Can You Drive Through Glacier National Park?

Of course, just about any drive in Montana is going to show you incredible views and lots of opportunities for attractions. We might be biased, but we think that practically around every corner on Montana’s scenic drives is a forest, mountain, or lake just waiting to be explored. We love having such easy access to these beautiful landscapes – it’s one of the best things about Big Sky Country. One of the state’s most amazing treasures is Glacier National Park. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “Can you drive through Glacier National Park,” the answer is a resounding yes. The Glacier National Park scenic drive is a fantastic way to remind us just how lucky we are to be in Montana. This is one drive you’ll undoubtedly want to check out.

Enjoying the Glacier National Park scenic drive is truly one of the best ways to take in the beauty of Montana's diverse landscape. This incredible park has several different routes leading to different areas of the more than one million acres that make up this amazing landscape.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is about 50 miles long. It crosses the entirety of Glacier National Park and runs from the east entrance to the west entrance.

This incredible scenic drive travels through Logan Pass and across the Continental Divide. It reaches a height of 6,646 feet, which, as you can imagine, provides some absolutely magnificent views.

Wondering about the road's unusual name? The route gets its name from nearby Going-to-the-Sun Mountain. You can easily catch a glimpse of it if you look east when driving through Logan Pass.

This is one route you'll want to take your time with. Along the road, there are quite a few places where you can stop and enjoy the park's many hiking trails.

Taking the drive during the summer is ideal, since there's a greater chance that all areas of the road will be open. However, keep in mind that this is also the busiest time of year.

And, while we'd love to keep the journey hidden all for ourselves, it wouldn't be fair to expect others to not take in the incredible views from the park.

Check out this video of the drive from Youtube user davidegg22:

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is open year-round near the park’s West Entrance, but if winter conditions are bad, the entirety of the road may not be open until late June, or often a little later. Be sure to keep an eye on the official National Park Service website for current conditions and closures. As of summer 2023, all vehicles that are accessing the road are required to have a reservation during peak hours.

If you ask us, there’s nothing better than exploring Montana, and this is such an incredible way to do it. The drive can be lengthy and you don’t want to risk getting hungry. Check out our list of Best Road Trip Snacks for on-the-go, mess-free options that will keep the whole family happy.

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Scenic Drives In Montana

Lisa Sammons | August 26, 2023

What are some more scenic drives in Montana?

We've got a ton of land here, and much of it is unoccupied. It goes without saying that there are some pretty incredible windshield views in Big Sky Country! Here are a few of our favorite Montana roads for a scenic drive:

Kings Hill Scenic Byway
Big Sheep Creek Back Country Byway
Garnet Back Country Byway

What are some more of the most beautiful places in Montana?

We might be biased, but we think nowhere is prettier than Montana. It would be impossible to name all the beautiful places in Montana, but here are a few of the most notable:

Gates of the Mountain Wilderness
Kootenai Falls
Bighorn Canyon

How many state parks in Montana are there?

Montana has 55 state parks and eight national parks.

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Going-to-the-Sun Road, Going-to-the-Sun Rd, Montana, USA

This Scenic Drive Runs Straight Through Montana's Glacier National Park, And It's A Breathtaking Journey

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