NE Ohio to Glacier NP

[stew47]

Well I marked off vacation and was able to take 20 days beginning July 17. Would love to make our trip to glacier this year. I believe I'd like to stay on west side and spend little time around kalispel and flathead valley. I guess does anyone have suggestions for campground? Also thinking of taking northerly route over and little more southerly route coming back. Any attractions? Also I'd like to make daily drives not much more than 6 hours. That makes 5 days there and back. I'd like some campgrounds and some just parking. Any thoughts on places to stay?

[stew47]

So glacier opens June 21 according to campground. I have to slide things down a bit

[patperry2766]

Glacier

These are some of my pics from Glacier. We were there in July 2018. It was an incredible trip and there was something amazingly cool about it.

I've been to Yellowstone, JH, and Custer. Out of all the National Parks, IMO...it was one of the least populated based on the size.
I could get up early in the morning and go hiking, and I might not see another soul for 3-4 hours.

Sure, things get buzy on Going to the Sun road and places like that, but overall, I think I would consider it one of the less visited NP.

My wife and I fell in absolute love with the area and suprisingly outside of Ft Davis Mountains area in Texas, it was one of our most favorite trips EVER.

That being said, we really enjoyed the Black Hills as well and would go back there again happily.

[padredw]

If you can't make Glacier, the Badlands and Custer SP are worth a trip in and of itself

In view of your available dates I agree with my friends above. We spent a week in Custer (Custer's Gulch Campground--private) and had access to Custer State Park, Wildlife Loop, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, Rapid City, Deadwood, Crazy Horse, and Mount Rushmore (to name some highlights).

One of our favorite campgrounds is Mountain Meadows in Hungry Horse on the west side of Glacier, but that was in high season when Road to the Sun was fully open. That's where I'd go back for a Glacier visit, but only when the park would be fully open.

[Busskipper]

patperry2766 wrote:

stew47 wrote:
Ok thanks all. The opening day has me a little worried but I can’t change the dates and go later because of wok. Worst case is we go further south. Hoping for glacier. Honestly I would like to spend some time in kalispell and flat head valley. Pictures I’ve seen seems really nice area.

If you can't make Glacier, the Badlands and Custer SP are worth a trip in and of itself and you wouldn't be settling. I've been to both and I'd take Custer over Kalispell any day of the week

Custer - Needles - Black Hills......et all will fill most summer vacations Many options are in the images just click on the circles 🙂

Not that Glacier is Bad - Just better Later 🙂

JMHO,

[patperry2766]

stew47 wrote:
Ok thanks all. The opening day has me a little worried but I can’t change the dates and go later because of wok. Worst case is we go further south. Hoping for glacier. Honestly I would like to spend some time in kalispell and flat head valley. Pictures I’ve seen seems really nice area.

If you can't make Glacier, the Badlands and Custer SP are worth a trip in and of itself and you wouldn't be settling. I've been to both and I'd take Custer over Kalispell any day of the week

[patperry2766]

I was there this past summer. Stayed on both sides. Stayed in Glacier Campground on the West side and Two Medicine Campground on the East side.

The west side of the park is more tourist oriented, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because there's plenty of stuff to do and I really enjoyed it.

HOWEVER, Two Medicine on the East side was the bomb. There is less stuff to do for sure, but Browning is just a few miles away and you can easily get all the provisions you need. There is a small store inside the park that carries probably most anything you would really need.

I got lucky and scored a site across from the lake so the daytime breeze kept us cool and the evenings got down into the 50's. Some of the best hiking trails originate from that park (so I'm told) and I really can't argue that point.

Both sides have their pro's & con's and if you can swing it, try staying on both sides. I personally felt that the East side is more relaxing because there is less to do except be close to nature.

[stew47]

Ok thanks all. The opening day has me a little worried but I can’t change the dates and go later because of wok. Worst case is we go further south. Hoping for glacier. Honestly I would like to spend some time in kalispell and flat head valley. Pictures I’ve seen seems really nice area.

[hornet28]

On the west side of the park you might be interested in seeing this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_Horse_Dam

[GeoBoy]

Stew, you are smart to go to West Glacier. East Glacier is limited on services, fuel and supplies are expensive there.
The KOA in West Glacier is very convenient and the Red Bus Tours pick up there. You could also stay at the Columbia Falls RV Park, which is half way between Kalispell, West Glacier and the Flat Head Valley. Enjoy you trip.

[Busskipper]

stew47 wrote:
Sorry to rehash my old thread. That year the kids wanted a beach vacation and wife couldn’t get the whole time off so we went to Florida. Ended up with a new 2017 f250 on that one. Long story. Anyways this year we are looking back into glacier. June 8 to June 30. New twist on last trip planning. Like to do more boondocking on the way out and back. We will use a campsite in glacier though. Anyways any more suggestions?

June 16th is the earliest opening day (Last 10 years) for "Going to the Sun Road" - which is not to be missed..............Just keep that in Mind. .:)

[tragusa3]

The year we went, Going to the Sun road would not have been open within the window of your dates. I wouldn't want to drive that far if I couldn't explore that road.

We stayed on both sides. A few days on the West and then a 4-5 days in St. Mary's on the East. East was our preference.

For many people, the wind can change plans. We had a few days that it was downright miserable to be outside.

Have you been to the other major parks that might be along your route? Badlands? Black Hills?

[2chiefsRus]

past opening datesYou might want to rethink your dates for glacier

stew47 wrote:
Sorry to rehash my old thread. That year the kids wanted a beach vacation and wife couldn’t get the whole time off so we went to Florida. Ended up with a new 2017 f250 on that one. Long story. Anyways this year we are looking back into glacier. June 8 to June 30. New twist on last trip planning. Like to do more boondocking on the way out and back. We will use a campsite in glacier though. Anyways any more suggestions?

[HHfundays]

rv2go wrote:
Each to their own, but I enjoy the East side better. We always stay inside the Park at the St. Mary's CG. If you need hookups, there are CG's in the town of St. Marys.
Do all the entrances to the Park on the East side.
The Going to the Sun road should be open by the time of your visit.
Bring your passports and do a day trip to the Canadian side of the Park.
Take a boat ride.

My vote too. Sites are booking fast so get yours right away. I was just looking yesterday and there wasn't much left.
Be sure to do Logan's Pass too.

We also sayed on the West Side in the KOA which was a nice one, but the east side is my favorite.

Walmarts and truck stops are great for pushing out and back. If coming back thru ND stop at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and enjoy the Medora pitchfork steak cookout and show. This breaks up the drive.

Enjoy your adventure!

[stew47]

Sorry to rehash my old thread. That year the kids wanted a beach vacation and wife couldn’t get the whole time off so we went to Florida. Ended up with a new 2017 f250 on that one. Long story. Anyways this year we are looking back into glacier. June 8 to June 30. New twist on last trip planning. Like to do more boondocking on the way out and back. We will use a campsite in glacier though. Anyways any more suggestions?