Major city · United States
East GlacierEast Glacier Park
Stay 1–2 nights in season (Jun–Sep) for Two Medicine and the park's east side; outside May–Oct most lodgings and the Amtrak stop shut.
East Glacier is a village of a few hundred people on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, sitting at the east entrance to Glacier National Park where US-2 meets MT-49. It exists for the park season: lodges, a bakery-hostel, a saloon and a seasonal Amtrak stop. Come for Two Medicine, the bison reserve and trailheads, not for a town.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (most businesses closed, snow)
- Airports
- FCA · YYC
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for East Glacier911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Glacier County Sheriff (non-emergency)406-873-2711
- Glacier National Park information406-888-7800
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about East Glacier, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyLow crime, high exposure: the real risks are bears, weather swings, long empty drives and closed-in-winter services.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 406-873-2711 Glacier County Sheriff (non-emergency) · 406-888-7800 Glacier National Park information
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckFCA Glacier Park International (Kalispell) (Nearest airport; about 2 h by car via US-2 (check)).
- Getting aroundThe village is walkable, but everything else needs a car: Two Medicine, trailheads…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and a pastry$5–9
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner main$18–32
- Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or pizza slice$10–16
- BeerDraught beer in a saloon$6–9
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–40
- Budget bedCampsite (tent or RV), a night, per roomUS$18
- Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
- High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- FCA Glacier Park International (Kalispell) (Nearest airport; about 2 h by car via US-2 (check)) · YYC Calgary International (About 220 mi / 355 km (221 mi); shuttle services run in season (check))FCA Glacier Park International (Kalispell) (Nearest airport; about 2 h by car via US-2 (check)) · YYC Calgary International (About 220 mi / 221 mi (355 km); shuttle services run in season (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Feb
Avoid
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Mar
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Apr
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
May
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Aug
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Sep
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Oct
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Nov
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Dec
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)), coolest Jan (−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C) low), wettest Jun (11 rain days), driest Feb (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
East Glacier: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
10 rd
Feb
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
8 rd
Mar
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
9 rd
Apr
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
8 rd
May
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
10 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
Jul
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Aug
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Sep
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
8 rd
Oct
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
8 rd
Nov
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
9 rd
Dec
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is walkable, but everything else needs a car: Two Medicine, trailheads, the bison reserve and the park's east side are spread along US-2 and MT-49. Car rentals, shuttles and horse rentals operate in town in season. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at East Glacier Park station April–October.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Two Medicine
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Drive MT-49 then Two Medicine Road, about 12 mi / 19 km (12 mi)Drive MT-49 then Two Medicine Road, about 12 mi / 12 mi (19 km)
Lake, trails and boat tours; go early for parking.
Blackfeet Nation Bison Reserve
goDoor to door: About 10 min
Drive about 5 mi east on US-2
Herd visible from the road; pull-off with information.
Browning
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive east on US-2, about 13 mi / 21 km (13 mi)Drive east on US-2, about 13 mi / 13 mi (21 km)
Museum and services; the nearest larger town.
West Glacier / Going-to-the-Sun Road
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Drive west on US-2, about 60 mi / 97 km (60 mi)Drive west on US-2, about 60 mi / 60 mi (97 km)
Full day; the pass road is seasonal and can close for snow.
Kalispell
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Drive west on US-2, about 90 mi / 145 km (90 mi)Drive west on US-2, about 90 mi / 90 mi (145 km)
Airport and big-box shopping; too far for a casual return trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
In town (US-2 / MT-49)
Walkable cluster: Glacier Park Lodge, motels, bakery-hostel, saloon, travel centre.
West of town on US-2
Bison Creek Ranch cabins and Devil Creek Campground; you need a car.
Two Medicine / park side
Campground and limited lodging inside the park; book early for summer.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $80–130 excl. bed
- Mid
- $130–220 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$170 | US$340 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160 | US$640 |
| Glacier National Park entry, 7 days1 × US$35 · check | US$35 |
| Rental car, per day in season1 × US$110 | US$110 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$117 |
| Trip total≈ US$321 per person per day, bed included | US$1,282 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; park entry and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and a pastry | $5–9 |
| Deli sandwich or pizza slice | $10–16 |
| Sit-down dinner main | $18–32 |
| Draught beer in a saloon | $6–9 |
| Gallon of fuelcheck | $3.50–4.50 |
| Campground, single site | $18–30 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $15–40 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Season is short: many lodgings, eateries and the Amtrak stop close from about November to April.
- Cell service and data are spotty; not every hotel has Wi-Fi.
- This is bear country: carry bear spray, store food properly, never leave food in a tent.
- You are on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation: follow tribal rules and respect closed areas.
- Distances are long and fuel stops are few — fill up before heading out.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Glacier County Sheriff (non-emergency)
- 406-873-2711
- Glacier National Park information
- 406-888-7800
Pocket card
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East GlacierEast Glacier Park
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Glacier County Sheriff (non-emergency)406-873-2711
- Glacier National Park information406-888-7800
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest are in Denver or Seattle (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Amtrak Empire Builder, East Glacier → West Glacier: about $10–20, about 1 h (check)
- Amtrak Empire Builder, East Glacier → Chicago: from about $150 coach, 1 night+ (check)
- Taxi or shuttle, town → Two Medicine: about $30–60 (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
- Is this road open? — Is this road open?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the nearest fuel? — Where is the nearest fuel?
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for East Glacier. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (most businesses closed, snow) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for FCA: last-mile drive times, rental desks, seasonal shuttle fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: US-2 core, MT-49 lodgings, Two Medicine, Devil Creek.
- Place pages with verified season dates (Glacier Park Lodge, bakery-hostel, saloon, campgrounds) and last orders.
- Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.