Planning a family vacation to Glacier in May to celebrate 2 children's college graduation. will we be able to see ,uch at this time of year ? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Glacier National Park in May
Recent Activity
View all United States activity »
- 1 Best place for rafting: Moab, Taos or Durango?
- 2 First-Time Hawaii Advice
- 3 I-5 bridge over Skagit River collapses, cars with people in water |
- 4 How to plan San Diego trip
- 5 IMPORTANT! Hawaii Ocean Safety Tips!
- 6 Washington Wineries
- 7 Airport luggage tamparing
- 8 California, Northern
- 9 GROCERY STORES MAUI, HAWAII
- 10 San Francisco,Monterey, Yosemite etc.!
- 11 Visitor ocean awareness Kauai/statewide
- 12 Maui. . .where to stay for local feel
- 13 Best museums and botanical gardens in the Hawaiian Islands?
- 14 Maui Rain Forest Hike vs Haleakala Crater Hike vs Downhill Bike Ride
- 15 Advice for 2 night intro trip to Moab in early June (1-3)
- 16 Pick up north of Boston Logan
- 17 Hudson Valley to Stockbridge, MA/Berkshires
- 18 East coast tour - Part2: Phily, Washington, Niagara Falls
- 19 Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah
- 20 Using public transit in San Diego
- 21 10 day anniversary trip to Oregon Coast
- 22 Buy now or wait . . . airfare to Santa Barbara in late July?
- 23 Back to the Lovely City!!
- 24 Maine - July 5th to July 14
- 25 East coast tour - Part1: NYC



The NPS makes clear that the ABSOLUTE EARLIEST the Going to the Sun Road will be fully plowed will be 2013 June 21.
http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gttsrfaq.htm
You will be able to see SOMETHING along whatever part of this road has been cleared (and "how much" will be cleared is impossible to predict, even on May 1), but it won't be the best possible time to make a visit.
The NPS notes that the visitor centers will open in early May:
http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm
May is way too early. In 2011 the road did not open till mid July as it was a high snow year. As of today, we are experiencing a mild winter with low snow but that could change easily with a few heavy snowstorms. Mid june is a pretty good bet at this point in time.
In May, the road will be open from the west entrance as far as McDonald lodge ( as it is all winter ) and on the east side , normally to Jackson Glacier overlook. To get from the west entrance to the east or vice versa you will need to go around U.S. Highway 2 which is at the extreme southern end of the park. The Many Glacier area and the Two Medicine area most likely will also be closed.
If you can postpone your trip a bit I would sugesst doing so to take full advantage of the entire park.
Rocky Mountain National Park generally has its main roads plowed and opened Memorial Day. It is also a spectacular park.
Have you been to Santa Fe? Spectacular mountains and much else. Less pie than Montana but better New Mexican, Tiwa (American Indian), and Mexican food!
On June 1 2012, I drove up from St. Mary 17 miles to where the gate was closed. Logan Pass was opened about 2 weeks later.
I would choose to go somewhere else if that is the only time you can go. You are missing the best part of the park by not being able to drive the GTS road all the way.
July, August and September (can get risky) are much better times.