Is the West Side or East Side of Glacier National Park Better?: What You Need to Know

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Wondering whether you want to spend the majority of your time on the west side or east side of Glacier National Park?

If you are only planning one trip to Glacier National Park, you might be unsure about where you will want to base yourself if you only have a few days. One of the biggest concerns I see when I plan clients’ itineraries is that they often struggle with knowing where they should spend their time and where they should stay.

Both sides have their pros and cons, and you can definitely manage to see both if you have several days to do so. However, if you can only commit to one, deciding which option for you can be a challenge–especially if you don’t want to miss anything.

We’ll go over some of the reasons for and against both sides and general information on what you need to know so you can make an informed decision based on how much time you have to explore the park.

In summary: This article will cover some of the pros and cons of both sides of Glacier National Park so you can get a good idea of how you might want to spend your time there.

Quick tip: This is why I recommend having a solid itinerary before you arrive! That way, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll miss anything major!

The west side

Having grown up in the Flathead Valley, I’m definitely partial to the west side of Glacier! This is the more developed side of the park, with easier access to amenities and services. West Glacier is just 30 minutes from Glacier International Airport (FCA), making it super convenient for visitors flying in.

You’ll find plenty of accommodation options, from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge inside the park to numerous hotels and vacation rentals in West Glacier, Columbia Falls, and Whitefish.

The west side gives you easy access to some of the park’s most iconic spots–Lake McDonald, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Avalanche Lake trail are all right here. Plus, you’re close to other attractions like the Whitefish Mountain Resort and Flathead Lake. The hiking on this side tends to be a bit less steep since you’re starting at a lower elevation, and the trails are generally well-maintained.

The main downside? This is definitely the busier side of the park. During peak season (July-August), West Glacier can get pretty crowded, and parking at popular trailheads can be challenging if you don’t arrive early. The weather here is also more moderate–which means more rain and clouds than the east side, but also more tree cover and shade on hot days.

If you have a limited amount of time, say only one day, I recommend sticking to the west side of the park since you’ll be spending the majority of your time driving trying to get to the east side.

Pros of the west side

Here are some of the pros that come with basing yourself on the west side of the park:

• Close to amenities: You have easy access to gas stations, the airport, grocery stores, and plenty of accommodation options.
• There are more activities if you want to explore outside the park: If you want to see some other things to do outside the park like the Flathead National Forest, Whitefish Mountain Resort, and Flathead Lake, this is a better spot to do so.
• The more popular things to do are on the west side: Lake McDonald, the Avalanche Lake trail, and more are all located closer to the west entrance.
• Better weather: This side of the park tends to see more moderate weather and fewer winds than the east side.

Cons of the west side

Here are some reasons why staying on the west side might not be for you when visiting Glacier:

• More crowds: There are usually a lot more people on this side of the park since it is more convenient to get to. This can make it hard to find parking availability at trailheads and stops.

The east side

The east side of Glacier holds a special place in my heart–it’s where the dramatic Rocky Mountain Front rises straight up from the plains, creating some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. This is the wilder, more rugged side of Glacier, and it shows in everything from the landscape to the weather.

It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from the Glacier airport if you take Going-to-the-Sun Road, but many visitors (me included) feel the extra travel time is worth it.

The east side gives you access to iconic areas like Many Glacier (my favorite area of the park!), Two Medicine, and St. Mary. The hiking here tends to be more challenging but incredibly rewarding–think high alpine lakes and dramatic mountain passes. My favorite trails are over here, including the Grinnell Glacier trail and Iceberg Lake.

Accommodation options are more limited, with St. Mary Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, and the Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier being your main choices. You’ll find fewer crowds here, especially if you’re willing to get up early for hikes.

The trade-offs? Services are more limited–you’ll want to stock up on supplies before heading to this side of the park. The weather can be intense (those famous Glacier winds are no joke on this side!), and the season is shorter since snow tends to stick around longer at these higher elevations.

But if you’re looking for that true mountain experience and don’t mind being a bit more remote, the east side delivers some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire park.

Pros of the east side

Here are some reasons why the east side might be the best place for you to base yourself:

• Fewer crowds: Fewer people tend to make their way over to the east side, meaning that you are more likely to have trails and sights to yourself.
• Truly stunning scenery and hiking trails: The hiking trails over here are the best in the park–seriously, they are some of the top-rated in the country.
• More options for backpacking: You’ll find more backpacking options available over here if you want to strap on your pack for a few days of explore Glacier’s backcountry.

Cons of the east side

Here are some of the cons of staying on the east side on your Glacier trip:

• More limited services: It can be harder to find grocery stores and accommodation options on this side of the park, and what is available tends to close earlier in the year.
• Wilder weather: Expect a lot of wind and some pretty intense thunderstorms on this side, and make sure to pack appropriately.
• More bears: The east side of the parks is also where you will find the most bears and moose. Make sure to know how to hike in bear country and always bring your bear spray with you.

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Conclusion

To be honest, you can’t wrong with either side of Glacier. It really depends on what you want to see and how much time you have to explore. If you have limited time and are mostly focused on driving through the park, then I recommend hanging out more on the west side. If you have a few days and you want a more rugged adventure based on hiking, then the east side is likely your best bet!

Have any questions about which side of Glacier National Park you want to base yourself? Let me know in the comments!