Anonymous wrote:I'm a local. Don't stop in Helena. Just go all the way through.

Bear spray is a MUST.

Thanks for the advice re. Helena.

When you say “bear spray is a must,” do you mean just in case we happen to run into an aggressive bear or that we should fully expect to run into an aggressive bear?

I'm a local. Don't stop in Helena. Just go all the way through.

Bear spray is a MUST.

I spent two nights in Glacier and it was one of the highlights of all my travel experiences (and I have traveled a lot). So even if it will just be a short trip, I say go for it. If you go, my advice is to not just feel like you have to see it all by driving the entire Going to the Sun Road. Instead, get out and hike (there are hikes you can do with young kids - I did it with two four year olds). Also, I recommend the shuttle bus system so that you can relax and enjoy and not have to drive or deal with parking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have family in western MT so visit Glacier frequently. You can have a great experience in Glacier in 2/3 days - overnight in the park at 1 or 2 lodges. Yes there’s tons to see that you won’t even touch, but you’ll get an overview and can hit the highlights (going to the sun, the railroad lodges, Logan pass, red jammer and/or boat tour, lake, glacier). The drive to glacier can be VERY dull however. Make sure to have car activities.

Thanks! We have accepted that we won’t gave enough time to fully explore everything and are okay with that. As for the drive from Big Sky to Glacier, we could break it up by staying a night in Helena. Would you do that or just power through?

Power through and if you're pressed for time, shave a day in Jackson Hole and spend more time in Glacier.

Anonymous wrote:We have family in western MT so visit Glacier frequently. You can have a great experience in Glacier in 2/3 days - overnight in the park at 1 or 2 lodges. Yes there’s tons to see that you won’t even touch, but you’ll get an overview and can hit the highlights (going to the sun, the railroad lodges, Logan pass, red jammer and/or boat tour, lake, glacier). The drive to glacier can be VERY dull however. Make sure to have car activities.

Thanks! We have accepted that we won’t gave enough time to fully explore everything and are okay with that. As for the drive from Big Sky to Glacier, we could break it up by staying a night in Helena. Would you do that or just power through?

We have family in western MT so visit Glacier frequently. You can have a great experience in Glacier in 2/3 days - overnight in the park at 1 or 2 lodges. Yes there’s tons to see that you won’t even touch, but you’ll get an overview and can hit the highlights (going to the sun, the railroad lodges, Logan pass, red jammer and/or boat tour, lake, glacier). The drive to glacier can be VERY dull however. Make sure to have car activities.

We are doing this trip this summer but we are spending a week and thinking of tacking on Yellowstone at the end. I am re-thinking this though. It is a lot. Glacier is an enormous park and really far from Yellowstone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not add GNP on to a GT/Yellowstone trip. Slow down and see GNP on a separate itinerary.

OP here. It's highly unlikely that we're going to make another trip to MT anytime soon. It's a long trek to get to, and there are so many different places we'd like to go. That's why we're thinking of taking 11 days (which is longer than we typically are able to get away) and trying to see all three parks in one trip. If we don't go to Glacier on this trip, we probably won't ever (or at least not while our kids are in the house).

I am currently thinking of flying into Jackson Hole, spending 3 days in and around Grand Teton, 4 days in and around Yellowstone, a day to make the drive to Glacier (MapQuest says it's a 6 hour drive), 3 days in Glacier and then fly home from Kalispell. The alternative if we don't go to Glacier is to spend more time in Jackson Hole and Big Sky.

Yes, that's certainly doable if you don't mind driving a lot and you'll get to see the highlights of each park.

Anonymous wrote:Do not add GNP on to a GT/Yellowstone trip. Slow down and see GNP on a separate itinerary.

OP here. It's highly unlikely that we're going to make another trip to MT anytime soon. It's a long trek to get to, and there are so many different places we'd like to go. That's why we're thinking of taking 11 days (which is longer than we typically are able to get away) and trying to see all three parks in one trip. If we don't go to Glacier on this trip, we probably won't ever (or at least not while our kids are in the house).

I am currently thinking of flying into Jackson Hole, spending 3 days in and around Grand Teton, 4 days in and around Yellowstone, a day to make the drive to Glacier (MapQuest says it's a 6 hour drive), 3 days in Glacier and then fly home from Kalispell. The alternative if we don't go to Glacier is to spend more time in Jackson Hole and Big Sky.

Do not add GNP on to a GT/Yellowstone trip. Slow down and see GNP on a separate itinerary.

Glacier is my favorite park. It’s breathtakingly. I’ve spent a ton of time in Yellowstone (did my grad research there) and some in the Tetons, and enjoy both, but definitely would recommend glacier.

It depends a bit on what you get excited about though. The wildlife and thermal features in Yellowstone are really cool - but it’s a place where you’re together with the hoards trying to see the (many) unique sites, which often involves lots of driving. Glacier is a bit more secluded, with more beautiful vistas and great scenic hikes. (Of course you can do nice backcountry hikes both places, and avoid the crowds, but in Yellowstone there’s more pressure to see everything). Glacier to me is more awe-inspiring and peaceful.

It is far though (but a fun drive). Make sure you have enough time to do it all if you try.

We loved Glacier and spent a full week exploring it. Not sure its something you just want to "tag on" to another trip.

Agree that glacier is beautiful, but is not close to the other two parks.

It is definitely different and really my favorite of the three....the two sides of the park are very different as well so it's worth seeing both and the drive along Going to the Sun road is gorgeous.

We are planning to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks this summer and are considering adding in Glacier National Park as well at the end of the trip. It will make the trip a good bit more taxing in terms of travel time and schedule though. For those who have been to Glacier, what do you think? Is it different enough from Grand Teton and Yellowstone to make it worth the effort to see it while we're out there?