How much does it cost to travel to Glacier National Park?
You should plan to spend around $127 per day on your vacation in Glacier National Park. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $28 on meals
- $69 on local transportation
- $112 on hotels
A one week trip to Glacier National Park for two people costs, on average, $1,778. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Glacier National Park has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Glacier National Park expensive to visit?
Prices in Glacier National Park are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Glacier National Park is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Vernon, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Glacier National Park Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Glacier National Park?
The average Glacier National Park trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Glacier National Park travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$112
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$69
|
|
Food 2
|
$28
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$34
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$4 -
13
|
Accommodation Budget in Glacier National Park
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Glacier National Park can be very surprising. Some destinations have much higher price tags than others, and even within the same areas you can find a big difference between the budget-friendly and higher-end hotels. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Glacier National Park is $56. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Glacier National Park is $112. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Glacier National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Glacier National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Glacier National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $69 per person, per day, on local transportation in Glacier National Park.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$69
How much does it cost to go to Glacier National Park? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Glacier National Park will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Glacier National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in Glacier National Park. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Half Day Whitewater Rafting with Riverside Dinner for $114 details
Entertainment Budget in Glacier National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Glacier National Park typically cost an average of $34 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$34
A nice way to explore destinations in Glacier National Park is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- LED Illuminated Sunset Kayaking Tour Near Glacier National Park for $95 details
- Winter Glacier National Park Scenic Driving Tour for $260 details
- Driving Tour in Glacier National Park for $220 details
Alcohol Budget in Glacier National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $8.41 on alcoholic beverages in Glacier National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$8.41
Nightlife activities and tasting tours are popular in Glacier National Park. A few favorites from other travelers include:
- Private Flathead Valley Brewery Tour for $150 details
Glacier National Park on a Budget
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is a large park situated in the far north of Montana, bordering Canada. The park borders the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and both share UNESCO World Heritage Site and are biosphere reserves. Glacier National Park offers over 700 miles of trails and countless activities, including hiking, biking, canoeing, and fishing. As the park is split by the Continental Divide, the east and west sides of the park experience fairly different weather. The western side of the park gets the most rainfall while the eastern side offers more sunshine, but also more wind. During summer months, temperatures can get into the 90's Fahrenheit during the day while winter sees temperatures in the 20's and plenty of snowfall. The high season for the park is June-September, which is also when the majority of hiking trails, hotels, and shops are open.
Sights
Glacier National Park (
official website) offers countless spots to enjoy the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the surrounding area. For ideas, check out this guide of
things to do in Glacier National Park, or this list of
activities in Glacier NP.
For starters, drive or hike along the
Going to the Sun Highway where you'll find perfect viewpoints of the park that look over Lake McDonald, Rising Sun, Logan Pass, and the Continental Divide. At Looking Glass Hill Road, there are lovely viewpoints looking over the Lower Two Medicine Lake from the hilltop. A must-see is the Sperry Glacier Overlook, which is accessed by a steep climb from the
Sperry Chalet. The climb includes a secluded walk through alpine lakes and meadows up a natural rock stairway where you'll see the Little Matterhorn, Bearhat Mountain, and Mt. Reynolds. After passing by cairns, you'll get to the edge of the overlook to view the magnificent glacier; get there soon though, as scientists expect the glacier to disappear completely by 2030.
Park Areas and Nearby
Thanks to the Continental Divide, the park is naturally divided into the east and west sides of the park. The eastern side has the most glaciers and hiking trails and tends to be the least crowded. The western side is just as beautiful as the east, although it tends to be the most crowded due to its large number of lodges and lakes. There are a few cities outside the park where you can stock up on food before heading into the park. One such city is Polebridge, a small community that has a bakery and mercantile. Babb is another small community that lies on the
Blackfeet Indian Reservation and has a few stores and lodging options. West Glacier is the community at the west entrance to the park and has plenty of lodging and restaurant options.
Activities
Glacier National Park offers endless outdoor activities to fit every type of adventurer. You can bike along one of the many well maintained trails, go boating or canoeing on the lakes, and camp under the stars. The park also features over 700 miles of hiking trails, including the
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail which runs 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico, and diving the park in two. Hiking the Continental Divide trail within the park is about a 10-day trek along the trail; keep in mind that it's not very well maintained so be prepared for the unexpected. If you prefer something less advanced, try the
Trail of the Cedars, a partially paved trail that has views of the old growth forest and Avalanche Gorge. Or, wander along the Garden Wall Trail which is perfect for beginners and runs along the Continental Divide, featuring views of the alpine tundra and meadows.
Food and Dining
Food within the park is limited to the dining halls at the hotels and the few shops that are scattered around the park. The Granite Park Chalet and the Sperry Chalet are two such dinning halls where you can purchase food. Be advised that these shops and restaurants are often only open from June-October and are not always fully stocked, so be sure to bring plenty of food. The best food options are located outside the park in Babb, Polebridge, and West Glacier where you'll find more restaurants and shops.
Transportation
For a more scenic route, you can take either the Great Northern Rail or Amtrak into the park. There's an east and west train station, with the west station being the most historic of the two and even has a small museum attached to it. You can also fly into the Glacier National Park Airport near Kalispell, Montana and can either drive in or use an airport shuttle to get into the park. No matter how you enter the park, you'll have to pay a small permit fee that is based on how you get in.
Getting around the park is easiest via car, especially with all of the scenic highways there are to explore. If you prefer not to drive, you can take one of the few shuttle bus companies that operate throughout the park. There are two shuttle buses you have to pay for, the Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle and the Jammers bus service. The National Park Service offers a free shuttle service as well, which runs throughout the park.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.