10 Weekend Trips That Feel Like a Month-Long Journey

By

Lisette Marie

December 8, 2025

9. Glacier National Park, Montana — High-alpine lakes and road-trip grandeur

Photo Credit: Getty Images @Yarnit

Glacier’s alpine scenery and seasonal road access make a late-summer weekend feel like an extended mountain expedition. Drive the key scenic segments, take a guided boat tour on Lake McDonald or St. Mary, and hike a short ridge trail for panoramic payoff. The park’s scale and quiet mornings make each hour feel dense with experience, and staying overnight in a nearby lodge amplifies that effect. Logistics: from Kalispell it’s about a 30–60 minute drive; seasonal road openings matter so check conditions. Budgets (per person, As of November 2025): budget $140–$260; mid-range $260–$480; splurge $480+. Best season: mid-summer to early fall for full road access. Accessibility & family note: many boat tours and lower-elevation trails are family-friendly; some high trails are strenuous. Quick itinerary: Friday evening — lodge check-in and dinner; Saturday — Going-to-the-Sun scenic segments, boat tour, short hike; Sunday — slow morning and departure.

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