Best places to stay in or around Glacier National Park?
 

I'm starting to look into planning a trip to Glacier Park in 2012 and wondering if it's best to stay within the park or just outside of the park? I will be coming from Minnesota and at this point I will be driving out there. Just asking for suggestions on what you think is the best places to stay. Thanks

I don't know enough about the alternatives to really help with your clarity... BUT I stayed outside the park, at "West Glacier"...

(in a log-cabin-like structure (multi units) ) which was "across the street and slightly south-or-east of the main western entrance to the park)

It seemed rather 'rustic' upon arrival after nightfall, but waking up in the morning in a wonderful valley in the middle of nature was entirely refreshing.

The last time we visited Glacier NP (2010) we discovered the Many Glaciers area, and that is definitely where we will stay the next time we are there.

HTTY

Loved Lake McDonald Lodge in the Park. Heard great things about the Many Glacier Hotel but have never stayed there.
I'd stay in the park if you can, there is enough driving to see both sides of the park without having to commute each day.

But, if you stay outside, West Glacier and Columbia Falls areas are the one I prefer.

How many of you will be travelling? If it's a family or group of at least 4, you may find better accommodations and at a better rate by going through VRBO. We stayed in a VRBO vacation home in West Glacier and another one in East Glacier and they were great--nice places with lots of space for everyone. Plus we could save money by making some of our own meals. While the scenery at and location of Many Glacier Lodge are both great, we thought the accommodations were crummy and overpriced.

The nicest place I know of in Columbia Falls-http://www.meadowlake.com/
My DW and I spent our 30th anniversary there.
If Lake McDonald Lodge had been open, we might have stayed there

inside

National park accommodations are not fancy, but I always prefer to stay in the parks. You save driving time, and the parks are delightful in the morning and evening when others have left for the day. Many Glacier Hotel is old and has thin walls, but it is in a spectacular setting and is in the best location for visiting the park. We also loved the Prince of Wales Hotel in the Canadian section of the park. It has the most fantastic setting of any hotel I have ever stayed in.

We stayed in a Whitefish condo for a few days before driving through Glacier - west to east and then heading to Calgary. When we got to the Park, a ranger suggested that we stay at Many Glacier lodge. We got lucky and booked the LAST room available. (We were glad we did, because it took all day to drive through - both because we stopped every corner to take another spectacular picture and there were many construction delays where only one lane was open.) Having said that, the Many Glacier lodge is OLD and RUSTIC...meaning thin walls with light showing through from cracks from the next room, no amenities, and a light bulb from the ceiling. There is a very long walk from the parking lot to the hotel - a bit of a climb for us old folks in the morning! I think the hotel is planning a major renovation, but not sure if this is a work in progress or not. We did get to a wonderful evening ranger talk at Many Glacier - a few miles further into the park from the hotel. We had time to pick up a (lousy and expensive) pizza near the talk site for dinner before the talk began. Bottom line...we have stayed at several lodgings within national parks and mostly it is the CONVENIENCE of being inside the park that makes it worth while. Just don't expect great rooms or great food or great prices. Glacier NP is gorgeous, but do plan ahead for rooms somewhere! PS We walked around the lodge and lobby at McDonald Lake...looked nice from the outside, but it's another "rustic" hotel - many people like these lodging just because they are "old and rustic." No matter what, Glacier is absolutely stunning. I put it up there with Yosemite NP! You'll love it.