How to Spend 3 Days in Glacier National Park with Kids

Glacier National Park has always been high on our family’s bucket list, and let me tell you- it is absolutely worth the hype. From crystal clear lakes and towering mountains to bucket list hikes and epic wildlife sightings, this park is the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and family fun. If you’re wondering how to make the most of your trip with little explorers in tow, here’s the exact 3-day itinerary we followed that turned out to be the perfect mix of relaxation, hiking, and memory-making.

Getting there & Where we stayed

For this trip, we flew into Spokane, Washington, and spent a few days exploring Northern Idaho before we headed over into Montana. The drive from Spokane to Glacier is about 4.5 hours, or you could fly into Kalispell (1 hour) or Missoula (3 hours), which are both closer.

We spent 4 nights inside Glacier National Park, and decided to split our stay between the east and west side of the park to cut down on driving. I highly recommend doing this if you are wanting to explore more than one area of the park, as the Going to the Sun road (the only road that takes you through the park) takes about 2 hours to drive one way.

On the west side of the park, we stayed in Apgar Village at the motel. There are several different lodging options in Apgar, such as lodge suites, cabins, and basic motel rooms. We stayed in one of the basic motel rooms, and it had no frills, but was clean and comfortable. Our room didn’t even have AC, but it cooled off plenty at night that we were fine without (we visited at the end of July).

We stayed our last 2 nights in one of the tiny homes in St. Mary’s Village. They offer standard hotel rooms or tiny homes, and there are several stores and restaurants within walking distance. We stayed in one of the tiny homes, which had 1 queen bed, a pullout sofa, and a kitchenette. We enjoyed the kitchenette so we could make our own breakfast and lunches.

Entrance to the park during the summer months requires a timed vehicle entry permit, which can be obtained several ways. Read more about those and other ways to ensure access to the park here.

Arrival

We arrived into the park late in the day and checked into our hotel at Apgar Village. The sun was just setting, so we walked down to Lake McDonald for some beautiful sunset views. This is one of the most iconic spots in Glacier, and watching the sun set over its glassy surface was the most breathtaking “welcome” to the park we could have asked for. The kids skipped rocks while we soaked in the views.

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Day 1: Lake Adventures & Waterfall Hikes

We kicked off our first day with a motorboat rental on Lake McDonald. Gliding across the clear, turquoise water with the mountains towering around us was the perfect way to explore this area. You can also rent paddleboards, kayaks or rowboats, but it is a huge lake, so I highly recommend the motor boat so you can really explore it. These rentals do sell out well in advance, so make sure to reserve yours ahead of time here. We paid $90 for a 2 hour rental, which was plenty of time with kids in tow.

Note: This reservation also gives you vehicle access to the GTSR for the day of your reservation, which is what we used to enter the park without having to secure a reservation.

After our morning on the water, we hit the Trail of the Cedars, an easy 0.8-mile boardwalk loop through towering trees that felt like something out of a fairytale. It is wheelchair and handicap accessible. From there, the trail connects to the Avalanche Lake Trail (about 4 miles roundtrip). This hike is definitely doable with kids, especially if you take your time, and the payoff at the end is incredible. Once we arrived at the lake, we soaked in the views and let the kids wade into the water. We counted 6 waterfalls all feeding into the lake off the mountains! It’s a wonderful spot to relax, and we spent about an hour at the lake before we hiked back to our car.

One thing to note about this hike: the parking is very, very limited for the popularity of the trail. We drove around for quite a bit but never found a spot in the lot, so my husband dropped us off at the trailhead and parked about a mile down the road near the Redrock Pull-off and hoofed it back to us. Be aware that you will get zero cell service here, so make sure you designate a precise meetup location so you don’t spend an hour walking in opposite directions looking for one another (ask me how I know 😛 ).

Back at Apgar Village, we refueled with dinner at Edie’s Cafe, which was pricey but actually very good, and then grabbed ice cream cones and ended our evening by the shore of Lake McDonald again. Watching the sky turn pink over the water while the kids skipped rocks was one of my favorite trip memories!

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Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road & St. Mary’s

Day 2 was all about exploring the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road, and let me tell you- it’s worth every bit of hype. We used the GuideAlong App to narrate the drive, which turned the journey into an adventure all on its own. We learned so many interesting facts about the park and scenery- I highly recommend purchasing this! Pro tip: make sure to purchase and download before you enter the park, as you won’t have service once you’re there.

Along the drive, we stopped at tons of scenic pullouts like Sacred Dancing Cascade, Redrock, West Tunnel, Oberlin Bend, Jackson Glacier Overlook, and Wild Goose Island. Plus, keep your eyes out for wildlife and unique landmarks, like the Weeping Wall and the Triple Arches.

We stretched our legs with the short Baring Falls hike (less than a mile roundtrip), and cooled off in the waterfall. Due to a wildfire 10 years ago, this area has no tree cover and can get pretty hot in mid-day.

After you reach Baring Falls, you can extend the hike to the nearby St. Mary & Virginia Falls trails, making the entire trail about 3 miles. Even if you don’t decide to continue on the the falls, I still recommend walking down to the edge of St. Mary’s Lake to dip your toes in and take in the view!

When we reached the end of the Going to the Sun Road, we stopped at the St. Mary’s Visitor Center, where we let our kids work on their Junior Ranger books and grab a souvenir before we headed to dinner at St. Mary’s Lodge. This is a great spot to take a picture by the Glacier National Park sign, too.

We got all checked in to our hotel at St. Mary’s lodge, and then headed out for an evening hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook trail, a 2.7-mile trail that rewards you with sweeping views and, if you’re lucky, some mountain goat sightings. It’s an uphill trek, but the views and wildlife are totally worth it. We saw 2 mountain goats, tons of marmots, and a couple of deer along the trail.

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Day 3: Many Glacier Magic

On our last day, we headed north of St. Mary’s to the Many Glacier area, which is stunningly beautiful and definitely worth exploring! We started at the Many Glaciers hotel, which is a stunning hotel and worth a look around, then headed out back of the hotel for a boat tour of Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. Make sure to book reservations beforehand, as tickets do sell out!

You hop on the boat and cross Swiftcurrent Lake, then you get off the boat and make a short, 0.2 mile walk to Lake Josephine, where you board a different boat to cross. This is one of the best area in the park for spotting moose! Once you cross Lake Josephine, you can choose whether you want to get off the boat and explore, or you can ride back to Many Glaciers Hotel.

I highly recommend hiking the kid-friendly Grinnell Lake Trail (1.8 miles roundtrip)! It’s a flat hike through a wooded area to the most stunning, crystal clear, picture perfect lake. You can take a short detour along the trail to Hidden Falls as well. Once you are done exploring, head back to Lake Josephine and board the boat back to the hotel.

We took our time exploring the historic Many Glacier Hotel, then headed back to St. Mary’s and grabbed lunch and ice cream at Curly Bear Café (the huckleberry sundae was soo good!). After a couple busy days, our kiddos needed some free time to play, so we had some downtime in our hotel and let them explore and run around outside- there’s lots of open areas perfect for kiddos. This would be a great time to squeeze in another hike, a trip to the Visitor’s Center, or anything else you missed!

For dinner, we picked up pizza from Rising Sun Pizza before capping off our Glacier adventure with an evening of looking for bears. One of the park rangers told us that the open fields between St. Mary’s and Wild Goose Island are a prime spot to see bears in the evening, so we drove along during sunset looking for them. Unfortunately we didn’t see any bears, but we did see a couple elk grazing in the pasture.

Tips for Visiting Glacier National Park with Kids

• Stay in family-friendly areas: Apgar Village and St. Mary’s both have easy access to food, lodging, and kid-friendly activities.
• Book tours and lodging early: Glacier fills up quickly in summer, especially boat tours and lodges. Make sure to book reservations as early as possible.
• Bring layers: Even in July, mornings and evenings can be chilly in the mountains. We wore sweatshirts every day during our visit for at least a few hours.
• Download offline maps: Cell service is limited in many parts of the park, so have your directions ready before you go. We love the app AllTrails for hiking maps and guides.
• Pack snacks and water: Sometimes parking is farther than you expect, and things just take longer than planned, so make sure to have plenty of snacks and water!
• Consider Walkie-Talkies: There is no cell service in the park. If you think there’s a chance you might separate from your group, consider bringing walkie-talkies for a way to communicate.
• Toss water shoes in your hiking bag: Some of the best hikes end at stunning lakes, and you will want to dip your feet in. Pack a pair of waterproof shoes or sandals in your hiking bag.
• Skip Logan’s Pass Visitor’s Center: The parking lot here is insanely crowded, so skip this Visitor’s Center and opt for one of the less visited, like St. Mary’s or Apgar. Instead, head to Logan’s Pass in the evening to hike the Hidden Lake overlook, when there’s less crowds and more wildlife out.
• Know about what you need to enter the park: Timed vehicle entry is required for visiting Glacier during the summer months. Read this post to learn more about what you need to enter the park.

Final Thoughts

Three days in Glacier National Park with kids was just enough time to get a taste of its magic, and it left us dreaming about coming back for more. Between the easy hikes, sparkling lakes, and wildlife encounters, it’s a family destination that feels both adventurous and approachable. If you’re looking for a summer trip filled with jaw-dropping views and unforgettable family memories, Glacier should definitely be at the top of your list.