In trying to cut down on cost a bit for our GNP trip end of June-

Renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another, not speaking of a different country as is the case here is not the way to cut down costs. You may have to figure out a round-trip to keep the cost down.

I arrived (and will again this summer) in Calgary and also leave from Calgary as I did last time.

I don't remember you trip itinerary but I would try to make it end in Calgary as well.

You need to fly in and out of Kalispell or in and out of Calgary, not both. I prefer Kalispel, but I am flying out of Calgary myself in late July. I had AA flyer points and the flights in/out of Kalispell are pretty high.

I would think most of the trip reports you see on here with people doing a car drop would all be within the lower 48. Not always, but usually you are going to pay a lot more to do so.
You would need a passport to by the way.

I think you are taking a pretty big risk of the Going to the Sun Road not being open in June. I would say about a 50/50 chance. It appears that the current year is running about average on Flattop Mountain and according to one website the snowpack is already at 100% on the west side. A large amount of snow in March or April or a warm spring would change things.

Would you consider flying to Spokane and making a loop?
IMO the Canadian Rockies are no more spectacular than the Rockies in Montana.
The other option you could consider would be to fly to Spokane and take the overnight train to Whitefish (Empire Builder) and rent a car there.
Renting a car in one country and leaving it in another is a bad idea.

thank you all for your suggestions----that makes sense-never have gone in and out of multiple cities before---but the airfares are so high out of chicago! we will fly in and out of kalispell ---that's settled! -i love this site and all of the helpful posts---i know we are taking somewhat of a chance in late June---but its that or nothing-----we've put this trip off for such a long time---for one reason or another---we're planning on staying 3 nights in Many Glacier, then 4 nights outside east side of park. can't wait---i've heard its one of the most scenic parks---

Meadow Lake Resort in Columbia Falls is closer to Kalispell airport and is much nicer than anything I could find on the east side.
To see the east side on June 1 last year, we got off the train in Cut Bank and spent the night there before driving up 17 miles from St. Mary to the locked gate. They expected Logan Pass to be open 6/15.

Actually ,tomfuller, I read your post earlier about Meadow Lake---and we are staying there for the 2nd part of our trip---it looks very nice, now i must decide whether to stay 3 days in Many Glacier and 4 days at Meadow Lake----or 2 Days at Many and 5 at Meadow lake. Husband looks forward to some golf and I figured we would explore East side of park from there. Any suggestions since you've been there? Is whitefish worthy of an afternoon? Did you take more than one boat ride in the park? I've just confirmed my airline res. to/from kalispell. Now is the fun part--planning everything else.

I never took a boat trip in Glacier. I was there in November 2005 from Whitefish and Columbia Falls (Meadow Lake). On June 1 2012 we saw the east side including Two Medicine and got as far west as the Isaac Walton Inn on US 2. We went back to Browning and took a short tour of the Museum of the Plains Indian on the way back to Cut Bank to turn in the car and get back on the westbound Empire Builder.
To avoid a huge amount of driving my DW and I parked our car in Spokane on May 16 and rode trains as far east as Cleveland.
Our daughter got married in Baltimore on May 26.
Someday I might get to Glacier in July and take a boat trip and a little hike.
Enjoy an afternoon in Whitefish.

I was on the boat ride in Many Glacier. It's relaxing but not really intended as such.

It's more like a shuttle on Swiftcurrent and Josephine lakes and you walk about a hundred yards between them. It's intended to knock a couple of miles off the Grinnell Glacier hike. If you're taking the ranger-led hike that's what they do. It's an 8:30AM ride.

Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake hikes are spectacularly scenic. Both worth the time and effort. Iceberg lake is longer but easier as not as steep.

Im making an ongoing list of suggesions for our trip. I'll be sure to put those 2 on it. thanks

Going to Sun Road May open a bit later this year due to the budget cuts.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/group-says-sun-road-delay-part-of-glacier-sequestration-plan/article_96779a6a-7bce-11e2-9036-0019bb2963f4.html

BTW, I love the National Parks, but just like a person should do at home, if the money isn't there, then you have to cut something somewhere. I love my house, etc. But sometimes you can't have everything you want. I think a 2-8% cut is fine in many places. Be responsible instead of just keep borrowing and getting yourself in deeper.