Glacier National Park with Kids: 7-Day Itinerary for Hiking, Wildlife, and Unforgettable Views
One of my bucket list trips was always Glacier National Park, so in 2023, I booked air and a rental car and started looking for accommodation options that slept 5. Choosing where to stay at Glacier was a task because I knew that I wanted to be on the Many Glacier (east side) of the National Park which was further away from Kalispell and Whitefish where originally, we looked at staying.
National Parks out west typically are busy in the summer months and so booking early is key! As we are starting our new family website and blog, Porchlight Passport, this is a great way to share our itinerary and capture these memories that will last a lifetime. We will also always be real with you all about the struggles and long travel days that come with trips as well because anyone who travels regularly knows it is not always sunshine and roses.
Please note that this trip does require preplanning, and being a travel advisor, I have watched the boom in National Park travel since COVID years. This required us to quickly snag park passes for certain rides or areas of the park months in advance and also to preplan some of the hikes.
Day 1: Arrival & Cabin Setup
Flew from Atlanta to Minneapolis for a layover and then on to Kalispell
Rented a Jeep Wagoneer which we loved the size of this!
Grocery stop + cooler/ice
Drove to cabin in Essex, MT
Dinner near East Glacier Lodge at Flame Tree Pizza on the reserve
Amazon Picks:
Day 2: Avalanche Lake Hike + Many Glacier Boat Ride
Hiked Trail of the Cedars and continued on to Avalanche Lake (5 miles)
Picnic lunch by creek
Going-to-the-Sun Road drive
Boat ride across Swiftcurrent & Lake Josephine (saw a moose swim right by us!)
