Major city · United States
St. Mary
Stay 1 night in St. Mary only as a park gateway: it is a supply stop at the Going-to-the-Sun Road east entrance, not a destination.
St. Mary is a tiny town (population about 54) on US-89 where the Going-to-the-Sun Road meets the east side of Glacier National Park. It exists for park visitors: fuel, groceries, a couple of gift shops and a lodge. Treat it as a bed and supply base for the east side, not a place to spend days.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (Going-to-the-Sun Road closed over Logan Pass; most services shut)
- Airports
- FCA · GTF
- Nights
- 1
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
Emergency numbers for St. Mary911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Glacier National Park (general information)406-888-7800
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 St. Mary, 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
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are wildlife, mountain weather that turns fast, and long drives with no phone signal.
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 · 406-888-7800 Glacier National Park (general 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) (About 2 h 15 min by car via US-2 and US-89; check seasonal schedules.).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–5
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, per person$20–35
- Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or burger$12–18
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Budget bedCabin (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$230
- Mid-range bedMotel room, a night, per roomUS$180
- High-end bedMotel room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$260
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) (About 2 h 15 min by car via US-2 and US-89; check seasonal schedules.) · GTF Great Falls International (About 3 h 30 min by car; check.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Feb
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Mar
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Apr
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
May
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°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
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
St. Mary: 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
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
8 rd
Feb
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
7 rd
Mar
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
8 rd
Apr
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
8 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Jun
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Sep
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
7 rd
Oct
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
7 rd
Nov
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
8 rd
Dec
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
8 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
You need a car. US-89 runs through town and meets the Going-to-the-Sun Road at the junction; there are two pull-in car areas, one near the lodge and one near the Park Cafe. Fuel up here before entering the park.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Glacier National Park (east side)
goDoor to door: 5 min to the entrance
Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the St. Mary entrance
The reason to be here: St. Mary Lake, Wild Goose Island viewpoint and Logan Pass when the road is open.
Door to door: About 30 min
US-89 south, about 30 min
Supplies, fuel and the Museum of the Plains Indian; check opening hours.
Door to door: About 1 h
US-89 south then US-2 west, about 1 h
Amtrak stop and more food and beds; useful if St. Mary is full.
Door to door: About 2 h 30 min
US-89 south, US-2 west via East Glacier, about 2 h 30 min
Too far for a return day; sleep there if you want a town base.
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.
St. Mary village (US-89 and Going-to-the-Sun Road)
Lodge, cabins and motel plus the supermarket and fuel; walkable, everything on one strip.
Babb
A few miles north on US-89; alternative beds for the east side, check availability.
East Glacier Park
About 1 h south on US-2; more lodging and the Amtrak stop.
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 room1 × 1 night × US$180 | US$180 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150 | US$300 |
| Glacier National Park entry, 7 days per vehicle1 × US$35 · check | US$35 |
| Fuel, one full tank1 × US$60 · check | US$60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$61 |
| Trip total≈ US$333 per person per day, bed included | US$666 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; park entry and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Deli sandwich or burger | $12–18 |
| Sit-down dinner, per person | $20–35 |
| Gallon of fuelcheck | $3.50–4.50 |
| Grocery run for a day in the park | $20–40 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass is seasonal: check the park's opening dates before you plan a crossing.
- Cell service is patchy around town and inside the park; download offline maps.
- Wildlife on the roads at dawn and dusk: drive slowly and never approach animals.
- Summer lodging books out far ahead; walk-in beds in July and August are unlikely.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Glacier National Park (general information)
- 406-888-7800
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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St. MarySt. Mary
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Glacier National Park406-888-7800
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest are in Denver or Seattle, embassies in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- St. Mary → Glacier park entrance: 5 min by car; park entry about $35 per vehicle, 7 days (check)
- St. Mary → East Glacier: about 1 h by car
- St. Mary → Kalispell (FCA): about 2 h 15 min by car
Say or show
- Where is the gas station? — Where is the petrol station?
- A table for two, please — A table for two, please
- Is the road over the pass open? — Is the road over the pass open?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.
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 St. Mary. 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 (Going-to-the-Sun Road closed over Logan Pass; most services shut) · 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
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for FCA and GTF: last-mile drive times, rental desks, seasonal flight checks.
- Walking cluster around the US-89 and Going-to-the-Sun Road junction with fuel, supermarket and food anchors.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (St. Mary entrance, St. Mary Lake, Wild Goose Island viewpoint) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures: road-closure and full-lodging scenarios.