WarrenWST

Hi. Hoping for some advice. My wife and I (late 50's/early 60's) are planning a trip to Glacier National Park this July and then driving a rental car to Seattle to visit a relative. We have a total of 7 nights. We love national parks (go to at least one per year). Love hiking (easy to moderate) with beautiful views, love seeing wildlife, great food, craft beers, and nice resorts/hotels. I was only able to book 3 nights at the Many Glacier in GNP. Resort, as you are aware, sells out way in advance. We plan of flying from Boston and then back home from Seattle. We have not booked our flight yet. I believe based on what I read we should fly into Kalispell, MT, rent a car, and drive to the Many Glacier. After the 3 nights we plan on driving to Seattle. I was hoping to stay approx. 1/2 way between GNP and Seattle for 1 night. Is 3 nights enough in GNP? Has anyone driven to Seattle from there? Any suggestions on a nice drive to Seattle as well as a nice town/place to stay one night on the way? Thanks, W.

Gardyloo

The first thing you need to do is see if anybody will rent a one-way car from Kalispell to Seattle. In my experience the national car companies are reluctant (or refuse) to do so from small stations like FCA. And if they do, you're likely to be clobbered with a big one-way or drop-off fee, or a much higher daily rate.

Two suggestions:

1. Rent a car locally for Glacier NP then return it and fly to Seattle. Alaska Airlines charges around $130 for a one-way flight from FCA to SEA, which is probably less than you'd pay for the extra days and extra fees for the car.

2. Same as above but instead of flying ride the Empire Builder (Amtrak) from West Glacier MT to Seattle, overnight. You could pop for a sleeping compartment and the whole thing probably wouldn't cost much more than driving plus hotel.

John

Both suggestions from Gardyloo are good. Should you decide to drive, Spokane is about half way to Seattle from GNP.
Spokane is approx. 270 miles from GNP and Seattle is approx. 300 miles from Spokane.
Time in GNP depends on how much hiking your planning on doing. GNP is of course a hiking park. Three days can be spent alone in Many Glacier!

WarrenWST

Thanks. I actually like the driving to see different parts of the country so will plan on driving from GNP to Seattle with a one night stop over in either Spokane or Couer d'Alene. You are right that the car rental prices are outrageous. Maybe I should rethink my plans. Thanks, W

Gardyloo

You could always fly to Seattle and rent a car here. Then you could do a mini road trip starting and ending here. There are lots of great destinations within a day's drive from Seattle.

yestravel

We spent 3 days in GNP and could have easily stayed several more days.

tomfuller

Fly to Spokane and then take the Empire Builder overnight to Whitefish and rent a car there. Return the car to Whitefish and take the westbound Empire Builder to Seattle.
The Empire Builder leaves Spokane a little after midnight PT and arrives in Whitefish before 8AM MT.

Patty

If you love hiking, you could easily spend a week in Glacier.