Is Two Days Enough for Glacier National Park? Our Honest Experience
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Glacier National Park is stunning, but it can be challenging to visit. Between a confusing reservation system, unpredictable weather, and tours that book months in advance, our two-day road trip in late August didn’t go as planned. I visited with my boyfriend, Tyrone, and those unexpected moments became our favorite memories. Here's exactly what we did, what worked, what didn't, and what you need to know before you go.
Critical Planning Information
Book Everything 4-6 Months Ahead
By early June for our late August trip, all hotels inside the park, all Red Bus tours starting from the west side, and all vehicle registration passes were sold out. Don't wait.
The Reservation System Explained
Glacier requires advance timed entry reservations to enter during peak hours. You DON'T need one if:
You enter before the park opens at 7 AM
You enter after 3 PM
You have a confirmed tour or hotel inside the park
The park gates are open at all times, but reservation checks don’t begin until rangers are stationed at the entrance.
Critical mistake I made: If you book a tour, enter through the correct gate for that tour. I booked an east-side red bus tour but tried entering through the west gate. The ranger let me through with a warning, but the alternative route would have taken nearly 3 hours. The website doesn't explain this clearly.
Red Bus Tour
Where We Stayed
Sky Eco Lodge (Coram, MT)
About 10-15 minutes from the west entrance with a kitchenette. Having a kitchen was invaluable since most restaurants don't open before 7 AM, and you need early starts to beat crowds. We bought groceries at Canyon Food (5 minutes away) and cooked breakfast each morning.
Loved our little cabin at Sky Eco Lodge
Essential Packing List
Lightweight moisture-wicking shirts
Waterproof rain jacket
Refillable water bottle or hydration pack
Phone with offline maps downloaded
Screenshot reservations, tickets, and lodging details
Bear whistle and/or bear spray (recommended if hiking)
Binoculars for wildlife spotting
Granola bars or protein snacks
Swiftcurrent Lake
Day 1: Red Bus Tour & Going-to-the-Sun Road
Our first full day in Glacier centered around Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most scenic drives in the country. We booked the historic Red Bus Tour months in advance, knowing it would let us experience the road without worrying about driving, parking, or navigating narrow mountain curves.
The morning started cloudy and damp, which is common in Glacier, but conditions improved as the day went on. Once the weather cleared, riding with the top of the bus rolled back completely transformed the experience. Standing up, taking photos, and watching bighorn sheep cross directly in front of us ended up being one of the highlights of our entire road trip.
Morning: Apgar Village (6:00 AM)
We started the day at Apgar Village to see Lake McDonald before our tour. The gift shop opens at 6:00 AM and has surprisingly great merchandise, along with a small café serving coffee and pastries. It was cloudy with light rain, so the lake was not the vibrant blue you often see in photos, but it was still peaceful and beautiful in its own way.
Lake McDonald at Apgar Village
Rainy start to the morning but that didn’t bother us at all
Drive to Rising Sun Motor Inn
The roughly 1.5-hour drive from Apgar Village to Rising Sun Motor Inn, where our tour picked up, went smoothly. The weather stayed overcast with occasional light rain, but visibility was good. Along the way, we passed through two tunnels, drove past the Weeping Wall where water cascades directly onto the road, and took in constant mountain views that made the drive fly by.
Getting ready to ride the vintage “Red Jammers”
Gorgeous views from the Red Bus Tour
Red Bus Tour: Crown of the Continent
The Red Bus Tours use vintage 1930s buses with roll-back tops and are truly iconic. Our tour included several memorable stops, including:
Key stops:
Wild Goose Island, one of the most photographed spots in the park
Logan Pass, the highest point accessible by car
Lake McDonald Lodge for a lunch break (we ate at Jammer Joe’s)
Sacred Dancing Cascade
Sacred Dancing Cascade
Logan pass
The Top-Off Drama: I was the only person on the bus who wanted the top rolled back. One woman was very vocal about the possibility of rain, but I spoke up anyway. Once the top came off, the entire experience changed. We had open-air, 360-degree views and were able to photograph bighorn sheep crossing right in front of us. Our guide, Al, was so excited that he stopped at viewpoints he had never stopped at before. When other drivers radioed in a rain warning, we rolled the top back on.
Verdict: Absolutely worth every penny. You see hidden viewpoints, learn park history, and avoid the stress of driving those narrow roads yourself.
The top finally came off on the last half of the Red Bus Tour
Evening
On the drive back, we stopped again at Sacred Dancing Cascade to walk closer to the waterfall. After a full day, we headed back to our cabin and cooked dinner, grateful for a quiet evening after such an unforgettable day.
Stopping by Sacred Dancing Cascade again
Loved moments like this where we could just relax and enjoy the nature
Day 2: Many Glacier Adventure
Our second day was spent in the Many Glacier area, which quickly became our favorite part of the park. The morning started with thick fog and almost zero visibility, forcing us to abandon our original hiking plan. Instead of waiting it out, we drove to lower elevations, and by the time we reached Many Glacier, conditions had improved significantly.
We spent the day around Swiftcurrent Lake, rented a rowboat, took a boat tour, and ended up on an unexpected walk that became the highlight of the trip.
Swiftcurrent lake at Many Glacier
Hidden Lake Overlook Attempt - FAILED (6:00-8:00 AM)
We woke up at 4:00 AM with plans to hike Hidden Lake Overlook, a 2.7-mile trail starting at Logan Pass. As we drove up Going-to-the-Sun Road, the fog became thicker and thicker until visibility dropped to nearly zero. I was driving about 10 mph, seeing nothing but white clouds. Earlier that morning, a National Park shuttle bus had even hit the rock wall because visibility was so poor.
By 7:30 AM, the parking lot at Logan Pass was already full, and we still could not see anything through the fog. After sitting in the car debating what to do, along with another couple doing the same, we decided to abandon the hike and head to Many Glacier instead.
Lesson learned: Glacier weather is wildly unpredictable. Always have a backup plan.
Grizzly Bear Sighting! (Around 9:00 AM)
On the drive to Many Glacier, we spotted a grizzly bear on a hillside. First grizzly I'd ever seen! A couple behind us shared their binoculars so we could see how huge it was.
It’s a grizzly bear!
Many Glacier Hotel Area (10:00 AM–5:00 PM)
Many Glacier Hotel is a historic lodge sitting right in front of Swiftcurrent Lake, and visiting it alone is an experience. The building has a Swiss-inspired feel, and the employees wear charming Swiss-themed uniforms. When we arrived around 10:00 AM, there was plenty of parking, though it can get busier later in the day during peak season.
Many Glacier hotel
We had time before our boat tour, so we decided to rent a rowboat on Swiftcurrent Lake. Learning how to row for the first time was surprisingly challenging and incredibly fun. It took a few minutes to get the hang of it, but once I did, I did not want to stop, at least not until my arms gave out.
Learning how to row a boat was a blast!
Glacier Park Boat Tour
We originally had a 2:00 PM reservation but joined the wait list for the 1:00 PM tour and were able to get on. The tour includes a ride across Swiftcurrent Lake, a steep 0.2-mile hill climb, and then a second boat ride across Josephine Lake. You also have the option to hike and catch a later return boat.
Black Bear Alert:
Right after we got off the boat at Josephine Lake, a black bear was swimming in the water. It climbed out and ran into the trees near the trail. Every hiker we passed kept asking, “Did you see the bear?” Word travels fast in Glacier.
Glacier Park Boat Tour
Getting Lost Was the Best Part (2:00–5:00 PM)
We were among the few people who stayed to hike toward Grinnell Lake, a 2.8-mile trail. Somewhere along the way, we completely missed the turn and walked far past it. When we asked other hikers for directions, they told us the lake was “way on the other side.”
A little bummed and unsure what to do next, we started heading back. That’s when a group stopped us and said, “Wait, there’s a moose right there.” A mama moose was incredibly close to the trail. We waited until she moved away, taking photos the entire time.
Immediately went the wrong way on the hike to Grinnell lake
Getting lost turned out to be the greatest hike
As if that was not enough, we started chatting with a couple from the group while walking back and discovered they were also from Tampa. What are the odds of meeting people from your hometown in the middle of Montana?
We ended up walking the full perimeter of Swiftcurrent Lake and Josephine Lake back to the hotel. The walk was mostly flat, incredibly scenic, and full of memorable moments. Getting lost turned out to be the best part of our Glacier trip.
Ran into a moose along the way
We loved our mishaps at Glacier
Evening
On the way back, we made a quick stop at Apgar Village so Tyrone could swim in Lake McDonald before heading back for the night.Wildlife Spotted
Over 2 days, we saw:
Grizzly bear (hillside close to Many Glacier Hotel)
Black bear (swimming in Josephine Lake)
Moose (close to trail)
2 bighorn sheep (crossed in front of Red Bus)
Mountain goats with babies (crossing Going-to-the-Sun Road)
Pro tip: Stay alert while driving. Most wildlife sightings happened between locations.
One last swim at Apgar Village
What Worked vs. What Didn't
✅ What Worked:
Starting extremely early (4-6 AM)
Having a kitchenette for early breakfasts
Booking the Red Bus Tour
Getting on boat tour wait lists
Being flexible when plans failed
Speaking up about wanting the bus top off
❌ What Didn't:
Hidden Lake in thick fog
Not knowing entrance gate rules
Finding Grinnell Lake (got lost!)
Expecting predictable weather
What I'd Do Differently
Research which entrance gate to use for tours
Have multiple weather backup plans
Book west-side tours months in advance to avoid the 1.5-hour drive
Allow 3-4 days instead of 2 for more flexibility
Is 2 Days Enough?
Two days gave us a solid introduction: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Red Bus Tour, boat tour, and incredible wildlife. But we'd love 3-4 days to hike Hidden Lake in good weather, actually find Grinnell Lake, and explore more trails without rushing.
Final Thoughts
Glacier tested us with fog, confusing rules, and getting lost. But those challenges created our best moments: grizzly and black bear sightings, a close moose encounter, meeting Tampa locals in Montana, and riding a vintage bus with the top off as bighorn sheep crossed in front of us.
My advice: Book early, pack for all weather, start at sunrise, and embrace whatever Glacier throws at you. The best moments come from plans that don't work out.
Quick Reference
When we visited: Late August (peak season)
Trip length: 2 full days
Travel style: Road trip + guided tour
Base location: West side of Glacier National Park
Highlights from Our Trip
Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road in both foggy and clear conditions
Riding the historic Red Bus Tour with the top rolled back
Watching bighorn sheep cross the road just feet away
Spotting a grizzly bear, black bear, and moose
Spending the day around Many Glacier and Swiftcurrent Lake
Rowboating for the first time with mountain views
Getting lost on a hike and discovering it was the best part
Have you been to Glacier? Share your experience in the comments!
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Ideally 3–4 days, but 2 full days is doable if you plan carefully and stay flexible.
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Yes, but there exceptions:
Tours count as entry
You can enter before 7 am or after 3 pm without a vehicle reservation
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Both have advantages:
West Side: More lodging, dining, groceries, cheaper gas
East Side: Closer to Many Glacier and key hikes, but limited services
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If you plan to hike, yes, it his highly recommended. Wildlife encounters are common, especially in late August.
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It can feel intimidating, but it’s manageable. The views help distract from the nerves, and the drive goes faster than expected.
