US Highway 2 Glacier National Park

[RKassl]

As we approach Glacier on US 2 after going thought Cut Bank Montana, just how bad are the grades on this road? My mapping program shows some grades at 10%. Anyone been on this route recently that give me some advice? Can you suggest any campgrounds in the area that would be good for overnight?

Happy Camping!

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Not sure about 2 between Cut Back and East Glacier but from East Glacier to West Glacier is not a problem.
East Glacier has few convienent CGs. The majority of the CGs are located at West Glacier. There are at least 10 CGs along Rte 2 west of West Glacier to Hungry Horse. A distance of about 10 miles. We were there the summer of 2007 and stayed at San Suz Ed RV Park. We found it to be a nice clean park just 3 miles from West Glacier. One plus for San Suz Ed was we had a Verizon signal for both the cell phone and the air card.

[bsmeaton]

We would also recommend the KOA in West Glacier (KOA-9 in the Directory).

We did drive 2 back from East Glacier to get back to our west KOa camp after going through the park, but we only had the pickup. I don't remember anY 10% grades, but I would hate to say because I probably wouldn't have thought about it without the Monty on the back.

BeaUtiful country! enjoy!

[stiles watson]

We stayed on both sides of the park in 2008. We enjoyed a better view on the East side at St Mary, MT. We stayed at Johnsons of St Mary. There is also a KOA in St Mary, but Johnsons is better located. It is about 3 blocks from the entrance to Glacier. The park provides bus service to the major points of interest. Letting them do the driving is much better on the nerves.

On the west side, We stayed in Hungry Horse, MT at Canyon RV and Campground. We found the management to be very nice folks. It was well kept, a pleasant experience.

We did not find the grades to be a problem. Out of Browning,MT, there are two routes to St Mary. The northern route through Babb, MT is the much better route.

At and around St Mary there are few services such as grocery stores, etc. On the west side, there was more civilization. Both sides were enjoyable for us. Interestingly, most of the East side is on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

[grampachet]

We are scheduled to stay at Mountian Meadows in August. I am looking at this thread with interest. Thanks for letting me take advantage of your responses.

[illapah]

I spend the summers at WWW.northamericanrvpark.com on the west side ($38/Nite)(Coram, MT) and about 7 miles from West Glacier entrance. Verizon works there too.
KOA is nice cost about $45/nite.

Johnsons in Saint Mary is nice. The KOA I only stopped by once but looked OK. I would go to Saint Mary via Browning (Hiway 89). The highway from East Glacier Lodge is restricted on length and the Looking Glass road is twisty (Hiway 49). I have seen rigs on it (again, against the law).

Trip from East to West Glacier is about 60 miles and the hills are fairly easy to travel. Yes there are grades but I have seen a lot worse. Just use common sense.

There is one small rv park in East Glacier and about 10 miles west is another (better I believe) named Glacier Meadow RV Park. Has tree area or open area.

We will be there from June thru August again this year. I drive a Red Bus tour (#102 has been my bus in the past) out of Lake McDonald Lodge. If you want to go over the Sun Road, I would suggest that you be there at or after July fourth as the road MAY NOT be open due to snow. Free park service shuttles operate within the park only.

[bsmeaton]

I still have this pic of Glacier as my desktop - I love it.



This is what a "Montana" looks like in "Montana". The only reason we went to Montana is to find the mountain peak used in the Montana nose art! We never found it, but had fun joking about it.



This was at the KOA (West Glacier). They had forested spots and open meadow spots like this one.

[bigmurf]

US 2 follows the BNSF Railroad from Browning to West Glacier. I sure don't recall as 10% grades. There is a short hill just West of Cut Bank. If anything derails and dumps grain alone the tracks you can bet that the Bears will be there. Lots of snow sheds on the RR too. Stayed at Glacier Meadow RV Park late in the season. Great place but NO sewer.

[Ozzie]

Oh boy...this thread has stirred the itch to go visit again. I just love that place.
At least now I have the diesel for those little hills...

[8.1al]

We travelled hwy 2 from MI to Glacier a few years ago and if there were any 10% grades they were short. I wouldn't worry about it.

[RKassl]

The reason I was asking for this route information is the wife and I are retiring very shortly. We are heading out to Glacier, catching US2 across the top of the country from Superior,WI. Just going to take our time. We have 2 weeks reserved at the West Glacier KOA. Then we head south on US93 all the way to Laughlin, NV, staying for a week at the AVI Resort/Casino. Then east across to Williams, AZ. to the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park. The cool thing is we have deluxe accommodations on the train to the Grand Canyon, a rim tour and then back again (no driving!). We will then work our way north to Deadwood, SD back to Mystic Lake Casino RV Resort in Minneapolis just in time for my Granddaughter's 8th birthday. This will be our longest trip getting ready for Alaska in May 2010. The computer says this is about a 4600 mile and change trip, all on our own schedule.

This trip is what we trained for!

[8.1al]

Bob,
That sounds like a nice trip. You'll like the drive across hwy 2, it's a nice drive

[Art-n-Marge]

Hi RKassl,

I have been in the area you mention from Cutbank via the US-2 to West Glacier. Travelling up to that point from the East will answer the phrase why Montana calls themselves "Big Sky Country". It is an absolutely vast area with the most beautiful and ample sky for miles and miles but with mountains in the far distances.

30 miles after Cutbank is a town called Browning prior to approaching the larger hills on US 2. There will be significant hills for a towing rig to travel, and they are steep, but they are short in comparison to some of the Interstates climbs and descents you'll be encountering later on in your sojourn. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just take it slow on the downhill. The road is in good shape and traffic is decent.

I might also recommend you look into a program called Trailer Life Directory - Campground Navigator 2009 (about $35 to $40). While I only have TLDCN 2008 version (2009 came out a couple of weeks later, ugh) this travel planning program plans trips from an RVer's point of view. It will point out grades >6% for RVers who like to know where potential grades are located since it's a sure bet that a rig won't be travelling as fast through those areas.

Unfortunately, you still must be very careful, the planner does NOT know size limits for some roads. For example, the US 2 is the route you want to take to get to the West Glacier KOA destination from Cut Bank, but if somehow TLDCN plans a route through Glacier National Park via Glacier Route 1 Rd (Going to the Sun Rd), NO vehicles longer than 20' are allowed because there are tight hairpins on that very long road. The calculated route will be in a pink color (instead of the standard orange highlight) but it might be hard to pick out.

The program can also be used to calculate fuel, stops, overnight stays just to estimate what to expect. You probably already know that the best plans go out the door right after you start your journey, but at least it's an idea. TLDCN 2009 probably also has descriptions of the campgrounds and attractions you plan to visit.

Since you are at West Glacier for about two weeks, I do HIGHLY recommend you do take some time to drive on the Going to the Sun Road if it is clear of snow. The views (and altitude) are breathtaking if the days are clear.

Anyway, good luck on your trip and congratulations on your retirement!

Art Martinez
Just became a member of MOC
Murrieta, CA

[RKassl]

Your reply was very timely. Bought the TL program it was worth every cent. I am using it to refine our plans for our trip.. By the way WELCOME to the MOC! This board has saved me in many ways since I bought my Monty 5 years ago. Always feel free to jump in on any topic.

[msmoonsatx]

I have reservations at the St Mary KOA from 12 to 16 June. We will be going over to Great Falls to shop and stock up at the Malmstrom AFB Commissary before going up to Banff and Jasper. We are leaving San Antonio the end of May and don't plan on returning until the end of August. Overall we plan on traveling about 8500 miles this summer.

[msmoonsatx]

I have purchased the Trailer Life program also. One of the features I really like is the ability to plug it into my Garmin and use the GPS portion of the program. I have an inverter in the truck in which I plug in the computer. This provides us the ability to have larger road maps with a GPS feature. We can use it like a road map or drill down to see the detail in major communities. We have tested it on several weekends and find it works quite well.

[sreigle]

I don't recall any difficult grades on that route. They must have been pretty short.

[Texas5er]

Took that route over Labor Day 08 and had absolutely no problems. Don't really recall any climb being too strenious. We stayed in Hungry Horse at Mountain Meadows RV Park. Camp ground was hilly with lots of trees. Small manmade lake to fish in. We enjoyed our time in Hungry Horse and Glacier. Took the red bus over the going to the sun highway. Wow what a view! Ate some fantastic huckelberry pie!! YUM!!

[grampachet]

What an exciting thread. We leave BC and head for Mountain Meadows on August 11. We will be staying at MM the 15th to the 22nd. You all make it sound like such a great trip, can hardly wait.

[sreigle]

Texas5er and grampachet, Mountain Meadow RV Park is one of our very favorite parks. We spent a month there 3 or 4 years ago.

View from our Mountain Meadow site, including the fishing pond Texas5er mentioned -


View of our Mountain Meadow site -


I hope you enjoy the park and Glacier NP as much as we did.