Glacier is an exhilarating national park located in one of the most picturesque areas of Montana. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get to Glacier National Park, including the major airports to fly into and the best roads to drive!
The closest airport to Glacier National Park is the Glacier Park International Airport, which is located 40 minutes outside the West Glacier Entrance to the park. If you’d rather fly into a larger city, then book your tickets to Missoula or Great Falls.
Driving to Glacier National Park? You’ll love the scenery along Highway 2 as you travel to the park’s gateway towns.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I’ve been to Glacier many times, and I can’t wait to help you plan your upcoming trip to this stunning national park.
Let’s talk more about the closest airport to Glacier National Park, plus other major airports and major roads that will quickly get you to the park so you can start exploring!
Where is Glacier National Park Located?
Glacier National Park is located in Northern Montana along the Canadian Border. It is approximately 40 minutes from Kalispell, MT, 2.5 hours from Missoula, MT, 2.5 hours from Great Falls, MT, and 3.5 hours from Calgary, Canada.
The nearest national park to Glacier is Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada — the two parks are only 1.5 hours apart by road.
The closest towns to Glacier National Park with a decent number of amenities are Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Kalispell, Montana.
The Closest Airport to Glacier National Park
Glacier Park International Airport
The Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) is the closest airport to Glacier National Park. This small airport is located in Kalispell, which is about 40 minutes from the park’s West Entrance.
The West Entrance is the most popular way to enter Glacier due to its proximity to several larger towns like Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls. Flying into the Glacier Park International Airport is the best airport to fly into for kicking off your national park adventures in Glacier!
This airport is operational year-round, with flights most commonly connecting to the Salt Lake City or Denver International Airports. Flights to and from other cities around the country are usually operated seasonally, but during peak season, you’ll find flights from popular cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago.
Many major airlines operate here, including Delta Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. The Glacier Park International Airport is not only the closest airport to Glacier, but it’s also the most convenient place to find rental cars if you are flying into the area and driving into the park.
Other Airports Near Glacier National Park
Missoula International Airport
The Missoula Airport (MSO) is located about 3 hours south of West Glacier. If you fly into this airport, you’ll pass right by Flathead Lake as you drive to Glacier. Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and you’ll find dozens of activities here, such as boating, birding, camping, and fishing.
Major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and United Airlines all fly into the Missoula International Airport year-round, with direct flight options available from several major cities in the country.
Great Falls International Airport
The Great Falls International Airport (GTF) is about 2.5 hours from St. Mary on the east side of Glacier National Park. This airport is convenient if you’re hoping to adventure in the Two Medicine, St. Mary, or Many Glacier areas of the park. It is located about halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone National Park, making it a great jumping-off point if you’re hoping to see both parks.
This airport is serviced by Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines, with direct flights from Salt Lake City, Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Seattle.
Calgary International Airport
The Calgary International Airport (YYC) is located in Canada, about 3.5 hours north of the St. Mary Entrance on the east side of Glacier. It makes sense to fly into this airport if you’re hoping to explore Glacier in the United States and then hit the popular Canadian National Parks like Banff, Waterton Lakes, and Jasper. You will need to go through a border crossing if you drive to Glacier from the Calgary International Airport, so be prepared to show your passport.
This airport is the busiest airport in Alberta, and you’ll find many direct flight options year-round.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is Montana’s busiest airport, so you’ll find more flight options and cheaper prices than a lot of the smaller airports in the area.
This airport is a great option if you want to take a road trip to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. A route I recommend is Bozeman to West Yellowstone (1.5 hrs), explore Yellowstone with this itinerary, West Yellowstone to Jackson Hole (3 hrs), explore Grand Teton with this itinerary, Jackson Hole to Ennis (3 hrs), Ennis to St. Mary or West Glacier (5 hrs), explore Glacier with this itinerary, then drive back to Bozeman (5 hrs).
Now that’s an amazing trip!
Traffic and crowding in Glacier can be terrible.
Did you know that it’s common for the parking lots to fill before the sun comes up in Glacier?
Are you hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people?
Stay ahead of the crowds with this Glacier Itinerary. You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
The Best Roads to Glacier National Park
If you’re driving to Glacier, you’ll encounter gorgeous scenery as you pass through Montana’s wild landscape! Here are some things you can expect on the roads that lead to Glacier National Park.
Highway 2 (Kalispell to East Glacier Park Village)
Highway 2 skirts the south side of Glacier, stretching from Kalispell to West Glacier to East Glacier Park Village. This beautiful highway will help you access popular areas like Lake McDonald or quieter areas like Two Medicine. If you’ll be entering Glacier through the West Entrance, you’ll drive this road to get there.
This highway is a well-kept 2-lane road that is RV-friendly. If you’re trying to get an RV from West Glacier to St. Mary, you’ll need to take Highway 2 (instead of the more well-known Going-to-the-Sun Road that has length and height restrictions).
Highway 2 is open year-round, weather permitting.
Highway 89 (East Glacier Park Village to St. Mary/Babb)
Highway 89 follows the east boundary of Glacier National Park. As you drive along this road, you’ll be treated to spectacular mountain and lake views!
If you’re hoping to get to the St. Mary Entrance via Highway 2, you might decide to turn onto Highway 49 (a small, curvy road with stunning views of the mountains) when you get to East Glacier. This route will take you past the Two Medicine area of the park, but it is definitely not for RVs, so don’t take a large vehicle on this side road — stay on Highway 89 if you are in a large vehicle.
If you continue heading north on Highway 89, you’ll pass Glacier’s remote Cut Bank Entrance before reaching St. Mary. You can turn into St. Mary to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east side of the park. Taking Highway 89 past St. Mary leads to the small town of Babb and the popular Many Glacier Entrance.
Entering the park from this direction is an extremely scenic drive. This road is a basic 2-lane highway with a lot of curves, but driving an RV is just fine along this route. Highway 89 stays open year-round, weather permitting.
Chief Mountain International Highway (Babb to Waterton Lakes, Canada)
The Chief Mountain International Highway connects the town of Babb on the east side of Glacier to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. It only takes about 1 hour to get from Babb to Waterton via this road!
You will cross the United States-Canadian border as you drive on this highway, so you’ll need a passport to go through customs. The Chief Mountain Highway is closed at the Glacier National Park boundary during the winter (just a few miles before you reach the border), and the customs station is closed during the winter as well.
This road is RV-friendly.
Camas Road (West Glacier to Polebridge)
You’ll take the Camas Road if you’re hoping to get from West Glacier to the small community of Polebridge in Glacier’s northwest corner.
This road is a quiet, 2-lane road that passes by the Fish Creek Campground and leads to the Camas Creek Entrance of the park. After passing the entrance station, you’ll turn onto the Outside North Fork Road. This road is a well-maintained dirt road as you work your way toward Polebridge.
The Camas Road is RV-friendly, and you can take an RV on the dirt section of the Outside North Fork Road if desired. Be aware that there isn’t anywhere to camp in the national park with an RV up in this area. The roads to Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Logging Creek, and Quartz Creek have a length limit of 21 feet and can be very bumpy!
The Camas Road closes during the winter.
Going-to-the-Sun Road (West Glacier to St. Mary)
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is Glacier’s most famous road! It travels through the middle of the park, taking you through some of the most phenomenal mountain landscapes in America.
This road connects West Glacier Entrance to the St. Mary Entrance on the park’s east side. You’ll find most of Glacier’s can’t-miss activities along this road, including Avalanche Lake, Logan Pass, and St. Mary Falls.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is partially open year-round, but it doesn’t fully open until sometime around the beginning of July most years (depending on the snowpack). It’s normal for the snow to fall or linger well into the summer.
This road typically stays open until about mid-October, but again, it depends on the weather and how much snow falls.
Due to the Going-to-the-Sun Road’s curvy, narrow lanes and steep drop-offs, there are strict size restrictions in place. Your vehicle cannot be longer than 21 feet, wider than 8 feet, or taller than 10 feet. And trust me, you don’t want to be on this road in something larger than that!
This information should help you find the best airport to get to Glacier fast — there are so many fun adventures waiting for you in this jaw-dropping national park. Have a great trip!
More Glacier Trip Planning Information
Glacier Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Glacier? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Glacier — the top 10 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
The Ultimate Glacier Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
Best Things to Do — activities for every type of adventurer.
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