10 Tips for Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road

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Wondering the things you must know before you take on driving Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park?

As one of the highlights and one of the best things to do in Glacier National Park, you’re definitely missing out if you don’t drive Going-to-the-Sun Road! Whether you are a hiker or you are just in it for the views, I recommend this activity to all of my readers or clients looking for help on what to do while you are in the park.

I’ve driven this road many, many times–and before I drove it, I rode in the car as my parents drove me and my siblings up to Logan Pass. After experiencing it at all ages, I’ve found a few personal tips that help me when I start out the drive and make it more enjoyable along the way.

You should also know that you need reservations to drive the road in 2024. I go into full detail about this in my article about Glacier National Park reservations, which I highly recommend you check out before getting to the park. This can make all the difference between being able to drive the road or going home without seeing some of the best sights.

We’ll go into a few tips to help you make the drive smooth and pleasurable rather than stressful!

In summary: This article shares some of my personal tips I’ve found helpful while driving Going-to-the-Sun.

Quick tip: While you don’t need it, a four-wheel drive vehicle can be very helpful as you gain elevation very quickly!

1. Make sure your car is ready to go

Whether you are renting a car after flying into Glacier Park International Airport or you are bringing your own vehicle, you want to know that it can handle the road. The park also has some limitations on the size of vehicles you can take on Going-to-the-Sun. These are:

• 21 feet long (including bumpers)
• 8 feet wide (including mirrors)
• 10 feet high (including racks or crossbeams)

This means that many RVs will not be allowed and you will either need to opt for the Glacier shuttle system instead, or look into renting a car that fits within this description. This isn’t the only reason we have a Subaru Crosstrek, but we did get it to do things like this!

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are no fueling stations between West Glacier and East Glacier. This means you’ll want enough gas to get you to where you want to go and back. So you’re aware, the road is 51 miles long and it takes about two-and-a-half hours to drive from one end to the other if there is no traffic or construction.

Quick tip: If you are driving a pickup, I highly recommend folding your side mirrors in. This will save you a lot of stress having to worry about scraping them on rock or another car!

2. Check road conditions

Going-to-the-Sun is not open all year, and it may not be open when you plan to visit. Every year, the road is covered with a heavy layer of snow and needs to be plowed by the park service. This means that it doesn’t usually open until early July for road traffic (though it does open a bit earlier in May and June for hikers and bikers). It typically closes the last week of October or when snow blocks the pass–whichever happens first.

If you are unsure about whether or not the road is open due to weather or constructions, the park has a page that they update frequently where you can see if it is open or not here.

3. Know where you want to stop

Knowing beforehand your can’t-miss stops can help you plan a bit better when it comes to parking. If you are hiking and have your trails picked out, then getting to the parking areas for the trailheads might be a top priority. This is especially true if the Avalanche Lake Trail or the trails leading from Logan Pass are on your bucket list since getting a space there for your car is tough.

I have a whole guide on where you might want to stop that includes trailheads and overlooks that you might want to check out. These 23 stops on Going-to-the-Sun are some of my favorites, but don’t feel like you have to stop at these if you want to see other things!

4. Start early (if you can)

While you can’t necessarily choose when you head out on Going-to-the-Sun due to the reservation system, you can choose to enter before they are required at 6:00 am. It might seem way too early to get up, but I really recommend doing so in order to avoid crowds and get the parking spaces you want.

Not only do you get to experience sunrise while driving the road, but you also get a better chance to view Glacier’s wildlife and to snag those spaces you want at Logan Pass or other trailheads.

5. Drive carefully and observe speed limits

I wouldn’t say Going-to-the-Sun is dangerous, but it definitely does require a bit more careful driving than what you might normally do. Since the road is winding and fairly narrow, it’s best to take it pretty slow.

Speed limits are 45 miles an hour at the lower elevations and 25 miles an hour at higher elevations. However, with traffic and weather, you might need to take it slower than that. Take your time and feel free to use the turnouts if needed–you’ve come all the way here, you might as well take the time to enjoy the views. It’s not fun to keep your eyes on the road at all times when you’ve come to see the mountains!

6. Plan for limited parking

If you are driving the road in the summer months, then you will just need to expect that there will be limited parking even with the reservation system in place. This is especially true at places like Logan Pass and the Avalanche and Trail of the Cedars parking lot, though other areas might be packed too.

This might mean that you have to wait for a while or consider visiting another spot before coming back to see if some spaces have opened up. This might make your drive a little longer, so if you have some tours planned then you’ll want to save enough time for that.

Of course, tours are a great way to avoid all of the parking issues in general. For Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Red Bus Tours are an iconic way to learn about the park and avoid all the traffic.

7. Know where to take bathroom breaks

Bathrooms are limited to a few stops along the way, so if you are someone who needs to use the restroom frequently, it can’t hurt to know where these are located ahead of time. Stops where you can find bathrooms are:

• Apgar Village
• Apgar Transit Center and Visitor Center
• Apgar Campground
• Sprague Creek Campground
• Lake McDonald Lodge
• Avalanche Lake Campground
• The Loop
• Logan Pass Visitor Center
• St. Mary Visitor Center

There are also a number of smaller bathrooms located on the side of the road or near trailheads where you can stop.

Quick tip: Download a Google Maps version of Going-to-the-Sun Road for offline use and you can lookup bathroom options while you are in the park with no service!

8. Choose your hikes and have alternatives

Gone are the days when you could simply roll up to a hike and go on adventure. Because there are so many people in park nowadays, you need to be a bit more intentional about which hikes you might want to take on. Knowing which hikes are on your bucket list can make planning a bit easier and can help you craft your Glacier itinerary.

I always recommend that you have a backup option for hikes. But don’t feel like you’re missing out if you don’t get your first pick. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to go with my second choice, and I ended up loving it.

I’ll have a full list of hikes you can choose from off Going-to-the-Sun Road, so stay tuned for that!

9. Be prepared for the weather to change

Since you are gaining quite a bit of elevation gain (you’re climbing to 6,466 feet above sea level), you’re likely to experience some weather changes no matter what type of year you are visiting. You might have perfectly sunny weather in the lower elevations and misty rain the closer you get to Logan Pass.

This is why I really encourage that you bring layers with you and you have a Glacier packing list that keeps these weather fluctuations in mind. Always have a rain jacket on hand and sun protection during the summer.

10. Consider an audioguide

You can definitely get an incredible experience simply driving the road, but there is also a whole bunch of amazing history behind it as an engineering marvel, as well as information on the geology and ecology of the region in an audioguide.

This also is ideal if you are a solo traveler since you don’t have to have someone reading the info to you in the passenger seat. Like taking a tour but a whole lot cheaper, I’ve found that I have a much greater appreciation for the parks when I put an audioguide on the stereo on my trips.

⭐PURCHASE AUDIOGUIDE FOR GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD HERE⭐

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Conclusion: Going-to-the-Sun Road tips

I hope this guide has been helpful for you when planning your drive on Going-to-the-Sun Road. For many of my readers and clients, this is a highlight if their time in Glacier, and going into it with a bit of knowledge can absolutely make the entire experience a bit more enjoyable.

I tried to include some of my personal recommendations, as well as recommendations from the NPS so your cruise is nice and smooth!

Have any questions about driving Going-to-the-Sun Road? Let me know in the comments!