Family-Friendly Things to Do in Glacier National Park, Montana (3-Day Itinerary)
- Dana Shik
- 7 days ago
- 14 min read
A Bucket Full of Family-Friendly Things to Do in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park was the destination we were most excited about on our 2-month RV trip across North America. We spent 4 days exploring both West and East Glacier with our four kids, combining scenic drives, hiking, swimming, and a boat ride, with enough downtime mixed in to keep everyone from burning out.
Our visit at Glacier NP included the 250 years Fourth of July anniversary weekend, which meant dealing with one of the busiest times of the year, but Glacier still felt surprisingly manageable compared with some of the other national parks we visited later on our trip.
If you are looking for family-friendly things to do in Glacier National Park, this itinerary covers our experiences, the must sees, what worked well with kids, and where we stayed with our 36-foot motorhome.
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Glacier National Park and Its History
Glacier National Park sits along the Canadian border in northwestern Montana and protects more than one million acres of mountains, forests, lakes, and valleys along the Continental Divide.
The landscape was shaped by massive glaciers that repeatedly moved through the region during the Ice Age, carving the deep valleys and steep mountain faces that define the park today. Despite its name, most of the glaciers that created this landscape disappeared thousands of years ago; the smaller glaciers remaining in the park today are much more recent.
The land also has a much longer human history. Indigenous peoples have lived in and traveled through this region for thousands of years. The Blackfeet Nation has particularly deep cultural connections to the mountains east of the Continental Divide, including the Two Medicine area that we visited on our final day.
Glacier became a national park in 1910, and today it forms part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park together with Waterton Lakes National Park across the Canadian border.
Day 1: Arriving at the Campground - Moose Creek RV Park
We stayed at Moose Creek RV Park near West Glacier, which gave us a convenient base for exploring the western side of the park.
For an RV park in such a popular destination, we were genuinely impressed. The sites were quiet, spacious and beautiful, and the campground had several amenities we don't normally see at RV parks, including a sauna and even a dog-walking service. There was also a nice play area for the kids.
We rated Moose Creek RV Park 10/10.
The major downside was the price. Camping around Glacier is expensive during summer, and Moose Creek was no exception. Not every site had a fire ring either, which is worth checking when you reserve if campfires are important to you.
For us, though, the location and campground quality made it a very comfortable home base for three busy days in Glacier.
Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road • Point Nature Trail
Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road
We started our first full day in Glacier with the experience the park is probably best known for: driving Going-to-the-Sun Road.
We've driven through quite a few national parks and mountain regions, and this was easily among the most impressive scenic roads we've experienced.
The road crosses Glacier through the mountains and Continental Divide, with waterfalls, rivers, forests, snow-covered peaks and huge views appearing around seemingly every turn. There are numerous places to pull over along the way, and we stopped frequently rather than treating the road simply as transportation from one side of the park to the other.
Parts of the drive are narrow, with very little shoulder and steep drop-offs immediately beside the road. If you're uncomfortable with mountain driving, this is worth knowing before you go.
It also takes much longer than the mileage suggests. Between the slow road, traffic, viewpoints and stops, Going-to-the-Sun Road can easily become a large part of your day.
Parking Was Our Biggest Problem
Our original plan included hiking a couple of trails along Going-to-the-Sun Road, but finding parking turned out to be much harder than expected. Since we had to work in the earlier morning hours, we started the scenic drive at peak hours, which inevitably meant several trailhead parking areas were completely full when we reached them.
This is one part of Glacier I'd plan more carefully on a future visit. If a specific trail is high on your list, plan on early arrival.
Sun Point Nature Trail
Sun Point Nature Trail leads hikers along the northern shore of St. Mary Lake, with several possible hiking distances depending on how far you want to go. From Sun Point, you can follow the shoreline toward Baring Falls, or continue farther to St. Mary Falls. The trails were very manageable for our family, making this an easy place to adjust the hike based on time and energy levels.
We hiked towards the waterfalls, but half way through the trail, we ran into closure because of increased grizzly bear activity. Wildlife closures are fairly common in Glacier and can change quickly, so this is definitely a park where having a flexible plan pays off.
The view from Sun Point ended up being more than enough consolation. The rocky peninsula projects into St. Mary Lake, the second-largest lake in Glacier National Park, giving you a wide-open view down the lake toward the mountains surrounding the St. Mary Valley. The long, narrow lake occupies a valley carved and deepened by glaciers, and from this elevated point you can really see the geography: turquoise water stretching between steep mountain walls, with Little Chief Mountain and the surrounding peaks of the Lewis Range rising beyond it.
This side of Glacier also looks noticeably different from the wetter, densely forested landscape around Lake McDonald. St. Mary sits east of the Continental Divide, where the mountains transition toward Montana's much drier plains, so the landscape feels more open and exposed. We certainly felt the exposed part—the wind at Sun Point was intense—but the unobstructed mountain-and-lake view made it difficult to leave.
Between the scenic drive, overlooks and our time at Sun Point, Going-to-the-Sun Road easily filled most of our first day.
Day 3: Rocky Point Trail • Lake McDonald • Whitefish
After spending most of our first day driving through the mountains, we focused our second day around Lake McDonald.
Rocky Point Trail
We hiked the approximately 2-mile Rocky Point Trail along the southern end of Lake McDonald. The trail starts near Fish Creek Campground and follows a mostly forested route toward the shoreline, with about 350 feet of elevation gain. There are some climbs and uneven sections, but overall we found it very manageable with our kids.
The highlight is reaching Rocky Point itself. The forest opens onto exposed rock above the water, giving you a broad view across Lake McDonald toward the mountains of Glacier National Park. Unlike the easily accessible viewpoints along Going-to-the-Sun Road, getting here requires enough of a hike that the lake feels much more removed from the busy park corridor.
At nearly 10 miles long and roughly 470 feet deep, Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. The basin was carved by glaciers, which also left behind the smooth, colorful stones that line parts of its shoreline. Because the lake is exceptionally clear, you can see those rocks beneath the shallow water near shore.
The hike was manageable for our kids and short enough that we still had plenty of energy and time left afterward. For families looking for a relatively short Glacier hike with a substantial payoff, Rocky Point gave us exactly that: enough hiking to feel like we'd explored beyond the roadside stops.
Once we reached the lake, our kids did what our kids apparently do whenever they encounter mountain water: decided they needed to get into it.
The water was freezing.
They didn't care.
They spent time swimming and skipping stones from the shore. After so many national-park stops centered around hiking and viewpoints, letting the kids simply play in the lake gave everyone a needed change of pace.
Bring water shoes if your kids plan to swim. Much of the shoreline is rocky.
After several consecutive days of hiking, we deliberately planned a lighter afternoon and headed to a small outdoor activity center near Glacier, where the kids spent a few hours on motorized bumper boats, mini golf, a 3D maze and go-karts.
On a two-month RV trip, we've learned that not every day needs to be packed with sightseeing. Mixing in a few purely fun stops gives the kids a break and usually means everyone has more energy for the next hiking day.
It also gave us a chance to slow down before heading back out that evening for the Fourth of July celebration in Whitefish. We still experienced plenty of Glacier that day, including our morning hike at Rocky Point and time at Lake McDonald, but the afternoon break kept the day from becoming another nonstop itinerary of park activities.
Fourth of July in Whitefish
That evening we drove roughly 30 minutes to Whitefish for the Fourth of July celebration along Whitefish Lake.
Downtown streets were closed, so visitors parked outside the center and used shuttle buses to reach the celebration. By evening, the lakeshore was packed with families, food stands and live music, while boats gathered offshore waiting for the fireworks.
Then things got interesting.
The fireworks were scheduled for 10:30 p.m., but at around 9:30 the entire show suddenly started. A few minutes later, an announcement came over the speakers apologizing because the fireworks had accidentally been launched an hour early.
It didn't exactly ruin the evening for us, but we imagined what a disappointment it must have been for those who planned to get there shortly before the main event.
After the official show ended, fireworks continued going off from boats and homes all around Whitefish Lake, and for a while it felt as though fireworks were coming from every direction.
Getting home was considerably less entertaining. Shuttle lines were long, traffic barely moved, and we still had more than a 30-minute drive back to our campground once we finally reached our car. We pulled into our campsite well after midnight. Despite the messy exit, spending the Fourth of July on Whitefish Lake was a fun addition to our Glacier stay, especially since we were already looking for something different after several nature-heavy days. I wouldn't necessarily plan a trip around the celebration, but if you're visiting Glacier over the holiday anyway, Whitefish is worth considering—just expect crowds, limited parking, and a very slow trip back afterward.
Day 4: Two Medicine and Two Medicine Falls
For our final day, we drove to the eastern side of Glacier National Park to explore Two Medicine, about an hour and a half from our campground near West Glacier. The distance makes it tempting to leave this area off a shorter Glacier itinerary, but I'm glad we didn't—it felt noticeably quieter and more removed from the busy Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor we'd explored earlier in our stay.
Two Medicine was also one of Glacier's important early tourism areas. The Great Northern Railway brought visitors to the eastern side of the park and built the Two Medicine Chalet complex in the 1910s; its former dining hall still stands today as the Two Medicine Camp Store. Boat service on the lake dates back to 1920, before Going-to-the-Sun Road made traveling through the park by car substantially easier.
We boarded the historic wooden Sinopah for the trip across Two Medicine Lake. The boat was built in 1926 and originally operated on St. Mary Lake before being moved to Two Medicine in the 1940s, so riding it is a small piece of Glacier history rather than simply transportation across the lake.
Taking the boat also worked particularly well for our plans. You can hike around the lake instead, and the additional mileage isn't considered particularly difficult, but it adds several hours to an outing that was already a long day for us once the drive from West Glacier was included. The boat allowed us to experience the lake and still continue on foot toward Twin Falls.
After getting off the boat, we followed the forested trail to the falls. The hike was manageable for our younger kids and gave us another completely different Glacier experience: a historic boat ride across a glacial lake followed by an easy family hike through the Two Medicine Valley.
The area's history, of course, extends much further back than the railway and national park. Two Medicine lies within the traditional homeland of the Blackfeet Nation, whose connection to the mountains east of the Continental Divide reaches back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence indicates human use of what is now Glacier National Park for more than 10,000 years.
Between the drive, lake, historic boat and hike, I'd allocate most of a day to Two Medicine if you're staying near West Glacier. It's a significant detour from that side of the park, but for us, it was different enough from our first two days to justify the drive.
On our way back to the RV, we stopped in East Glacier Park Village, a tiny town just outside the park. We found a casual cluster of food trucks there, including Island Thyme, with vegan options—which was a particularly useful find in an area where plant-based choices aren't exactly everywhere. It made for an easy dinner stop after a full day at Two Medicine.
Our Experience Visiting Glacier National Park With Kids
Glacier worked exceptionally well for our family because our three days there didn't feel repetitive.
The first day was dominated by dramatic mountain scenery and Going-to-the-Sun Road. The second gave us a relatively short hike, plenty of time at Lake McDonald, and an afternoon away from hiking. The third combined a boat ride with a family-friendly trail and waterfall in a quieter part of the park.
If we returned, I would spend more time planning parking and trail access along Going-to-the-Sun Road. That was easily the biggest limitation during our visit, and arriving without a rigid hiking plan probably saved us considerable frustration.
I'd also keep Two Medicine in the itinerary despite the long drive from West Glacier. It was far enough away that I initially questioned whether dedicating so much driving time to it made sense, but it ended up adding something genuinely different to our visit.
Three days gave us a very good introduction to Glacier, although you could easily spend five days or longer here if hiking is a major focus.
For a first family visit, though, I wouldn't try to cover every corner of this enormous park. Pick a few areas, leave room for parking problems, wildlife closures and tired kids, and give yourselves enough time to actually enjoy where you are.
What Else Is There to Do in Glacier National Park?
Three days gave us enough time to see several very different parts of Glacier, but there was plenty we didn't get to. If you have more time—or simply want to swap something from our itinerary—these are some of the major options worth considering:
Avalanche Lake Trail: One of Glacier's most popular hikes, this approximately 4.6-mile round-trip trail climbs through old-growth forest before reaching Avalanche Lake, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. The trail starts from the Trail of the Cedars area along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Trail of the Cedars: If Avalanche Lake sounds like more hiking than your family wants, the first section is the much easier Trail of the Cedars. It's also one of the park's accessible trails, making it a good option for families looking for a shorter outing.
Hidden Lake Overlook: Starting behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center, this popular trail climbs 1.3 miles each way to an overlook above Hidden Lake. The elevation gain is about 600 feet, so while the distance isn't huge, I wouldn't necessarily classify it as an easy kid hike.
Explore Many Glacier: We didn't make it to Many Glacier on this trip, and it's probably the biggest area I'd add if we returned. It's on the eastern side of the park and requires a substantial drive from West Glacier, so I'd treat it as its own day rather than trying to squeeze it into a Going-to-the-Sun Road itinerary.
Join a ranger-led program: Glacier offers ranger-led walks, longer hikes, wildlife-safety programs, evening talks and astronomy programs during the main summer season.
Glacier has more than 700 miles of trails, so there's no realistic way to "do Glacier" in one visit. If you're traveling with kids, I'd choose a few experiences that are genuinely different from each other rather than filling every day with another long hike.
Want to see how Glacier fit into our bigger summer adventure? Read our full 2-month family RV trip journal across the U.S. and Canada, with every stop and experience along the way.
**Want to learn how and where to rent an RV, how to find, book, and prep for campgrounds?→ Check out my 101 RV travel guide eBook here for tips and hacks on RV life with kids.
What You’ll See: 🐻 Wildlife • 🗻endless mountain ranges • 🚶♂️unique, unforgettable hikes
📘 Want a full RV trip planning roadmap? My First Time RV rental guide walks you step-by-step through rentals, hookups, budgeting, packing, and what first-time renters usually miss. Our RV Planning Calculator (downloadable xls file) is an excellent way to explore the costs of your next RV family adventure!
📦 Want to skip the “what did we forget?” moment? My RV packing list covers the essentials, the comfort upgrades, and the small items that make daily life on the road smoother. Another super helpful tool is our Vegan RV Pantry Checklist, that walks you through the staples and basics in a moving vegan kitchen, to make sure you're covered for your next RV adventure!
🏓If you're looking to keep your kids entertained with something other than screens, on long road trips or on downtime, read through our Road Trips Games for Kids article, to find experience-based hand-picked games that truly worked for us!
🥗Recipes we cooked on our trip that fit a tiny kitchen🥗
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Visit our inspiring collection of one-pot recipes for more culinary ideas!
Glacier National Park FAQs
How many days do you need in Glacier National Park?
I think three full days is a good minimum for a first family visit. It gave us time to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike, spend time at Lake McDonald and dedicate a separate day to Two Medicine. With four or five days, you could add Many Glacier or several longer hikes without cramming too much into each day.
What is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?
For most first-time visitors who want access to the entire park, July through September is the safest window to plan around. The alpine portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road closes for winter and its opening date depends entirely on snow and plowing conditions; it typically opens sometime around late June or early July.
Do you need a reservation to enter Glacier National Park?
The rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, so this is something I would check directly with the National Park Service before every trip. For 2026, vehicle reservations are not required, although Glacier introduced separate ticketed shuttle access and timed parking rules at Logan Pass.
How long does it take to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road?
The road is approximately 50 miles long, but don't look at the mileage and assume this is a quick drive. For us it took about 3.5 hours to travel between West Glacier and St. Mary, including sightseeing with overlooks, and stops. It can easily take longer or even most of a day.
Can you drive an RV on Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Not through the entire road. Vehicles or vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, and taller vehicles can also have trouble with rock overhangs. We left our 36-foot motorhome at the campground and explored Glacier with our tow vehicle. We also noticed that the road is very narrow with very limited to no shoulders - we wouldn't recommend anyone to drive there with anything but a standard car.
Is Glacier National Park good for kids?
Absolutely. Our kids were 5, 8, 12 and 15 when we visited, and the combination of scenic drives, manageable hikes, lakes, waterfalls and the Two Medicine boat ride worked very well across that age range.
Can you bring a dog to Glacier National Park?
Dogs can come into Glacier, but their access is very limited. Pets are allowed in developed areas such as campgrounds, parking areas and along roads, but they aren't allowed on park trails. If you're RVing with a dog as we were, you'll need to plan ahead for where they'll stay while you're hiking.
Is Going-to-the-Sun Road scary to drive?
That depends on your comfort level with mountain roads. There are narrow sections, steep drop-offs and very little shoulder in places. I wouldn't call it technically difficult in a regular passenger vehicle, but if heights or exposed mountain roads make you nervous, some stretches may be uncomfortable. For us, the scenery was easily worth the drive.
I always wanted to visit Glacier and this post makes me want to hit the road tomorrow!!