2 weeks in Glacier August 2018

[Mikeborny]

I am beginning my planning for family vacation at Glacier next summer. We have a 40' class A and coming from the east. Looking to see if I can stay at one place, or does it make sense to try a couple of different campgrounds to see the most of Glacier. I am also towing a jeep.

[padredw]

Mountain Meadow RV Park & Cabins
Hungry Horse, Montana
https://mountainmeadowrv.com

We had a 34' fifth wheel.

I can confirm this word for word. Definitely where I would go back for any visit to Glacier. One of our favorite campgrounds. Outside the commercial area of West Glacier, but handy.

[Norskeman]

We stayed here in 2013:
Mountain Meadow RV Park & Cabins
Hungry Horse, Montana
https://mountainmeadowrv.com

We had a 34' fifth wheel. Made reservations in March of that year for an August trip.

[GeoBoy]

I have stayed in both east and west Glacier and I would stay on the west side, lots more to do. Try the different campgrounds in Kalispell, White Fish and definitely stay at Columbia Falls RV Park in Columbia Falls, MT.

[docsouce]

We spent the first 5 days of this past July at the St.Mary KOA. Had a ball. The people running the campground were great. As mentioned they offer a pet care service and if you aren't towing a vehicle, like us, they have rental cars available right on site. The rental cost was very reasonable too. It was a new Camery. Our RV is 25 ft over all length and 21 feet OAL is the max allowed on the Going to the Sun Road and Route 49 which cuts from Rt 2 East Glacier Park Village to rt 89. You'll see it on the map. We don't hike much so the 5 days in St Mary were fine. The day we rented the car and when over the Going to the Sun road we spent a few hours on the west side, which was enough for us,then took that rt 49 back toward St Mary. Very tight turns and steep grades. It was OK in a car but I can see why it is restricted to 21 ft. Max length. When you are at St Mary please include a run to to "Many Glacier" a few miles north St Mary off rt 89. A great scenic road with a waterfall too.

[time2roll]

Book your reservations early. Last July we found many RV parks and campgrounds to be full. We had to hop a bit but it worked out OK. Red bus tour also fills up but with a two week window you should not have an issue. Don't forget your passport to visit Waterton on the Canadian side. We had more to do on the East and North.

Two full weeks is a lot of time at the park unless you are big on hiking or boating such as a canoe. Check regulations as watercraft can be restricted.
JMHO

[vermilye]

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!

[Lauren]

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.

[TyroneandGladys]

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.

[bobsallyh]

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.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

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.

[Ed_Gee]

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.

[NCWriter]

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.

[TenOC]

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.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

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.