Some places make you stop talking; Glacier National Park was one of those places.
Three of us headed west for a four-day girls’ trip to celebrate a friend’s birthday, from Spokane, Washington, to Kalispell, Montana, through Glacier National Park, across the Canadian border to the Prince of Wales Hotel, and on to Flathead Lake. Along the way, we discovered that Montana really does deserve its nickname: Big Sky Country.
We expected mountains and lakes, and it would be beautiful. What we didn’t expect was to spend so much of the trip rounding a corner, looking out the window, and saying, “Wow.”
This trip wasn’t about hiking every trail or checking every attraction off a list. It was about getting in the car, taking the scenic route, stopping when something caught our attention, and enjoying the journey together.
And Glacier gave us plenty of reasons to stop and sometimes to be moved to song.
Our Montana Home Base: Kalispell
We spent three nights at the Hampton Inn in Kalispell, which made a convenient home base for exploring Glacier and the surrounding area. The hotel staff was a highlight of our stay. They were attentive, kind, and knowledgeable, always willing to answer questions and help us find our way around. We booked using our Hilton points.
The hotel was comfortable, although we did find it somewhat noisy. Still, the location and excellent staff made it a good choice for our time in Kalispell. We were also glad we had time to explore the town itself.
Discovering Sykes Diner and Kalispell’s Main Street
Before leaving Kalispell, we headed to the Main Street district and found the recommended Sykes Diner. There we enjoyed a wonderful brunch. We spent some time exploring the area and found some fun treasures to bring home, too. Those unplanned discoveries are often my favorite part of traveling.
Driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road is part of the Experience
One thing we learned quickly about Glacier National Park is that a car matters. It’s not easy to get around without wheels.
Going-to-the-Sun Road is more than just a way to get from one side of the park to the other. The road is part of the experience. The scenery changes around you. Mountains rise above the road, valleys spread below, waterfalls tumble down the hillsides, and the views seem to go on forever.
You can tour the park another way, including the famous Red Bus Tours, but capacity is limited, and the tour costs extra. Driving gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace and stop whenever we found a safe place to pull over.
And you’re going to want to stop. A lot.
We spent about a day and a half exploring Glacier and essentially driving through the park twice. That turned out to be a good thing. The first time, it was almost impossible to take everything in. Another mountain, waterfall, valley, or overlook was always waiting around the next curve. The second time let us revisit some of our favorite views and catch things we missed the first time, at a different time of day.
The roads, however, are not for everyone. Glacier has some seriously squiggly roads.
Plenty of curves, steep climbs, and stretches where you need to keep your attention firmly on the road. If winding mountain roads make you nervous, driving may not be the most relaxing part of your vacation.
But the views are absolutely worth it!
Montana’s Big Sky
I had experienced Montana’s Big Sky Country in Billings, back in 2017, but this trip made the phrase come alive. Maybe it’s the wide-open valleys. Maybe it’s the mountains that make you feel small. Whatever the reason, the sky really does seem bigger there.
Glacier is not a park you rush through. The crowds sometimes won’t let you linger, but take extra time. You will want to stop for photographs. And then you’ll want to stop again. If something catches your eye and there is a safe, designated place to pull over, take the opportunity. You may not see that exact view again.
A Little Canadian Adventure: Royal Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton, Alberta
One highlight of our trip was crossing the border into Canada and visiting the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton, Alberta. The border crossing was easy, and you have to take pictures of the sign where you cross into Alberta.
After hours surrounded by Glacier’s rugged scenery, sitting down for Royal Tea in a historic hotel felt like a completely different kind of adventure. With views of Waterton Lake and the mountains, the Prince of Wales Hotel feels like a step back in time.
We enjoyed the Royal Tea experience, with tea, sandwiches, pastries, and sweets. It was a wonderful chance to slow down after all the driving and sightseeing. We celebrated with a glass of prosecco and toasted our friend’s birthday.
Glacier gave us dramatic scenery. The Prince of Wales added a touch of elegance.
Together, they made one memorable girls’ trip.
Flathead Lake: One More Montana Surprise
As if Glacier hadn’t already given us enough beautiful scenery, we also visited Flathead Lake on our way back to Spokane. The water, the mountains, and that enormous Montana sky made it another place to stop and take it all in. It is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River in the United States. The water is so clear you can spot every color of the rocks beneath the surface. It is definately a place where you want to linger while enjoying the view from a porch.
Glacier may have been the reason for the trip, but Flathead Lake reminded us there is much more to see in this part of Montana.
Dinner in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho
On our way back to Spokane through Idaho, we stopped in beautiful Coeur d’Alene for dinner at Sweet Lou’s Restaurant & Tap House.
It turned out to be one of those unexpectedly fun stops that can make a road trip even better. Located right on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Sweet Lou’s offered a beautiful setting to relax and enjoy dinner after a day on the road. And, of course, we all tried the bison burger.
Between the views, good food, great service, and the chance to relax and enjoy another beautiful destination, Sweet Lou’s was a memorable stop on our mountain adventure.
Ending our trip in Spokane, Washington
Our four-day adventure began and ended in Spokane, Washington. On our final night, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at the Spokane airport before heading home. The hotel was convenient to the airport and comfortable for our final night. Again, we used our Hilton points.
Tips for touring Glacier National Park
After spending about a day and a half exploring Glacier by car, we came away with a few tips that might make your own trip a little easier:
- Pack More Food Than You Think You’ll Need
Food is not easy to find when you’re spending the day driving through Glacier. We brought a cooler and packed drinks, but we didn’t bring enough snacks or anything substantial for lunch. After a long day of driving, we wished we had packed sandwiches, protein bars, fruit, or other easy food.
We did find a pizza for dinner at Brownies Hostel and Bakery in East Glacier Park. That was one good pizza!
- Get Gas When You Have the Chance
Montana is a large state, and you can drive a surprisingly long way without finding another gas station. Even if you don’t think you need gas yet, filling up when you can can save you worry later.
- Allow Plenty of Time for Driving
Montana is bigger than it looks on a map. A drive across much of the state can take around eight hours, depending on your route. And don’t expect the roads to always be straight.
Between the mountains and changing terrain, there are plenty of curves. Add wildlife, traffic, scenic overlooks, and photo stops, and your drive may take longer than you expect.
- Stop When You Want To
If you see something beautiful and there is a safe, designated place to stop, take the opportunity. Take the picture. Walk around. Look at the view. Because you might not see that spot again.
Even though we drove through Glacier twice, the scenery could look completely different depending on the light, weather, and time of day. Don’t rush past the moments you’ll remember.
- Try the Huckleberries
This one is easy. Huckleberry treats are everywhere in this part of Montana, and they are delicious. And if you find huckleberry fudge, try it. Trust me on this one.
- Watch for Wildlife at Dusk
Montana’s wildlife is one of the things that makes the state so special, but it also means drivers need to pay attention—especially around dusk. Wildlife is more active, and animals near or on the road can be dangerous for drivers.
Seeing wildlife is exciting. Having it step directly in front of your car is considerably less exciting.
- Get Your Park Pass Before You Arrive
If you plan to visit several national parks, consider purchasing an annual pass. If you’re eligible for a Senior Pass, that may be an even better option since it’s good forever.
Having your pass ready before you reach the entrance can save time and help you get into the park faster.
Tip Wrap Up
A little preparation goes a long way. Pack the food, fill up the gas tank, give yourself plenty of time, watch for wildlife—and be ready to stop for “just one more picture.”
National Treasures: Why Glacier Park is Worth the Journey
Glacier National Park was the star of our trip, and for good reason. It is hard to describe the feeling of driving through those mountains and realizing that around every curve, there may be another view even more spectacular than the last. Photographs are beautiful, but they don’t quite capture the mountains’ scale, the sweeping valleys, or the feeling of standing beneath that enormous Montana sky.
Glacier reminded me why our national parks are such treasures. They preserve places of extraordinary beauty and give us the chance to experience landscapes bigger than our everyday lives. Whether you are standing beside a lake, driving through the mountains, watching wildlife, or stopping at an overlook simply to take in the view, there is something special about being reminded just how beautiful this country can be. And Glacier is only one of many treasures.
Each national park has its own stories and landscapes to discover. Every park is different, and every visit gives us another opportunity to experience a little more of this remarkable country. See as many as you can. Take the road trip. Make the detour. Get out of the car. Stand at the overlook.
Take the picture—but then put the camera down for a minute and simply look.
Worth It?
Yes! Our four-day girls’ trip gave us mountains, winding roads, Flathead Lake, brunch at Sykes Diner, treasures from Kalispell’s Main Street, a waterfront dinner in Coeur d’Alene, Royal Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, and more beautiful views than we could possibly count.
Glacier tied it all together. The long drives. The squiggly roads. Stopping for “just one more picture.” Finding another beautiful view around the next curve. Laughing and singing with friends. Eating huckleberry fudge. And looking out across Montana and realizing that, yes, it really is Big Sky Country.
Glacier National Park is a treasure. If you can experience it, go! Because some places really do make you stop talking. And Glacier National Park is one of them.
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