Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell is the closest airport to Glacier National Park. It sits about 30 miles west of the West Entrance, closer than Missoula International Airport or Great Falls International Airport. If you would rather skip flying, Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at West Glacier year-round.
The Closest Airport to Glacier National Park
Glacier Park International Airport, near Kalispell, is the closest airport to Glacier National Park. Two more airports serve the park from farther out, and one train line stops at the park's western edge.
| Way in | Where it is | Distance to Glacier |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Park International Airport | Near Kalispell | About 30 miles west of the West Entrance |
| Missoula International Airport | Missoula | About 150 miles south of the West Entrance |
| Great Falls International Airport | Great Falls | 130 to 165 miles east of the St. Mary, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier Entrances |
| Amtrak Empire Builder | West Glacier (Belton) | Stops year-round in the town of West Glacier |
Book Glacier Park International Airport if your plans start at Lake McDonald, Apgar, or the west half of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Look at Missoula or Great Falls when a flight there fits your dates better, and add the longer drive to your first day. If you would rather not drive, the Amtrak section below covers the train and the summer shuttle from the depot.
Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell
Glacier Park International Airport puts you on the west side of the park, one highway away from the West Entrance. From Kalispell, take Highway 2 east to the town of West Glacier, a drive of roughly 33 miles.
West Glacier is the gateway to the Lake McDonald area, Park Headquarters, the Apgar Visitor Center, and the western start of Going-to-the-Sun Road. The same route gives access to the Lake McDonald area. Going-to-the-Sun Road is open year-round near the West Entrance.
When the full road is open, Going-to-the-Sun Road links West Glacier to St. Mary in about 2 hours, across about 50 miles of mountain road. The road has no set opening date and is typically fully open by early July.
Missoula and Great Falls as Backup Airports
Missoula International Airport and Great Falls International Airport are the two backup airports, and each one adds a much longer drive than the Kalispell transfer.
Missoula International Airport
Missoula sits about 150 miles south of the West Entrance. You still arrive on the west side, so the trip ends at the same entrance as a Kalispell flight. Choose Missoula when its flight schedule saves you more than the extra miles cost you.
Great Falls International Airport
Great Falls sits between 130 and 165 miles east of the St. Mary, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier Entrances. The route runs north on Highway 89 through Browning, about 125 miles from Great Falls, and signs lead from there to each east-side entrance. The St. Mary Entrance is the eastern end of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the home of the St. Mary Visitor Center.
Lake McDonald and Apgar are reached from the west, via the town of West Glacier.
Matching the Airport to the West or East Entrance
The National Park Service lists Great Falls International Airport at 130 to 165 miles from the east entrances. The table below lists the airport-to-entrance distance and the NPS drive from West Glacier as separate figures.
| Trip | Leg 1 | Leg 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Kalispell airport to St. Mary via Going-to-the-Sun Road | 30 miles to West Entrance | 50 miles, 2 hours |
| Kalispell airport to St. Mary via Highway 2 and Highway 89 | 30 miles to West Entrance | 90 miles, 2 hours |
| Kalispell airport to Many Glacier | 30 miles to West Entrance | 70 miles, 2½ hours |
| Great Falls airport to the east entrances | 130 to 165 miles | None |
The shorter route across the park depends on the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Those high stretches typically close for winter around the third Monday of October, and wintry weather can close them earlier. When the alpine section is closed, use the Highway 2 to Highway 89 route, which takes about the same time and covers more miles.
For vehicle reservation rules on Going-to-the-Sun Road, read the vehicle reservations guide before you pick a flight.
Driving from Glacier Park International Airport to the West Entrance
The drive from Glacier Park International Airport to the West Entrance is a short run east on Highway 2, and a few park rules shape how you prepare for it. Run through this list before you leave Kalispell:
- Fuel: Glacier has no fueling stations inside its boundaries, so fill the tank before you cross into the park.
- Parking: lots inside the park often fill by early morning in summer, so plan an early start on your first full day.
- Vehicle size: vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet, counting bumpers and mirrors, are prohibited on Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun. Vehicles taller than 10 feet may struggle with rock overhangs driving west from Logan Pass to the Loop.
- Road alerts: text GNPROADS to 333111 for live opening and closure updates.
Check the size limit if you plan to drive a camper or a long van. Pick a vehicle under those limits, or see the alpine section from a seat on the historic Red Bus Tours that Glacier National Park Lodges runs in summer.
Most roads in the park open only for part of the year, and conditions change quickly. The National Park Service posts current road, entrance, and snowplow status on its directions and road conditions page, so open it the morning you drive in.
Arriving by Train Instead
Amtrak's historic Empire Builder line reaches Glacier by rail. It stops year-round at West Glacier (Belton) and at the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, and it stops seasonally at East Glacier Park.
In summer, Glacier National Park Lodges runs a shuttle for a fee between the West Glacier depot, Apgar Village, and Lake McDonald Lodge. Reservations are required, so book the shuttle when you book the train. Glacier National Park Lodges may also offer a seasonal shuttle, again for a fee, that connects to St. Mary and Many Glacier on the east side.
The park runs its own summer shuttle system, and its routes are adjusted from year to year. The park shuttle is transportation only, without narration, so pair it with the Going-to-the-Sun Road audio tour if you want stop-by-stop context. The depot shuttle is a summer service, so a winter train trip needs its own plan for the stretch from the station to your room.
Drive Times Inside the Park
Drive times between Glacier's valleys run from 40 minutes to 2½ hours, so a day split between the two sides of the park takes planning. The National Park Service gives these estimates, and construction, traffic, and time of day all change them.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| West Glacier to Polebridge | 28 miles | 1 hour |
| West Glacier to East Glacier Park | 56 miles | 1 hour |
| West Glacier to St. Mary (Going-to-the-Sun Road) | 50 miles | 2 hours |
| West Glacier to St. Mary (Highway 2 to Highway 89) | 90 miles | 2 hours |
| West Glacier to Many Glacier | 70 miles | 2½ hours |
| St. Mary to Many Glacier Valley | 20 miles | 40 minutes |
| St. Mary to Two Medicine Valley | 34 miles | 1 hour |
| St. Mary to Waterton Lakes National Park | 50 miles | 1 hour, plus customs delays |
The speed limit on Going-to-the-Sun Road is 40 mph in the lower elevations and 25 mph in the alpine section. Watch the blind curves, where animals and pedestrians often cross without warning.
A side trip to Waterton Lakes in Canada needs a passport for every traveler. The Chief Mountain Border Crossing opens only in summer, from May 15 through September 30. The Piegan/Carway Port of Entry sits on Highway 89 north of Babb.
Where to Stay Near the West Entrance
Staying near the West Entrance keeps the drive from Glacier Park International Airport short and puts the west side of the park close by. At Dark Light Collection, we are building glass pyramids on private land within 15 minutes of Glacier National Park's West Entrance, opening in 2027.
From the site, Hungry Horse Lake and the Flathead River are each about 5 minutes away, Whitefish about 15 minutes, and Lake McDonald about 20 minutes. Each pyramid is designed with a king bed positioned for sky-gazing, a private deck with a fire pit, and a personal telescope. Founding deposits are open now through the Reserve button.
Book your flight into Glacier Park International Airport first, then choose lodging on the side of the park where you will spend the most days.
Each pyramid near Glacier's West Entrance is designed with a deck telescope and nightly astrophotography shot from its own coordinates. See how the glass works on the pyramids page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest airport to Glacier National Park?
Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell is the closest airport to Glacier National Park. It sits on the west side, with Highway 2 leading east to the town of West Glacier.
How far is Glacier Park International Airport from the West Entrance?
Glacier Park International Airport is about 30 miles west of the West Entrance. From Kalispell, Highway 2 runs east to the town of West Glacier.
Is there a train to Glacier National Park?
Yes. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops year-round at West Glacier (Belton) and the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, and seasonally at East Glacier Park. In summer, a paid shuttle from Glacier National Park Lodges links the West Glacier depot to Apgar Village and Lake McDonald Lodge, with reservations required.
Which airport is best for the east side of Glacier?
Great Falls International Airport sits 130 to 165 miles from the St. Mary, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier Entrances on the east side.
Stay Near Glacier's West Entrance in 2027
Founding deposits are open for glass pyramids on private land a short drive from Glacier's West Entrance.
Reserve Your Pyramid Stay near Glacier →
