Glacier National Park timing

[rjspillane]

we are planning to head west from Miami the beginning of May or earlier with plans to pretty much drive through to southern California, up coast HW to San Francisco, cut over to Yosemite, then back to the coast and up to Washington then over to Glacier NP, then south through Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and then to tour Colorado, mostly the SW area, and them maybe to Arches and Canyon Lands, then back home. With lots of stops at different parks.
The question is how soon can expect to get into Glacier without major snow or cold? Another option is to come over US 40, explore Colorado first, head north to Glacier then west to the coast and south to LA, then east to home. Estimating about 6 weeks on the road.
Any suggestions or advise would be greatly appreciated.

[60sumtin]

Originally Posted by rjspillane

The question is how soon can expect to get into Glacier without major snow or cold?

May/June or even July for higher elevation roads. Going to the Sun road could be shut down anytime of the summer as travel on it is very weather dependant. The way the spring is going this year plan on sometime between early to mid-August.

Edited to add: Park info

[DebbieMH]

Wow - all that in 6 weeks? We are doing a lot of the west this summer as well, but we are taking 6 months to do it! In 2016 we did a lot of the National Parks out west, and just grazed the surface in 5 months!

[cruzbill]

Plan your trip so you hit the northern spots (Glacier) last.

[twogypsies]

Each national park has a great web site. Check them out for lots of good information on weather, roads, special alerts, camping and things to do.

On Glacier's site there's a PDF clicky which will give you past history on opening/closing dates.

Taking the last 10 years the earliest the Going to the Sun Road opened was June 26 and the latest it opened was July 2.

The earliest it closed was Sept. 18 and the latest Oct 20.

As you know, weather is not predictable. You'll definitely want to be there when the Going to the Sun Road is open because that's the highlight of the park. Keep in mind, also, that wildfires in the West occur usually in late summer so you might have to plan around that, also, but hopefully not.

I think if you could plan for Glacier NP between July 1 and Oct 1 you'd be o.k.

https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm

[rjspillane]

Thanks to all for the input. Looks like we will have to skip Glacier this year.

[GaryKD]

Hi rjspillane,
Hope this is not too late for you to read. The bottom line on glacier is to plan your visit for August or early September if you hike the high elevation trails (like Grinnell Glacier or Iceberg Lake). If you do windshield stops or low elevation hikes, one can add late July into the acceptable timeframe. Consider staying on the east side of the park. St. Mary has a KOA that is a perfect place to stay. Mountain views from your site, about 1 1/2 miles to the park entrance and the east side is where the trail heads for many, many trails (that are not in the forests) are at.

[Superslif]

All good info here. I might add Glacier to our return from Alaska next summer. That would put me in the neighborhood of Sept. 10 - 14 arrival. On the National Park website what campgrounds would one stay at? Apgar, Rising Sun.

I notice most of the campsites in the park are first come first serve. 29' trailer trailer. Would like to spend 4-5 days in the park. On the natioal park website it shows at what time of day the campground "Filled" at. Doesn't seem to be an issue once you get past Labor Day Weekend.

[TonyDi]

We prefer the west side of Glacier NP. There is so much more to do than on the east side. KOA about 2 miles to the entrance. Also a nice park is Columbia Falls RV park, in Columbia Falls.

[M2D]

We stayed on labor day weekend for five days last year at the St. Mary's KOA. There was some smoke there from the fires in the park. We were able to take the red bus on the Saturday for the full length of the GTTSR. The next morning the west side of the road up to Logan Pass closed due to the fires.

We stayed on the west side for three days at Columbia Falls park mentioned earlier. We had a repair done there. When we reached the west side on Monday the west entrance to the park was closed due to the fires.

We were grateful for what we had been able to do/see but you are at the mercy of mother nature all the while.

[rjspillane]

Thanks to everyone for your valuable input. It looks like for this year we will have to skip glacier. Maybe next trip.

[Micki-D]

Thanks to OP for this thread and to all who have answered. Hubs and I are also planning our (bucket-list) trip to Glacier. I was shooting for 4-6 wks beginning late May to early June, 2019 but looks like I may need to re-think by about 2 months.

As we're fairly new to RV'g and are not truly active yet on forums, if adding my request to an active post is not appropriate, my apologies.

I have us leaving No. GA and just kinda heading northwest thru the middle of the country (TN - KY - IL or IA to SD, where we will revisit parts of our 2006 m/c cruise to the HOG rally in Billings MT. But, I haven't found many what I would call interesting places and/or events along that route.

We have a cruise planned in 6 wks to visit a wolf preserve in the FL panhandle (so no need for wolf preserve southwest of St. Louis). We have done the "moonbow" and the Corvette Museum in KY and, having grown up there, I know Memphis and surrounds only to well.

Does anyone have suggestions along the currently anticipated route to break up the trip? We are extremely flexible, both as to time and distance, and I really, really do not want to think about driving/boondocking the roughly 1,350 miles b/t Chattanooga TN and The Badlands SD.

Thanks.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by rjspillane

we are planning to

head west from Miami the beginning of

May or earlier with plans to pretty much

drive through to southern California,

up coast HW to

San Francisco, cut over

to Yosemite, then

back to the coast and up to

Washington then over

to Glacier NP, then

south through Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and

then to tour Colorado, mostly the SW area, and them

maybe to Arches and Canyon Lands, then back home.

With lots of stops at different parks.

The question is how soon can expect to get into Glacier without major snow or cold?

Another option is to come over US 40,

explore Colorado first,

head north to Glacier

then west to the coast and

south to LA, then

east to home.

Estimating about 6 weeks on the road.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ambitious to say the least even without Glacier - Info to help with Glacier - https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/...-6-26-2017.pdf

Appears you have only eliminated Glacier.

Have you done a Map of your trip?

Might be smart - Long Drive to the Pacific - I'd think long and Hard about making it worthwhile.

Week out and week back - leaving 4 weeks, sound about right? - California has more to see than you will even Imagine.

https://www.nps.gov/state/ca/list.htm?program=parks

List of parks located in California

https://californiathroughmylens.com/...nal-monuments/

9 Great National Parks | Visit California

Now add Oregon and Washington - throw in the Pacific - LA - San Fran - a winery or two, or more :-)

So IMHO I think you need a little more Focus on this Big Trip - See more - Enjoy More - Just Drive less.

Next year do the Rockies and in the Fall after the Aspen ( https://lynn.smugmug.com/Travel/Colo...pens/i-tsVRkXg ) catch Utah.

It's a long drive from Florida, make it Count.

JMHO,

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by Micki-D

Thanks to OP for this thread and to all who have answered. Hubs and I are also planning our (bucket-list) trip to Glacier. I was shooting for 4-6 wks beginning late May to early June, 2019 but looks like I may need to re-think by about 2 months.

As we're fairly new to RV'g and are not truly active yet on forums, if adding my request to an active post is not appropriate, my apologies.

I have us leaving No. GA and just kinda heading northwest thru the middle of the country (TN - KY - IL or IA to SD, where we will revisit parts of our 2006 m/c cruise to the HOG rally in Billings MT. But, I haven't found many what I would call interesting places and/or events along that route.

We have a cruise planned in 6 wks to visit a wolf preserve in the FL panhandle (so no need for wolf preserve southwest of St. Louis). We have done the "moonbow" and the Corvette Museum in KY and, having grown up there, I know Memphis and surrounds only to well.

Does anyone have suggestions along the currently anticipated route to break up the trip? We are extremely flexible, both as to time and distance, and I really, really do not want to think about driving/boondocking the roughly 1,350 miles b/t Chattanooga TN and The Badlands SD.

Thanks.

Just a suggestion - Start your own Post.

Just makes it easier and it will be better to address your questions.

KISS - the simpler the question the better the chance for an answer that helps.

Keep it Focused - Have a Mission.

The "Cruise" has me confused - is it a "Land Yacht" ????

Few things we have learned in the 50 years plus doing this - Seasons are Important -

Elevation is Critical -

Timing helps -

State Parks are often Missed, but are still crowded.

You need to be thinking Boondocking as the reservation system is usually FuLL.

Hope this helps,