The word majestic is thrown around far too lightly, especially by travel writers, but visitors to Glacier National Park will soon realise that this place of rugged peaks and alpine wilderness more than merits the term. The massive park, referred to by many as the Crown of the Continent, encompasses over a million acres, hundreds of animal species and more than a thousand kinds of plants. Almost all of its original ecosystem remains intact, making this the ideal place to get an expansive look at North America as it was before the arrival of humans.
A Glacier National Park RV rental will give you the freedom to explore this incredible place with a great deal of comfort and convenience. A Calgary RV rental, in Canada, allows you to reach Glacier in about half a day’s driving. If you want to stay within the United States, there are a few different options available to you, but each will require at least a couple days journey to complete comfortably. Salt Lake City would be one of the closest spots to pick up an RV rental; Seattle is another decent option if you’re starting out from the west coast, which is barely 2.5 hours away from an RV rental depot in Langley. You could even launch your RV rental road trip from Vancouver, as well as a camper hire in Edmonton or when you book an Abbotsford RV heading down to Seattle and across the US eastward from there.
Exploring with a Glacier National Park RV rental
One of the biggest upsides to visiting Glacier National Park in an RV rental is the fact that you can drive the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road and camp along the way with supreme ease. This 50 mile route that winds its way through the park’s interior treats visitors to a smorgasbord of some of the finest natural vistas on the continent. Driving Going-to-the-Sun non-stop will only take a few hours, but it’s far better to take plenty of stops along the way to take in the phenomenal beauty of Glacier National Park.
Many choose to stay overnight along the route as there are several campgrounds adjacent to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. No matter how you tackle the Going-to-the-Sun Road, make sure you see Jackson Glacier - one of the park’s remaining 25 glaciers. It’s located on the east side of the road between Logan Pass and St. Mary. One thing to be aware of when booking your RV rental is that there are vehicle size restrictions in place for those who plan to travel the narrow alpine section between Avalanche Creek and Sun Point.
As much as you’ll be able to see from the road, staying behind the wheel when visiting any national park is a waste of excellent exploration opportunities. Taking a day hike is a great way to get out in the midst of Glacier wilderness. There are a whole gamut of trails available to the casual hiker, ranging from one to eight and a half miles in length. Popular trailhead spots include Goat Haunt Ranger Station, Iceberg Ptarmigan Trailhead and Bowman Lake Ranger Station. Those venturing along the trails of Glacier National Park should note that the park is home to bears. Among other precautions, it is wise to make a lot of noise when traveling alongside dense foliage or approaching blind corners - you do not want to surprise a bear! See the day hike trails link above for more tips on staying safe around these powerful and majestic creatures.
Glacier National Park RV rental camping spots
There are 13 different campgrounds in Glacier National Park, although some of them are unsuited to RV camping due to the nature of the roads or the campground itself. The majority of the campgrounds have sites available on a first come, first served basis although there are a few exceptions. Check the National Park Service page for Glacier National Park camping for more information on availability, RV suitability and more.
To add to your Canada exploration, be sure to check out motorhome rentals in Toronto, in Montreal, or Halifax. Or come over the border and explore the US beginning with Alaska by grabbing an RV rental in Anchorage or in Fairbanks. Motorhome Republic will help you with your next road trip anywhere in the world.
