Many Glacier Hotel: What You Need to Know & FAQs

This guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners.

When exploring the outdoors, I encourage you to follow Leave No Trace Principles and be respectful of where you are so we can preserve these spaces for future generations. ♥️

Considering staying at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park?

For years I had wanted to stay at the Many Glacier Hotel! As someone who grew up right by Glacier, I had been inside it a number of times as a young person, but we never booked a night there to stay. Not only is it incredibly convenient if you are planning on taking on any of the hikes in the Many Glacier area, but it also has a historic value that you can’t beat.

That being said, it can be almost impossible to get a room booked since it is such a popular choice. You need to be on top of it and know that this is the hotel option that you want to stay at well in advance so you’re more likely to secure your spot. This can make finding accommodations more stressful than they have to be!

Is it worth staying here? In my opinion: yes. However, knowing what you’re getting into (spotty WiFi and older amenities) can help you many the decision if you want to spend the money and the hassle or if you want to look into places to stay near the park instead.

In summary: This article will go over what you can expect while staying at the Many Glacier Hotel, as well as information on how to book a stay here and some FAQs.

Quick tip: If you’re heart is set on this spot, continue to check back on the Many Glacier Hotel site–cancelations often come up and you might be able to sneak a reservation in.

Why you might want to stay at the Many Glacier Hotel

There are a few reasons why you might want to choose to stay at the Many Glacier Hotel over other accommodations in the park or outside of it. First and foremost, the location is the absolute best in the Many Glacier area, and you have access to a number of trailheads only a short drive or walk away.

Also, if you are planning on catching a boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake, then it’s hard to beat this spot. You can literally roll out of bed right to the dock, which can be incredibly useful if you plan on using a boat tour to shave off some miles while hiking to Grinnell Glacier.

The Ptarmigan Dining Room, Heidi’s, and the Swiss Lounge are nice-to-have’s considering that the dining options near Many Glacier and Two Medicine are pretty limited. If you want high-end food right where you are staying, then it might be worth it to splurge on a stay here.

Finally, it is such a historic part of the park and adds to the overall experience that if you can manage to stay here, I find that it is worth the expense–and it is not cheap–if you can snag a room for your dates.

Location

You can’t get a more ideal location than on Swiftcurrent Lake when you are visiting Many Glacier. As the heart of this area of the park, you’re only minutes away from some of the major hikes like Grinnell Glacier, Cracker Lake, Red Rock Falls, Iceberg Lake, and more. As a base for exploring Many Glacier, it is undoubtedly the best.

If your Glacier National Park itinerary is more based on the west side of the park near Apgar Village and Going-to-the-Sun Road, then it is about an hour drive to get to St. Mary where you can get on the main thoroughfare. However, if you are planning on staying mostly on the east side of the park, then the Many Glacier Hotel puts you in a great spot to explore.

Rooms

Because the Many Glacier Hotel was built in 1914, the rooms definitely feel a bit dated. They are small and there is almost no insulation between rooms, so a good pair of earplugs is a must-have if you are a light sleeper. Beds are new and clean, and I felt very comfortable nestling into them for the night–though I love to camp so my standards might be a bit lower than some.

Not all rooms have balconies, either. While you’re kind of lucky if you get any room booked at all, the ones on the lowest level walk straight out to the lake. My parents stayed in one of these rooms and there were chairs outside their door where they could sit and look at Swiftcurrent.

Some of the plumbing in the bathrooms look like it hasn’t been updated since the 1900s, and the showers are a little complex to start, but they worked just fine and it’s all part of the hotel’s charm.

There are a few different room types: suites, family rooms, and your standard room. The suites and family rooms are difficult to book, but they will offer a bit more room if you have several people staying.

Amenities

Here are some of the amenities listed on the Many Glacier Hotel website:

• Alarm clock
• Telephone
• Fan (there is no air conditioning)
• Iron and ironing board
• Hair dryer
• WiFi hot spot (limited and spotty)
• Coffee maker
• Stationary and envelopes
• Heidi’s grab-and-go
• Swiss Lounge bar
• Ptarmigan Dining Room
• Gift shop

Do keep in mind that you are in a rural area, so I wouldn’t expect to work with the WiFi there if you happen to be remote. The best time to use it is during the middle of the day when the rest of the guests have gone out to explore the park.

During the heat of the summer months, it can get pretty hot with no air conditioning. You might have to find other ways to stay cool like jumping in the lake or bringing a portable fan with you.

Pricing

Pricing for the Many Glacier Hotel can vary widely depending on what time of year you are booking your stay and how many rooms have already been taken. When it opens for bookings online in February, you might find prices as low as $170 a night. However, the closer you get to season and the more the rooms fill, you might be paying upwards of $500 a night.

It’s definitely not the cheapest option of places to stay in the park, and you can find some other accommodations on the west side that are more affordable. But you are paying for the location and the experience, which means that it was worth it for us to splurge a little.

⭐BOOK MANY GLACIER HOTEL HERE⭐

Join the community! Love the outdoors? Join my free Facebook community where we chat and share information about national parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more! JOIN HERE!

Many Glacier Hotel FAQs

Here are some commonly-asked questions I get about those looking to stay at the Many Glacier Hotel.

Conclusion

I hope this has helped you decide whether or not the Many Glacier Hotel is the right accommodation for your Glacier National Park trip. In my opinion, I find it worth paying a little extra in order for the location and the experience at this historic lodge. While it doesn’t have the modern amenities you usually expect with the hotel, you can’t beat the view and the proximity to the hikes in the Many Glacier area.

Have any questions about staying at the Many Glacier Hotel? Let me know in the comments!