Looking for where to stay near Glacier National Park? This is our favorite place to stay.

We just got back from our second visit to Glacier National Park in Northern Montana. The first time we visited, we lived in an Airstream and stayed in an RV campsite. Without our home on wheels this time, we stayed at Paddle Ridge, a stone’s throw from the West Glacier entrance.

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Last Updated: July 8, 2025

About West Glacier Montana

West Glacier is the western entrance of Glacier National Park, where most people enter the park. It’s close to Lake McDonald and the starting point for the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. The town also has the most amenities in the park, like rustic lodges, dining, outdoor rec outfitters, and scenic train stops.

See More: 9 Incredible Things to Do in Glacier National Park

Paddle Ridge

We stayed at Paddle Ridge, a great home base for our adventures in and near Glacier National Park. They have cabins and lodge rooms with beautiful mountain views. We had a suite in the lodge with a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and full kitchen. If we had stayed longer, we would have cooked some of our meals.

The location was so convenient, less than a mile from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. West Village, Apgar Village, and Lake McDonald were less than 10 minutes away.

Book a Room Here

Paddle Ridge Address: 12400 US 2 West Glacier, MT  59936 (map)
Phone Number: 406.888.5454

Pro Tip: If you’re whitewater rafting or fishing, Paddle Ridge guests can get 10% off at Glacier Raft Co. and Glacier Anglers Outfitters.

Where to Eat in West Glacier

These are the food options we checked out during our stay. If you want to go overboard on huckleberry foods, our favorites were the huckleberry cobbler from Eddie’s Cafe, then the huckleberry/honey/cinnamon shake at the ice cream shop attached to Golfing to the Sun, and lastly the huckleberry shrub at either Belton Chalet or Eddie’s Cafe. I’m not much of a pie person, but people rave about the huckleberry pie at Glacier Highland.

• Belton Chalet – If you’re looking for a nicer meal, this is the spot. We enjoyed the rib-eye steak and shishito peppers.
• Eddie’s Cafe – We had breakfast and dinner here since it was right in Apgar Village near Lake McDonald. My favorite dish was the Guacamole Toast, a spicier version of avocado toast with eggs on top. For dinner, I liked the smash burger better than the fish and chips.
• Freda’s – A cafeteria-style spot in West Glacier Village. They serve burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, and have a full-service bar.
• Glacier Highland – Felt like a diner. We had breakfast and lunch here. We heard the pancakes are good, but I was in the mood for something salty that day. For lunch, they have sandwiches and pies. USA Today ranked Glacier Highland’s huckleberry pie number one in Montana, so we tried the huckleberry and peach pie.
• Glacier National Pizza – We wanted to eat here since Owen, our rafting guide, told us this was his favorite spot, but it wasn’t open during the week we visited.
• Logan’s Bar & Grill – If you’re spending time in Whitefish, stop by Logan’s Bar & Grill in Grouse Mountain Lodge. They have patio seating and are only open for breakfast and dinner. Our fave was the Golden Beets, Sauteed Trout, and Wild Game Bolognese. The smash burger was a regular burger instead of a smash burger.

Have you been to Glacier National Park? Where did you stay?

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