{"id":118782,"date":"2025-03-07T23:21:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T23:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/tips-for-driving-the-stunning-going-to-the-sun-road\/"},"modified":"2025-03-07T23:21:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T23:21:25","slug":"tips-for-driving-the-stunning-going-to-the-sun-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=118782","title":{"rendered":"Tips For Driving The Stunning Going To The Sun Road"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Going-to-the-Sun Road is the best thing to do in Glacier National Park<\/a>! It is the\u00a0most stunning and scenic drive<\/strong>\u00a0we have ever taken. Before going on the drive, you shou<\/span>ld\u00a0check road conditions, learn about the\u00a0vehicle size restrictions,\u00a0and always\u00a0take your time\u00a0and stay alert<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

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The road should be on everyone\u2019s Glacier National Park itinerary<\/a>, as it leads to some of the best hiking in Glacier<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The whole road is 50 miles but be prepared for it to take at least 2 hours, if not more, to drive it.<\/p>\n

**Please note that this road does not have a set open date. It is all based on the weather and remains open as long as the weather cooperates. It usually opens in July (sometimes later July) \u2013 September.<\/p>\n

***PLEASE NOTE\u2014Glacier National Park has started requiring a reservation and a ticket to travel the Going To The Sun Road, which will impact your trip. You can check out more details here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you are planning a trip to Glacier, check out our Glacier Guides<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Planning a trip to Glacier? We put together a series of digital guides that take the guesswork out of planning. Stop-by-stop itineraries for making the most of 1, 3 or 7 days in Glacier National Park including where to stay, where to eat, what hikes to take and the best driving routes. <\/p>\n

We\u2019ve even included links for you to book your stays and buy your park passes. Everything you need in one convenient digital guide. Just download and go! <\/p>\n

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The Road<\/h3>\n
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\"Going\"Going<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

You can enter the road through St. Mary or East entrance or the more popular west entrance by the Apgar visitor center (this is also a good place to stop to ask about the road status \u2013 to make sure it is open), where you drive by the Lake McDonald lodge before coming to the beginning of the Going to the Sun road.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry\u2014you will know when you hit the road because you start to climb up the mountain. The views on the way up keep getting better and better! There are multiple pull-offs on the side of the road if you want to jump out for a picture.<\/p>\n

Driving this road is not for the faint of heart since it is barely two lanes and the edge of the road is right next to your car. Only\u00a0vehicles under 21 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 10 feet tall are allowed on Going to the Sun Road,<\/strong><\/span> and for good reason.<\/p>\n

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\"Going\"Going<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

You will see waterfalls coming down from the mountain. Drive by the Weeping Wall, where, if your windows are open on this portion of the road, you could get splashed by the water and waterfalls! And yes, that is snow on the mountain in August.<\/p>\n

Logans Pass Visitor Center<\/h3>\n
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The Going to the Sun Road ends as it crosses the continental divide at Logan Pass, which is the highest point on the Road. We highly recommend stopping at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. When we drove up, we saw Big Horn Sheep multiple times. However, this is a very busy area, and during the main season, you can\u2019t always get parking.<\/p>\n

Be prepared to drive around for a while, waiting for someone to leave so you can get a spot in the Logan Pass Visitor Center parking lot. It is worth it. Just be patient.<\/p>\n

You can also watch as people are leaving and follow them to their cars. Most likely, this is how they got their spot, so they will understand.<\/p>\n

There is a small visitor center and gift shop. Rangers are normally present to answer questions, show you a Big Horn Sheep skull, and teach you more about the area.<\/p>\n

They also have Ranger-led talks and bathrooms here. Since this is the highest point, it can be cold here\u2014about 20 degrees colder compared to the Lake McDonald area of Glacier. For this reason, always have layers with you.<\/p>\n

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Hidden Lake Overlook Trail<\/h3>\n

From here, you can hike the Hidden Lake Overlook trail. Take our advice and do it. This ranked #1 on our list of Best Hikes In Glacier National Park With Kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The trail takes you up a set of stairs, so it is a bit strenuous, but you can do it! The views on the way are beautiful; you walk by streams, waterfalls, and fields of wildflowers.<\/p>\n

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Once you reach the overlook, you get a fantastic view of Hidden Lake and the mountains behind it. The overlook is a perfect place to take out your beer, wine, and snacks and sit down for a minute to take in the beauty of Glacier National Park. There is also a chance you will see the mountain goats!<\/p>\n

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If you aren\u2019t a hiker, this is the one hike we recommend doing anyway for two reasons. First, it is very populated and has defined stairs and a path. Second, the views are pure Glacier\u2014big mountains and a glacial lake. Both times we were there, we saw wildlife! It was mountain goats both times, so we kept our distance, but luckily, it wasn\u2019t a bear!<\/p>\n

If you are a hiker, you can continue all the way down to the lake. This will add quite a bit more to your hike, so if you plan to do this, remember you do have to hike back, too!<\/p>\n

To get to the first overlook, it\u2019s about 1.5 miles (so 3 miles round trip). To get all the way down to the lake, it\u2019s more like 5.3 miles round trip. You can learn more about the Hidden Lake trail on AllTrails. <\/a><\/p>\n

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