Glacier National Park is stunning. If you want more of those stunning views, Lake McDonald Lodge is the place to be.
Lake McDonald Lodge offers expansive views, charming but rustic accommodations, and fine dining. The easy access to the Going to the Sun Road, Trail of the Cedars, boat tours, and the iconic Red Bus tours makes it the ideal place to stay when visiting West Glacier.
I am a special educator who loves to help people travel to the West. I’ve also been lucky enough to stay at all the lodges in Glacier National Park.
Read on for my honest, down-to-earth review to see if Lake McDonald is a good choice for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| Closer to headliner attractions like the Trail of the Cedars and Going-to-the-Sun Road | Terrible Wi-Fi and no cell connection |
| Gorgeous views from the outdoor seating area | No TVs or AC |
| Red Bus tour pick up | Pricey and books up early |
| Cozy and comfortable rooms | Small rooms |
| Charlie Russell Dining Room | No dedicated parking |
West Glacier is the most popular section of Glacier National Park. The Lake McDonald Lodge is nestled along the shore of Lake McDonald and is minutes away from Apgar Lake, Trail of the Cedars, Avalanche Lake, and the GTSR (Going to the Sun Road).
The location alone makes the Lake McDonald Lodge worth the cost. Unless you are camping, the next closest lodging is about 30 minutes away.
I really liked that I could walk out back and take a Lake McDonald Boat Tour. Or rent a kayak or paddleboard. Or, just sit on the benches and enjoy the view of the lake and mountains.
I could also walk out front and catch a Red Bus Tour going over the incredible GTSR.
To be honest, I’ve always shirked away from paying the $250 + cost of a room in many of the national park lodges. But now, I have discovered that staying in a lodge within the park gives me much more time to enjoy the beauty of the park that I paid hundred (or thousands) of dollars traveling to.
One complaint I have is that there are no dedicated parking stalls for hotel guests. Everyone uses the same parking facilities. It’s possible you will have to park up to .25 of a mile away, which is not fun – even if you are a light-packer.
Our room was “rustic” and “cozy” which sometimes means “old” and “cramped.” Both are true about the rooms at Lake McDonald Lodge.
There were a few modern upgrades. We had a magnetic key card, coffee maker, and blow dryer but our room was very basic.
Our room contained a comfortable bed, a desk with a chair, a stand-alone sink on the exterior of the bathroom, a chest for our clothes, and a little stand with a fan on it to help blow cool air into our room from the window.
It’s very common for rooms in national park lodges to not have AC or TVs, and for the Wi-Fi to be spotty.
I missed the air conditioning because Montana was going through a hot spell while we were there.
| Liked | Didn’t Like |
| Wooden furniture | No AC |
| Comfy bed | Very small |
| Clean and modern bathroom | Exposed pipes |
| Nice toiletries | |
| Smart use of space | |
| Some rooms had nice views (ours didn’t) | |
| Nicely decorated |
Not having a TV isn’t a problem because we were in Glacier National Park!!! We definitely had better things to do!
The unreliable Wi-Fi was frustrating because there wasn’t good cell service in the park. As much as we would have liked to disconnect from the world, we had four children at home as well as an employee we need to be in contact with!
If you absolutely must be connected to the world, you may want to stay outside the park.
The wood decor was nice. Compared to the other 5 lodges we stayed at in Glacier, Lake McDonald was above average. But there were some exposed pipes that were unattractive.
Our room was tiny and only meant for 2 people. I don’t believe Lake McDonald Lodge would have had a room that could accommodate my family of 6. If they did, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it!
The bathroom was simple but had been updated. It contained a toilet and shower (with excellent water pressure – yes!!!), very soft towels, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and make-up remover that was a step up from my typical toiletries.
I usually book lodging at a hotel chain where I get free breakfast and have access to a gym and pool.
These are not options here.
At the Lake McDonald Lodge, you’ll receive very classy service from a bellhop and gracious hosts at the front desk.
Make sure to check out the information desk, staffed by a knowledgeable and helpful employee. They’ll answer any question, from Red Bus Tours to things to do inside and outside the park. We had a number of enjoyable conversations with the Information Desk staff throughout the park.
The lobby is the real star of the show. Filled with oversized, comfortable chairs and couches, guests can sit around the fire and listen to the background music of the grand piano.
The hanging lights and views of the upper floors are beautiful and fun to look at.
Meeting other hotel guests, swapping stories, and sharing travel tips is my favorite way to end a day of sightseeing. I’m glad there are no TVs in the room.
Although Lake McDonald Lodge has a lounge and a quick service restaurant, I’ve found that I’d rather eat picnics in national parks and save my money for breakfast or dinner in fine dining restaurants.
Dinner at Russell’s Fireside Dining Room is a delight and did not disappoint. I especially loved the carrot ginger soup and huckleberry trout! Between the lovely views from the expansive windows and delicious food, I was one happy camper.
One thing to note. The Dining Room served a buffet dinner while I was there. I don’t think this is usually the case but it was during a time when they were short-staffed. If you are concerned about this, you may want to check the menu on the Xanterra website (Xanterra manages the dining room) ahead of time.
Seriously, if you can get the carrot ginger soup you have to do it!
The dining room is named after Charlie Russell, perhaps the most famous western artist. Russell spent the last 20 summers of his life at this lodge (then called the Bull Head Lodge) painting and entertaining guests.
I highly encourage you to check out the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana for an incredible western art experience.
Lake McDonald Lodge was built using charming Swiss-style architecture. It was built in 1913 by the railroad to entice wealthy guests to buy train tickets and visit the West.
The wooden windows and hanging flower baskets actually add to the beauty of the surrounding Glacier National Park and Lake McDonald.
Aside from the excellent location, the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere at Lake McDonald Lodge is my biggest reason to stay there.
I love to sit in the lobby at night. It looks like the lights are floating lanterns. It’s especially cozy if a fire is going or one of the guests sits down to play the piano. Guests can enjoy a drink from the lounge and either read, play board games, or visit with other travelers.
Outside in the back is a grassy hillside where benches are scattered about for guests to enjoy the views.
Sitting on one of these benches and enjoying a sunset with Matt was one of my favorite moments of our most recent trip to Glacier. It was so nice to not be rushing to our next thing. I got to enjoy the view I’d spent my hard-earned money to see.
Honestly, when I looked at pictures of the lodge before I went, I couldn’t tell if it was charming or just old.
Once I arrived, the lodge, the landscaping, the busses, the lake, and the whole scene were delightfully charming. I particularly enjoyed seeing it lit up at night.
Even now as I look at my pictures after my visit it’s sometimes hard to see that charm in the photos.
It’s kind of strange, but I felt this way about all of the Glacier Park Lodges: more charming in person than in the photos.
If the Lake McDonald Lodge sounds like something for you, know they take reservations a year in advance and they do fill up. Matt and I acquired lodging well in advance and we were unable to get a reservation at Lake McDonald Lodge until a few weeks before our trip. As our trip grew near, we periodically checked the Lodge’s availability and we got extremely lucky there was a cancellation.
They don’t have a wait list but they do have a generous cancellation policy. Many people cancel last minute so it may be possible to secure a reservation a few days before your trip if you get on the website and check.
Count on the price of your room being $250 and up, per night, and not being able to check in until around 4:00 pm.
If you can afford it and you plan your trips in advance….. absolutely YES!!! You will save significant travel time getting to the most popular places, enjoy some luxury from the past, and get more time to enjoy the beauty of Glacier National Park.
Since West Glacier is the main entrance to Glacier National Park, there are many lodging options on the west side.
If you’re looking for lodging near other areas of Glacier, check out our reviews of the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes, CA as well as the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and the Many Glacier Hotel in Many Glacier, and the Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier.
Read everything you need to know about lodging inside Glacier National Park for more information.
If you prefer to stay outside the park, the Belton Chalet is an option. See our full Belton Chalet review.
In addition, there are many hotels, VRBOs, and Airbnbs in West Glacier, Kalispell, and Whitefish. We recommend using booking.com to find the best deals for lodging in these areas that are outside of the park.
Yes! Planning a trip to a national park can take days. It can be overwhelming and stressful. Let us lighten the load. Check out our must-have Travel Itinerary to Glacier National Park
Our itinerary provides you with a daily (yet flexible) plan to help you efficiently see the park. It will get you to the most important places, at the right time to avoid the crowds, by telling you exactly how to do it. You can’t go wrong. Get your travel itinerary today!
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