Visiting Glacier National Park is an incredible experience no matter what, but it can be confusing to know which entrance to prioritize to make the most of your vacation.
The West Entrance is the best entrance for ease of accessibility and proximity to food and lodging for Glacier National Park. However, guests should select which entrance they use based on which entrance is the closest to where they are staying. Glacier National Park has seven individual entrances. Three of the entrances (Camas, West Glacier, and St. Mary) give you access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. In addition, there are entrances at Polebridge, Many Glacier, Cut Bank, and Two Medicine.
I have lived and worked in Glacier for years and have explored everything that each of the park entrances has to offer, but which entrance will provide the best experience for you?
To make sure you have the greatest trip possible, read along to learn everything you need to know about each of Glacier National Park’s seven entrances.
Glacier National Park has seven individual entrances. Three of the entrances (Camas, West Glacier, and St. Mary) give you access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. In addition, there are entrances at Polebridge, Many Glacier, Cut Bank, and Two Medicine.
When deciding which entrance to use, it is important to consider where your lodging is located. To avoid hours and hours of driving, try to choose activities that are located within the entrances nearest to your lodging. Of course, it is okay to drive around the park to other entrances if you want to! Find out Everything You Need to Know about Lodging in this article.
The Camas Entrance and the West Entrance are great if you are looking to drive or hike along the Going-to-the-Sun Road and your lodging is on the west side of Glacier.
The Polebridge Entrance is nice for folks staying on the west side of Glacier hoping for a remote experience and rugged terrain.
The St. Mary Entrance is perfect if you are hoping to drive or hike along the Going-to-the-Sun Road and your lodging is on the east side of Glacier.
The Many Glacier, Cut Bank, and Two Medicine Entrances are ideal for avid hikers and wildlife lovers who are staying on the east side of Glacier.
West Side Entrances: West Entrance, Camas, Polebridge
East Side Entrances: St. Mary, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Cut Bank
The West Entrance to Glacier National Park is located on the park’s west side, right outside the town of West Glacier.
The nearest towns are West Glacier, Hungry Horse, Coram, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Kalispell.
The West Entrance is the primary gateway to the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road that traverses the continental divide from the west side of Glacier to the east side. Remember that even though the West Entrance is open year-round, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually closed from mid-October through mid-July.
The West Entrance is near Apgar Village, which is a lovely and quaint (though often crowded) destination at the foot of Lake McDonald. In Apgar Village, you will find shops, restaurants, boat rentals, and ice cream.
The West Entrance is the easiest way to access Lake McDonald, which is a stunning location for sunrise, sunset, a swim, a paddle, or a picnic! Lake McDonald is the sight of many of the most iconic photos of Glacier National Park, and the lake with the famous “rainbow rocks”.
The West Entrance is open 24/7 every day of the year. The entrance station is usually staffed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. but this tends to fluctuate throughout the year as visitation goes up and down.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, a reservation was required to enter through the West Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June-September.
The Camas Entrance is located on Camas Road on the west side of Glacier National Park but is much more remote and less popular than the West Entrance.
The Camas Entrance and Camas Road can be accessed via the North Fork Road driving north from Columbia Falls, MT. To get there, drive 20 miles up the North Fork Road along the western edge of Glacier National Park. After turning onto Camas Road, there are only a few more miles until the entrance station.
Something to consider is the fact that the first 10 miles of the North Fork Road are paved, but the rest of the drive toward the entrance is gravel. Sometimes the road is great and other times it is a nightmare!
The nearest towns are Columbia Falls, West Glacier, Coram, Hungry Horse, Kalispell, and Whitefish.
The Camas Entrance is another way to reach the Going-to-the-Sun Road without using the West Entrance. Getting to the Camas Entrance is out of the way and off the beaten path, but the views are spectacular and worth the detour!
To get to the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the Camas Entrance, continue to the Apgar Visitor Center. Once you reach the visitor center intersection, you have made it! The Apgar Visitor Center itself is a great place to visit if you have questions for park rangers or if you are interested in using the park’s shuttle system.
The Camas Entrance is open to foot traffic 24/7 all year long. The Camas Road is a popular place for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the long snowy winter months.
If you are arriving at the Camas Entrance by vehicle, you can expect it to be open from June to October. However, exact dates fluctuate year to year because of weather conditions.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, a reservation was required to enter through the Camas Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June-September.
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The Polebridge Entrance is also located on the west side of Glacier National Park but is much further north than the West Entrance or the Camas Entrance.
The Polebridge Entrance is the most remote entrance and is around an hour away from the nearest town with a grocery store or gas. It is only a mile outside the town of Polebridge but is 30 miles north of West Glacier and 36 miles north of Columbia Falls. The next nearest towns are Whitefish, Hungry Horse, and Coram.
The Polebridge Entrance is the gateway to the North Fork region of Glacier National Park. The North Fork is one of the most remote parts of Glacier but is still very popular because of its rugged scenery and secluded, primitive feel.
From the Polebridge Entrance, you can reach Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake. Both of these lakes are spectacularly beautiful and offer camping and hiking opportunities. However, the roads to reach them are unpleasant at best. Be prepared for a slow, bumpy, dusty drive if you decide to venture into the North Fork.
The Polebridge Entrance is open 24/7 all year long for foot traffic. If you are entering the park in a vehicle, the entrance is only open from mid-May through mid-October. These opening and closing dates are dependent on weather, especially snowfall, so don’t count on them.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, a reservation was required to enter through the Camas Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June-September.
The St. Mary Entrance is located on the east side of Glacier National Park, just outside the tiny town of St. Mary.
The nearest towns are St. Mary, East Glacier, and Browning.
The St. Mary Entrance is the eastern gateway to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. After driving through the St. Mary Entrance, you are on the iconic highway and can drive it up to Logan Pass or continue all the way to West Glacier. All along the Going-to-the-Sun Road are shorter hikes and roadside exhibits you can check out on your drive.
The St. Mary Entrance is located at the foot of St. Mary Lake, a stunningly beautiful lake surrounded by impressive peaks. Glacier Park Boat Company offers scenic boat tours June-September.
Just inside the St. Mary Entrance is the St. Mary Visitor Center, which is a fantastic resource for guests hoping to speak with a Park Ranger or explore fascinating exhibits.
The St. Mary Entrance is open to pedestrians and bicyclists all year but is usually only open to vehicles from mid-May through mid-October. The open season for vehicles is dependent on snowfall amounts, so the dates fluctuate year to year.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, a reservation was not required to enter through the St. Mary Entrance. However, at Rising Sun, 6 miles west of St. Mary on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, reservations were required between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June to September.
The Many Glacier Entrance is located on the east side of Glacier National Park, about 16 miles from St. Mary.
The nearest towns are Babb, St. Mary, and Browning.
Many Glacier is known for its hiking trails. The Grinnell Glacier Trail, Iceberg Lake Trail, Cracker Lake Trail, and Swiftcurrent Pass Trail are all located in Many Glacier. Many Glacier also contains a 2.5-mile ADA-accessible trail around Swiftcurrent Lake.
Many Glacier is also home to the iconic Many Glacier Hotel–a beautiful and historic Swiss-style chalet built by the Great Northern Railway.
Many Glacier is one of the best places in the park to see wildlife, so make sure to keep your eyes open for bears, moose, deer, and bighorn sheep on the drive into the valley!
The Many Glacier Entrance is open to foot traffic 24 hours a day for the entire year. The entrance is open to vehicles usually from mid-May through mid-October, though these dates can vary depending on the snowfall of a given year.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, a reservation was required to enter through the Many Glacier Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June-September.
The Two Medicine Entrance is located on the east side of Glacier National Park, south of the St. Mary Entrance.
The nearest towns are East Glacier, Browning, and St. Mary.
Two Medicine is home to Two Medicine Lake which offers lovely views and scenic boat tours offered by Glacier Park Boat Company.
Two Medicine is a hiker’s paradise, with many popular hiking trails like Dawson-Pitamakan, Cobalt Lake, and Scenic Point. Two Medicine also contains an ADA-accessible 0.2-mile trail to Running Eagle Falls.
Two Medicine is one of the more primitive parts of the park, so you will not find a lodge or restaurant here.
The Two Medicine Entrance is open to foot traffic all day for the entire year. Vehicles can only access the Two Medicine Entrance from mid-May through mid-October, however, these dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, a reservation was required to enter through the Two Medicine Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June-September.
The Cut Bank Entrance is located on the east side of Glacier National Park, north of Two Medicine and south of St. Mary. It is the least popular park entrance.
The nearest towns are East Glacier, Browning, and St. Mary.
There is a primitive campground with no water available and one trailhead.
The Cut Bank entrance is really only suited for the most adventurous folks who are experienced, campers, hikers, or backpackers.
There is no ranger station or visitor center here.
The Cut Bank Entrance is open to foot traffic year-round, but only open to vehicles from mid-May through mid-October.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2023, no reservation was required to drive through the Cut Bank Entrance.
Each entrance has its benefits and drawbacks. I’m not sure it’s possible to say that one is the best! I’ve divided the winners (in my opinion and experience) into a few categories.
| Best Entrance for Ease of Accessibility and Proximity to Food and Lodging | West Entrance |
| Best Entrance for Mountain Views and Driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road | St. Mary Entrance |
| Best Entrance for Hiking and Wildlife | Many Glacier Entrance |
No matter which entrance you choose, there’s no way you can go wrong. Everywhere in Glacier is spectacular so remember to breathe and enjoy the experience!
Planning a vacation shouldn’t be stressful. We created a step-by-step itinerary so you can visit the best places at the right times.
Not only that, but we’ll tell you about the park while you drive with our audio guide! Stop planning and start having the vacation of your dreams now!
GLACIER TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Glacier National Park, check out our Glacier Homepage
THINGS TO DO: Check out what not to miss and other things to do in Glacier including, hiking, and the amazing boat tours. Find out how to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road with our free printable
WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss the best places to eat in Glacier National Park
WHERE TO STAY: Learn all about where to stay when visiting Glacier
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out which entrance is best for Glacier National Park as well as what to do when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed and if you need bear spray while visiting or if swimming is allowed
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Glacier National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Glacier YouTube Playlist
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