Family Trip to Glacier National Park: Where to Stay, Easy Hikes and the 2026 Rules
A family trip to Glacier National Park works best split between the two sides of the park: the forested west side around Lake McDonald and the drier, open east side around St. Mary, Many Glacier and Two Medicine. Going-to-the-Sun Road links them over Logan Pass. In 2026 there is no vehicle reservation, but Logan Pass has a three-hour parking limit and a ticketed shuttle, and there is no gas station anywhere inside the park. The easy hikes are short and genuinely good, which is what makes Glacier work for young kids.
Glacier for families: the numbers
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Entrance fee | $35 per private vehicle, valid 7 days in summer; $20 in winter (November 1 to April 30) |
| Fourth graders | US fourth graders can get the free 4th Grade Pass through the America the Beautiful program |
| Vehicle reservation | Not required in 2026 |
| Logan Pass | Three-hour parking limit and a ticketed-only shuttle in 2026 |
| Going-to-the-Sun Road | 50 miles, about 2 hours without stops, West Glacier to St. Mary |
| Vehicle size limit | 21 ft long, 8 ft wide, 10 ft tall between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun |
| Fuel | No gas stations inside the park |
| Nearest airport | Glacier Park International, 30 miles west of the West Entrance |
| Train | Amtrak Empire Builder stops at West Glacier year-round and East Glacier Park seasonally |
Where to base a family
With kids, fewer hotel changes beats a perfect location every night. The simplest plan is two nights on the west side, around Apgar, Lake McDonald or West Glacier, then two nights on the east side at St. Mary or Many Glacier, crossing Going-to-the-Sun Road once in the middle. That is exactly the shape of our Glacier National Park 4 day itinerary, which moves from West Glacier and Lake McDonald over Logan Pass to Many Glacier and Two Medicine. If you only have a weekend, stay on one side and treat the road as a day out and back.
If you are flying, Glacier Park International is 30 miles west of the West Entrance, and our guide to airports near Glacier compares it with Missoula and Great Falls. Families who would rather skip the long drive can take the Amtrak Empire Builder, which stops at West Glacier all year and at East Glacier Park in season.
Easy hikes that work for kids
All distances below are one way, from the park's own trail lists. Two of them, Trail of the Cedars and Running Eagle Falls, are wheelchair accessible, which also makes them stroller friendly.
| Trail | Area | One way | Why kids like it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail of the Cedars | Lake McDonald | 0.7 mi, accessible | Boardwalk through old cedars to Avalanche Creek gorge |
| Rocky Point | Lake McDonald | 1.1 mi, 85 ft gain | Lake views with almost no climbing |
| Avalanche Lake | Lake McDonald | 2.3 mi, 500 ft gain | A lake under waterfalls, the payoff older kids remember |
| Running Eagle Falls | Two Medicine | 0.3 mi, accessible | A waterfall a toddler can walk to |
| Baring Falls | St. Mary | 0.3 mi, 250 ft loss | Short, but the walk back is all uphill |
| Hidden Lake Overlook | Logan Pass | 1.4 mi, 460 ft gain | Alpine meadows at the top of the road |
Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake share a trailhead, so a family can do the flat loop first and decide on the spot whether the kids have the legs for the lake. Hidden Lake Overlook starts at Logan Pass, and at a kid's pace the round trip plus a snack stop fits inside the three-hour parking limit if you do not linger. For more options, see our easy hikes in Glacier and, for the general habits that keep a small hiker going, how to hike with kids.
Logan Pass and Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2026
Glacier dropped its vehicle reservation system for 2026. In its place the park is running three-hour limited parking at Logan Pass and a ticketed-only shuttle. The park has not finished publishing every shuttle detail, so check the Logan Pass pages on nps.gov/glac for ticket and schedule information before you go rather than relying on older articles, many of which still describe the reservation system.
The high section of the road opens only once plowing is finished, and the date varies from year to year. If your trip is early in the season, plan the west side hikes first and check the park's road status page daily. Our Going-to-the-Sun Road itinerary goes pullout by pullout. If you are towing or driving an RV, the 21 foot length limit between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun rules that section out for you, so plan the crossing around it.
Bears, water and food
Glacier is grizzly country. The park's advice is to carry bear spray, know how to use it, and hike as a group. With kids, that means the children walk between adults rather than running ahead around blind corners, and everyone makes noise on brushy stretches. Talk through what to do if you see a bear before the first hike, not during it.
There are no gas stations within Glacier's boundaries, so fill the tank in the gateway towns before you enter and again before you cross to the other side if you are low. Pack more snacks and water than you think you need; long drives between trailheads are when small kids fall apart.
A simple four day family plan
- Day 1. West side. Apgar and the Lake McDonald shore, then Trail of the Cedars in the late afternoon.
- Day 2. Avalanche Lake and Rocky Point. Start early, when the trailhead is quieter.
- Day 3. Over the road. Logan Pass and Hidden Lake Overlook, then down to St. Mary with a stop at Baring Falls.
- Day 4. Two Medicine or Many Glacier. Running Eagle Falls is the easiest waterfall in the park.
Teenagers who want a real challenge can graduate to the longer routes in our Glacier weekend hikes itinerary, and how many days in Glacier helps if you are still deciding on trip length.
Family Trip to Glacier National Park: Where to Stay, Easy Hikes and the 2026 Rules FAQs
Yes. Glacier has many short trails, including Trail of the Cedars and Running Eagle Falls, which are wheelchair and stroller accessible, and Avalanche Lake, which most school-age kids can manage at 2.3 miles each way with 500 feet of gain.
No. Glacier does not require vehicle reservations in 2026. Instead, Logan Pass has a three-hour parking limit and the park runs a ticketed-only shuttle, so check nps.gov/glac for shuttle tickets before you go.
A private vehicle pass is $35 for 7 days in summer and $20 in winter (November 1 to April 30). US fourth graders can get a free 4th Grade Pass through the America the Beautiful program.
Running Eagle Falls in Two Medicine (0.3 miles, accessible) and Trail of the Cedars near Lake McDonald (0.7 miles, accessible) are the easiest. Both are paved or boardwalk and suit toddlers and strollers.
No. There are no fueling stations within Glacier's boundaries, so fill up in the gateway towns before entering and before crossing to the other side of the park.
Four days lets a family spend two nights on each side of the park and cross Going-to-the-Sun Road once. A weekend works if you stay on one side and keep to the short trails.
Yes. The worked day-by-day plan is Glacier National Park 4 Day Itinerary: Both Sides of the Divide (4 Days), with the permits, the stays and the drive times already sorted. Tell us your dates and we will put it together for you and confirm what is genuinely open on those days. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
