 2. West Glacier is also a village located on US 2. One would use US 2 to travel between.

If by "East Glacier" you mean the eastern side of the park at St. Mary, then the easiest drive is to drive north on 89 toward Babb and take Montana 464, aka. Duck Lake Road, to US 2.

The shorter route is to take 89 south to US 2. (If your GPS suggests 89 to 49 to 2, don't take 49. You exceed the length restrictions and you would not enjoy the drive.)

If you are starting from St Mary and going to West Glacier, how are you going to St Mary? Again 464 is the easier drive.

Tom

[paulj]

You could also go north to Waterton, and cross the Rockies on AB/BC hwy 3. That's just as gentle a pass as US2.

[Lauren]

When leaving East Glacier, I go north on 89 toward Babb and take Duck Lake Road(464) To Browning. From there, I take US 2 to the west side. US 2 is a good highway. It's a little longer, but I don't like going south on 89 to Browning. And by no means do you want to drive 49 from 89 to US 2.

Yup, the only way to do it.

[oldcat1]

rv2go wrote:
When leaving East Glacier, I go north on 89 toward Babb and take Duck Lake Road(464) To Browning. From there, I take US 2 to the west side. US 2 is a good highway. It's a little longer, but I don't like going south on 89 to Browning. And by no means do you want to drive 49 from 89 to US 2.

X2. 464 a much easier drive than 89 south.

[Dr_Quick]

We were at both East and West Glacier this past year. Highway 2 goes around the south side of the park and is a very good road and very scenic. Highway to the Sun goes through the park and is limited to I believe a 20 RV. That road is very narrow and even a large pickup like mine is almost to big for the road. Had to put mirrors in for extra clearance. Both sides of the park have interesting scenery and we drove the Sun Hwy from both ends to Logan Pass. There is also more interesting places north of the east entry to see so take in both sides. Actually felt that first section of west road was more like going through a forest not much to see until you get to lake. When going from the East to the West side with a RV would recommend staying off HWY 49, narrow and winding.
West side is more commercialized then then east side.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

coolmom42 wrote:
This is not correct. US 2 goes around the south side of the park, across Marias Pass. Marias Pass is about 4000 ft lower than Logan Pass---that's why it was chosen by Union Pacific for the rail route. US 2 is a good road, no bad grades or curves.

Another vote for US 2 route. Good road all the way through.

Oh, and it was Great Northern Railroad, now BNSF, who built their transcontinental route through Marias Pass. Union Pacific is nowhere close to that location.

[coolmom42]

rv2go wrote:
When leaving East Glacier, I go north on 89 toward Babb and take Duck Lake Road(464) To Browning. From there, I take US 2 to the west side. US 2 is a good highway. It's a little longer, but I don't like going south on 89 to Browning. And by no means do you want to drive 49 from 89 to US 2.

This, absolutely.

[coolmom42]

agesilaus wrote:
Hwy 2 in this case is going to the sun road and it takes you over a 12,000+ ft pass. Logan Pass.

Road FAQs

There are vehicle restrictions and you may not be able to go over it in your RV. Very scenic road and you will want to go over in your toad if nothing else. We've seen mountain goats every time we traveled it.

It is a long drive around from the west to the east side and I'm not sure why you want to go over with your RV. There is not as much to see on the east side and a day trip with your toad will show you what there is, get an early start.

This is not correct. US 2 goes around the south side of the park, across Marias Pass. Marias Pass is about 4000 ft lower than Logan Pass---that's why it was chosen by Union Pacific for the rail route. US 2 is a good road, no bad grades or curves.