My three girlfriends and I are planning a trip to Glacier this August. I have heard that St. Mary's lodge is a good place to stay. Does anyone know about this? Any other suggestions on hotels in and around the park and what to do are most appreciated. Thanks!

I would double check the opinion on St. Mary's Lodge.
I have yet to find what I considered good accommodations in Glacier inside of the park. I think your best bet comfort wise on the west side is Columbia Falls or Hungry Horse, and one of the commercial motels. On the east, East Glacier has a couple of clean motels that are ok.
The Isaac Walton Inn is fine, but you might pay as much as $150 a night. And it is not in the park. The Meadow Lake resort is a big splurge. (Never been there.)

My last trip, 1999, I stayed in Big Fork, but that is a little far out, although it is a quaint little tourist trap that is not too bad.
The motels on the Canadian side in Waterton are better, but more expensive.

If you want the experience of staying in the park, take your pick.
You can go semi right with any of them.

I was in St Mary's Lodge last summer and it was great. I think you have the right idea.

Annette,

If it is of any comfort to you my husband has booked our family vacation in August at the St. Marys Lodge. He researched it well. In addition my sister was there a few years ago with a friend and said it was beautiful and thats where she saw her first bear! Good luck, it can be overwhelming trying to make the right choice.

I didn't write the above post with my name on it.

I've only driven by St. Mary Lodge and it looks nice enough but it is on the intersection of two major roads---not very scenic.

If it is all you can get at this late date, it will be fine.

For the old lodge look, Many Glacier just north of there is a neat place, off the main roads with great scenery, the best trails and lots of bears to see!

Drive up one evening and eat dinner there. You will need reservations.

There is a neat, small restaurant in St Mary on your left just north of the intersection. I can't remember the name but there will be a lot of cars there and it is better than it looks. We will go back again.

I have been to Glacier many times but have always camped either in the auto campgrounds or in the back country. I have seen the motel type rooms at the Swiftcurrent Motel complex in the Many Glacier area and they look like serviceable accomadations. This area is great for scenery and wildlife viewing but short on dining. I recommend doing the picnic thing and perhaps cooking your own at the picnic areas in the park.

Have a great trip

We woke up to heavy smoke here in So. Alberta a couple of nights ago. Understand there are fires burning around St. Mary. Maybe phone the parks service and find out for sure where they are and how bad they are before you make your final decision - good luck.

Stayed at the Many Glacier, Prince of Wales (on the Canadian side-in Waterton) and also a lakefront lodge on Lake McDonald. All were fine--older buildings but quite adequate. Remember, you probably won't be spending alot of in your room on a trip like that. Prince of Wales is probably the least "lodge-like" of the 3.