First Time On The Going To The Sun Road? 7 Helpful Tips

It's official, The Going to the Sun Road is open in Glacier National Park.  While to a lot of us, it's nearly as familiar as the roads by our house, I thought it would be great to give visitors to Big Sky Country and Glacier Park some tips to make your vacation adventure in the park one you'll never forget.

According to The Glacier Park Collection, We're in the Rockies, and me, a native Montanan, here's what you need to know:

Get The Most Out Of Your Time On The Going To The Sun Road

1. Gas your rig up and get snacks and water.  Stop in East or West Glacier to make sure your tank is topped off and you have plenty of snacks.  Once you're in the park, there are some places to stop, but gas is not available.  And unless you want the more touristy huckleberry stuff and the like, get your snacks before you hit the road.
2. Know your route.  This is especially important if you're afraid of heights or are a bit of a nervous driver.  If you drive the Going to the Sun from East at St. Mary's to West you'll be on the inside of the road, closer to the mountains than the cliffs.
3. Make sure you have your reservation set and START EARLY.  The drive takes a couple of hours, minimum, and by 8-9am, the road is already getting pretty full during peak season.  Remember, people all over the world wait for this road to open.
4. Double check your vehicle will be permitted on the road.  Vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet and higher than 10 feet can't travel the road.
5. The higher up you go, the cooler it usually gets.  It's recommended to dress in layers, or keep a jacket and shoes that cover your whole foot in the car.
6. Drive like your life depends on it, because it does.  Once you see the pictures below, hopefully you'll grasp how narrow and curvy this road is.  It's no place to be distracted.  Ever.  That's hard because the scenery is breathtaking.
7. Plan to stop.  In order to take in the natural wonder, you'll want to stop, get out and take it all in for yourself while taking lots of pictures.  I guarantee you'll never see scenery like this again in your entire life.

I want to remind you one more time, make a reservation.  The main complaint I see from Glacier Park visitors is that their whole trip was ruined because they didn't make their reservation.  Don't let that happen to your vacation.  Just click here.