How Far Is Glacier National Park from Banff?
Roughly 380 miles (610 km) and 6 to 7 hours of drivingbut the exact distance depends on which route you take and which entrance of Glacier you're aiming for. Banff townsite to West Glacier (the most popular Glacier entrance) is the shortest at 380 miles. To Many Glacier or Two Medicine on the east side, it's closer to 320–340 miles depending on route. Plan a full day with stops, plus the border crossing.
This pairs perfectly with our 5-day Banff itinerary and our Glacier National Park itinerarymany travelers do one then drive south to do the other.
The Three Route Options
There's no "direct" road between Banff and Glacier; you cross the Canadian Rockies and the international border. Three viable routes:
Route 1: Highway 93 South via Radium & Kootenay (Most Scenic)
- Distance: ~380 miles to West Glacier
- Drive time: 6.5 hours without stops
- Border: Roosville, BC ↔ Montana
Banff → Castle Junction → south on Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park → Radium Hot Springs → south through the Columbia Valley (Invermere, Cranbrook) → south to the Roosville border crossing → Highway 93 in Montana directly to West Glacier. This is the most scenic option, three national parks (Banff, Kootenay, Glacier) plus the Columbia Valley.
Route 2: Highway 1 East to Calgary, then South on I-15 (Fastest)
- Distance: ~410 miles to West Glacier; ~290 miles to East Glacier via Browning
- Drive time: 6.5 hours to West Glacier; 5 hours to Two Medicine
- Border: Carway/Piegan, AB ↔ Montana
Banff → Highway 1 east to Calgary → I-15 (Crowchild then Macleod Trail south) → Highway 2 south through southern Alberta → cross at Carway → arrive in Browning, then north into Glacier's east entrances (Two Medicine, St. Mary, Many Glacier). Best if you want to start on Glacier's east side, which is the prettier side.
Route 3: Highway 93 South via Radium then East via Sparwood (Detour)
- Distance: ~360 miles to East Glacier
- Drive time: 6 hours
- Border: Carway, AB ↔ Montana
Banff → Highway 93 south to Cranbrook → east on Highway 3 (Crowsnest Pass) → south through Pincher Creek → cross at Carway → arrive on Glacier's east side. Combines the scenery of the Kootenay/Columbia Valley with east-side Glacier access.
Border Crossing Practicalities
- Documents: Passport required for everyone, including kids. NEXUS or Enhanced Driver's License also accepted.
- Best border to use: Roosville (south of Cranbrook on Hwy 93) is the quietest crossing, usually 0–10 minute wait. Carway (south of Cardston on Hwy 2) is also quick. Avoid Sweetgrass/Coutts on I-15, it's the busiest.
- Hours: Most crossings on this route operate from 7 AM to 11 PM in summer, shorter in winter. Roosville is 24 hours.
- Currency: US dollars in Montana. Canadian dollars in Alberta/BC. Most gas stations and stores accept credit cards but carry cash for small towns.
- Speed limits: km/h in Canada, mph in the US. Easy to forget after a border crossing.
- Cell coverage: Patchy through Kootenay National Park and on Highway 2 in southern Alberta. Download offline maps before you leave Banff.
Where to Stop (Route 1 Recommended)
In Canada
- Marble Canyon (Kootenay NP): 20-minute walk through a slot canyon carved by Tokumm Creek. Just off Highway 93, 30 minutes south of Banff.
- Paint Pots (Kootenay NP): A 1.5-mile walk to ochre-stained mineral springs traditionally used by First Nations for paint.
- Radium Hot Springs: Hot springs and the Radium Hot Springs Pool. Worth a soak if you have 2 hours.
- Invermere/Windermere: Lakeside towns on the Columbia River, good lunch stop.
- Cranbrook: Last major town before the border. Gas, food, lodging.
In Montana
- Eureka, MT: First town south of the border. Quirky main street, decent diner.
- Whitefish: Charming mountain town 30 minutes from West Glacier. Worth an overnight if you arrive late.
- Kalispell: Larger town with more services 35 miles south of West Glacier.
- Lake McDonald (Glacier NP): Your first taste of Glacier, pebble beach on a 10-mile lake reflecting the surrounding mountains.
How Long to Allow
- One driving day, no overnight: Doable but pushed. Leave Banff by 8 AM, arrive in Whitefish or West Glacier by 4–5 PM with quick stops only.
- One overnight in Cranbrook or Radium: The civilized option. Split the drive in half, arrive at Glacier rested.
- Two days, road-trip mode: Stop at Kootenay, soak at Radium, overnight in Cranbrook, do morning at Lake Koocanusa, cross border at lunch, arrive Whitefish/West Glacier mid-afternoon.
The Reverse Direction (Glacier to Banff)
The exact same routes work in reverse. Glacier to Banff is also ~380 miles and 6–7 hours. Most travelers do Banff first (it's farther north and the larger of the two parks), then drive south to Glacier as their trip winds down toward US flights out of Kalispell or Calgary.
Best Time of Year for This Drive
- Mid-June to mid-September: All routes open and dry. Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier fully open. Peak time, peak crowds.
- Late September to mid-October: Larch season in Canada, fall color in Montana. Going-to-the-Sun starts closing in stages. Shoulder season weather.
- October to May: Highway 93 through Kootenay can have snow closures. Going-to-the-Sun is closed to vehicles. Many east-side Glacier services close November to May. Plan winter trips around Highway 2 (Marias Pass) which stays open year-round.
Common Mistakes
- Underestimating drive time. 380 miles in Google Maps looks like 5 hours; with border crossing + stops it's 7+ hours.
- Crossing at the wrong border. Sweetgrass/Coutts on I-15 can have 1-hour waits in summer. Use Roosville or Carway.
- Forgetting passports for kids. Every traveler, regardless of age, needs a passport for the US-Canada border.
- Driving Highway 93 in winter without checking. Highway 93 through Kootenay closes during avalanche control. Check the BC Highway website (drivebc.ca) before you go.
- Not factoring in time-zone change. Banff is on Mountain Time. Most of Montana is also Mountain Time, but parts of Idaho on a detour are Pacific. Easy to miscalculate dinner reservations.
