Glacier to Waterton with rental car?
 

I want to go up to Waterton from Glacier this summer. We will have our passports but will be driving a rental. Did anyone try this last year and get through? I have heard different accounts. Some say no problem others say can not do it.

Thanks
GP

If you are an American citizen driving an American rental, I foresee no trouble. Even as an American driving and Canadian vehicle, I have had no trouble ever entering Canada in several crossings.

Where you might run into some useless palaver and dumb questions is when you return to the US. For example, I had the border official take my passport, look at the picture, look at me, and ask "What's your name?"

If you have your passports and a rental contract, you will be able to get back in. I do recommend that you cross at the Chief Mountain station near the park boundary, or possibly the entrance station south of Cardston. They see more tourists in the summer and tend to become used to the routine.

When you enter Canada, don't give any wise remarks about alcohol or firearms.

I would check with the rental agency. We tried several years ago to go from Maine to Nova Scotia on the ferry and could not find a rental car company that would allow it

I rented a car in Calgary last year and after seeing Banff and Jasper, I drove down through Waterton, Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I had no problems whatsoever with the rental company or the border guards.

We made this exact trip 2 years ago. No problem whatsoever with the Canadian authorities. Picked up the car in Kalispell, drove to Glacier, Waterton, Banff and then back to Montana. The worst part for us is that the Going to Sun Road opened very late that year, and we just couldn't wait for the Road to open and had to go around the park. That drive is just awful! Very boring, very windy and just desolate. As a result, we logged a lot of additional miles on our rental car which cost us money. I could not find a single car rental agency at the Kalispell airport or around there that offers unlimited mileage. Waterton is a sleepy odd little town. The 2 highlights for us were the resident deer that have taken over (taking naps in front yards, wandering down the main street) and afternoon tea at the big hotel on the hill.

That is a good point about the permission to cross the border. I have always rented from Hertz or Avis,and there was no problem. You might make your life simpler if you have a letter from the rental company saying it knows you are taking the car into Canada.

That was one point the US Border official gave me fits over. I was an American driving a Canadian rental car.

The Canadians have never said anything, but then too I was either coming back into Canada with a Canadian car or I was an American driving an American rental.

But for those of you who are American citizens,and you rent a car in Canada with the idea of driving it over the border, i.e. back into the USA, I recommend that you have something in writing from the rental car company stating you have permission to take the car over the border to the US.