Columbia Falls good base for Glacier Nat'l Park?
 

In doing research for Glacier for summer 2011, it looks like Columbia Falls could be a good base as far as close proximity as well as some budget-mid priced accomodations and restaurants. We don't need luxury -- clean with comfortable beds will be great.

We would prefer to stay in the Park itself, but will most likely not know 100% until a couple of weeks or so before leaving -- so the Park accomodations will be reserved (I'll check for sure -- might get lucky!).

Anyway, for those who have been to Glacier or who live around that area (how fortunate!), would Columbia Falls be a good base? Thanks for any/all information.

We love the Many Glaciers area of the park and nearby Waterton Lakes NP in Alberta.

HTTY

Columbia Falls is the closest "city" to the west entrance though you won't find any first class accomodations or restaurants. Meadow Lake condos would be the best available.
C. Falls is ideal for what you describe as wanting.
Kalispell is 35 miles from the west entrance to the park and has lots of motels and restaurants. It takes approx. 35 to 40 minutes to get to the park from Kalispell.
Enjoy your trip!!

My DW and I spent our 30th wedding anniversary at Meadow Lakes in one of their small condos. If we ever go back, that is where we will stay. For a good restaurant, you do have to go into Whitefish. As I recall there is a mini-kitchen so you can keep milk and juice cold and have cereal for breakfast and pack a lunch before heading to the Park. If you like golf, you can do that there as well. meadowlake.com Meadow Lake sent a van to Whitefish to pick us up from the Amtrak train. One of the car rental companies sent a car out from the airport to Meadow Lake.
We were allowed to return the car at the Whitefish station when we left.

Here's another option between the east and west entrances -
http://www.glacierhaveninn.com/

It's a basic hotel that is spotlessly clean with a cafe and small gift shop. We stayed nearby in a private home but ate breakfast there and got sightseeing information and even tickets for the boat ride at Many Glacier. VERY nice couple who knows the area well.

It's midway on Hwy 2 and if the Going to the Sun road is not open, you'll take that route to get to East Glacier. We liked being there, even though there is not much around. In the morning you can have a good breakfast and head either way to get to the park.

We were surprised how late it stayed light during the day. It would be 9 pm or so and just about to turn dusk. We saw the best goat activity at the salt lick at about 9:30 or so because that's when we'd be heading "home". AFter a good breakfast at the cafe, we'd eat lunch at one of the park lodges and then grab something on the way home.

Glacier Park Trading Company has a great selection of groceries and souvenirs (as well as internet access and car rental). We had a pizza made at their pizzeria and grabbed a couple of slices of pie while we strolled the little town of East Glacier. The pizza was great!

If you want a nice dinner, the Isaac Walton Inn is not far away. http://www.izaakwaltoninn.com/
A very unique place and worth stopping to see even if you don't eat or stay there.

Take a look at a map and find Essex, MT and get an idea of the location. As it turned out, the GTTS opened up while we were there and we were one of the first vehicles up to the pass - but we did enjoy staying at a midway point between the parks.

A few years ago I stayed at the North Forty in Columbia Falls. It's log cabins with kitchens and a very cozy atmosphere. It's on RT. 40.