Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

Spanning more than a million acres, Montana’s Glacier National Park is an enormous sanctuary of natural beauty and sheer wilderness. While you could spend years attempting to see every corner of the park—from its 762 lakes and 65 backcountry campgrounds to its 158 trails totaling a length of nearly 746 miles—there’s one incredibly popular, efficient way to see some of the highlights: driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

“It is the only road that goes through the park, and you can either enter from the West Entrance or the east at the St. Mary Entrance,” says Autumn Sifuentes, a public affairs specialist at Glacier National Park who describes the route as an “incredible engineering feat.” The 50-mile route is open in the summer and typically closes in mid-October, so if you want to see all of the wildflowers, waterfalls, wildlife, and endless mountain views, you’ll need to plan accordingly.

Know Before You Go

The portion of the road near the West Entrance, just past West Glacier Village, is open year-round, but the alpine section—which reaches nearly 6,500 feet above sea level at its highest point, Logan Pass—is only open seasonally. While Sifuentes notes that the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road “usually opens in early July,” this year, the full route opened up to public vehicles on June 16. Without stopping, the drive typically takes around two hours to complete.

It might be only 50 miles long, but this isn’t a drive you can, or should, attempt without some initial planning. Once you’ve checked the road’s status and conditions on the National Park Service website, you’ll need to decide which entrance you’ll begin the journey from. If you’re beginning the drive at the West Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. (through Sept. 28, 2025), you’ll need to make a timed-entry reservation; you will also be required to pay the park’s entry fee or show your park pass. No reservation is required if you enter from the east side at St. Mary or outside of those aforementioned hours on the west side. No matter which entrance you choose, be sure you have a full tank of gas; there are no stations along the Going-to-the-Sun Road—or within the park, for that matter.

“It’s also essential to prioritize safety and the safety of your companions, along with being bear aware,” says Sifuentes. Abide by the posted speed limits, keep an eye out for other cars pulling in and out of overlooks and the various stops along the route, and stay a safe distance from wildlife. It’s not a bad idea to have bear spray with you, too. 

The National Park Service offers a shuttle service for those visitors who’d rather not worry about driving or parking. The 10- to 15-passenger sprinter buses are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis, and they run every 15 to 30 minutes between Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center (passengers change at Logan Pass). The shuttle begins July 1 and runs through Labor Day.

Stops Along the Road

There are dozens of interesting spots you can hike to from the road—like St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls—but you’ll still get to experience some jaw-dropping sights by sticking to the main road. “There are many wonderful pull-outs along Going-to-the-Sun Road,” notes Sifuentes, specifically mentioning the “pull-outs close to St. Mary Lake, which is on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road.” 

As you continue the drive west, you’ll make it to Jackson Glacier Overlook; bring a pair of binoculars so you can get a closer look at one of the park’s remaining glaciers. A few miles later, you’ll come to Siyeh Bend. Stop here for views of the surrounding peaks or to hike the Siyeh Pass Trail or the Piegan Pass Trail.

It’s quite difficult to find a parking spot at the Logan Pass Visitor Center; if you’re lucky, you’ll get a chance to stretch your legs and explore the highest point of the road and the place where it crosses the continental divide. This is also where you’ll find the trailhead for one of the best hikes in the park, the Highline Trail, and you may even spot some mountain goats from the overlooks around Logan Pass. 

After leaving Logan Pass, you’ll go by Oberlin Bend—pull over for stunning mountain vistas—and then prepare to encounter some particularly gorgeous waterfalls. At Bird Woman Falls Overlook, you’ll get a glimpse of the eponymous 560-foot water feature in the distance, and the series of waterfalls that make up Haystack Creek Falls and the Weeping Wall is just a short drive west. 

After you navigate around the famous hairpin turn known as “The Loop,” you’ll continue the descent to the nearly turquoise waters of McDonald Creek and Avalanche Creek, Lake McDonald Lodge (where you can stop for a refreshing swim in the lake), and onto the visitors center at Apgar Village.

Planning Your Trip

Given the popularity of the route in general, try to avoid weekends and holidays if you can. Sifuentes also recommends driving the road in September. “The temperature is usually cooling down, so be mindful of that,” she warns. If you’re willing to get up early or stay up a little later, time your drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road right before sunrise or sunset (and the sun doesn’t set in this part of Montana until around 10 p.m. during the summer).

Pack layers, plenty of water, and snacks. If you’re driving from the east side, you’ll definitely want to fill up on treats—don’t miss the huckleberry bear claws—from Kyiyo Mercantile after kicking off the day with a hearty diner breakfast at Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier Park. Those traveling from the west can get their road trip snacks at The Huckleberry Hut or West Glacier Mercantile in West Glacier Village.

There are quite a few places to stay in and around Glacier National Park that are convenient to driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road. In East Glacier Park, there’s the historic Glacier Park Lodge, built in 1913. Staying at Lake McDonald Lodge puts you directly on the scenic road, and LOGE Glacier sits between the two gateway towns; it’s about a 30-minute drive to West Glacier Village.