When you are planning your trip to Montana, one of the first things you are going to want to consider is where to stay near Glacier National Park. Because the park now often gets to be so busy, finding accommodations can be more difficult than ever before.

However, there are some methods you can use in order to make sure you get your ideal camping, hotel, or lodge accommodations on your visit to the area.

Book well in advance

You’re going to want to make sure to think ahead when planning your Glacier National Park trip. If you can book your hotels several months in advance, that is probably the best way to go. Much of this can also depend on where you are staying since if you are planning on camping or booking a popular spot within the park like Lake McDonald Lodge, then you are going to have to make sure that you get on it so you can get your chosen spot early enough. It’s worth taking a little extra time to plan!

Be willing to stay a little outside the park

While it’s everyone’s dream to be able to stay inside Glacier, that might not always be a reality. You might have to look to other nearby towns such as Whitefish or Columbia Falls as places that offer access to the west side. This means that you are going to have a little bit longer of a drive to get to the entrance than you might if you have a hotel inside, but there are a lot of fun things to do in the nearby towns of Kalispell and Whitefish, and you might want to spend a little extra time there in order to get the full experience of staying in Montana.

Consider camping

If you really want to enjoy the great outdoors, then one of the best ways to do it is get out of a hotel altogether and spend some time under the stars. Camping is the perfect way to experience what Montana is all about, and you’re much more likely to find available camping within the Flathead Valley area than you are inside the park. Keep in mind that you will either need to make reservations in advance, or you will need to get up early due to the first-come-first-serve policy at some campgrounds in the park.

Look into cabins

Montana is really best explored when you can get away from some of the towns and into the wilderness. Renting a cabin in one of the best ways to spend some time in the mountains and get some of the solitude you want. More and more keep popping up in the area, so take some time to search sites other than the major booking platforms in order to find cabins that work for you.

Finding a place to stay near Glacier can be a bit more of a challenge than some other destinations, but you’ll find that the extra work is often worth it so you can have the awesome adventure you want.