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Lake McDonald Lodge
There are places in this world where the setting is so remarkable that even the building feels like it belongs to the landscape, and Lake McDonald Lodge is one of them.
Set amid towering cedars and cottonwood trees on the eastern shores of the largest lake in Glacier National Park, this stunning Swiss Chalet-style lodge has been welcoming visitors since 1914 and remains one of the finest examples of that architectural style anywhere in the United States.
The three-story grand lobby is an experience in itself, lined with massive unpeeled log posts supporting balconies on the second and third floors, and decorated with the taxidermy mounts of animals that builder John Lewis hunted and trapped himself.
The floors carry incised messages in Kootenai, the language of the native people whose homeland encompasses the west side of the park, with phrases that translate to "welcome" and "new life to those who drink here." That sense of welcome has never left this place.
Lake McDonald Lodge is a designated National Historic Landmark, earning that recognition in May of 1987, and is considered one of the best examples of Swiss Chalet architecture in America.
It sits approximately 10 miles inside the park's west entrance along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road, making it one of the most accessible lodges in Glacier National Park.
With 79 newly renovated guest rooms and cabins along with four suites, accommodations are spread between the main lodge, duplex-style cabins, Snyder Hall, and the Cobb House.
Rooms offer king and queen size beds, and in keeping with the era in which the lodge was built, the emphasis is on Old World style and rustic comfort rather than modern conveniences.
ADA-accessible rooms are available, and evening programs are offered at the lodge auditorium. From the lodge you can step directly into some of the best the park has to offer, including red bus tours, Lake McDonald boat cruises, and easy access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Understanding the remarkable story behind how this lodge came to be makes staying here even more meaningful, and you can read the full history of Lake McDonald Lodge below.
Accommodations: 82 Rooms Across the Lodge, Cabins, Snyder Hall & Cobb House
Lake McDonald Lodge was built in 1913, this National Historic Landmark features 82 guest rooms spread across four distinct areas: the three-story main lodge, a row of duplex-style cabins along a tree-lined pathway, Snyder Hall, and the Cobb House. All rooms are rustic yet comfortable, reflecting the era in which they were built, with no televisions, air conditioning, or elevators in most accommodations. Renovations in 2015 added king and queen beds and upgraded a number of rooms and cabins. All rooms and cabins include private bathrooms (except Snyder Hall, which offers shared bathrooms).
Room Types
- Snyder Hall Room
- Value Lodge Room
- Standard Lodge Room
- Deluxe Lodge Room
- Small Cabin Room
- Large Cabin Room
- Large Deluxe Cabin Room
- Large Cabin Suite
- Large Deluxe Cabin Suite
- ADA Large Cabin Room
- ADA Deluxe Cabin Room
- Cobb House Suite
- ADA Cobb House Deluxe Room
Lodge Amenities
- Self-Parking included
- Free WiFi in public areas
- 24/7 front desk
- Continental Breakfast Available
- Bar & Lounge
- Shared microwave
- Ready care amenities
- Down alternative eco-smart pillows
- Recycle Bin
- Alarm Clock
- Telephone (Not available in Snyder Rooms)
- Fan
- Iron/Ironing board
- Hair Dryer
- Coffee Maker (Not available in Snyder Rooms)
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My Experience Staying at Lake McDonald Lodge in Cabin #6
We stayed in cabin #6 near the shores of Lake McDonald and it was amazing. The cabin comes with either double beds, queen, or king beds depending on the size of the cabin.
Each cabin has a private bathroom. The cabins share a shared entrance and most have stairs leading up to them.
The sink and mirror are near the door in the main room of the cabin. This is fairly common in National Park Lodges which is nice when one person can shower while another can use the sink to get ready in the morning. There was an assortment of coffee and tea available with a coffee maker.
We found the cabin to be really comfortable and would definitely stay there again. Even with other rooms sharing the same cabin it was really quiet and we enjoyed a great night's sleep.
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Lake McDonald Lodge Restaurants
Russell's Fireside Dining Room
Russell's Fireside Dining Room is named after legendary Montana cowboy artist Charles M. Russell, whose connection to this very lodge and its original fireplace is one of the great stories of the American West. The dining room carries that spirit forward with an atmosphere that feels like a proper hunting lodge, complete with Western Red Cedar beams, mounted hunting trophies, and a fireplace that anchors the room and makes it easy to linger long after the meal is finished. Guests are treated to views of Lake McDonald while they dine, which may be the most effortless backdrop of any dining room in the park. Russell's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a full and continental breakfast buffet alongside made-to-order selections in the morning, and classic American and locally inspired fare for lunch and dinner. No reservations are accepted.
Lucke's Lounge
Lucke's Lounge is the relaxed alternative to the dining room, offering Montana craft beers, wine, and full liquor service alongside an all-day bar menu and late-night appetizers. It is a comfortable spot to unwind after a day on the trails or out on the lake, with a television for those who want to check in with the outside world. The lounge handles lunch and dinner service and is a solid option when the dining room is full or you simply want a more casual setting for your meal.
Jammer Joe's Pizzeria
Jammer Joe's offers a straightforward and family-friendly option with an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, build-your-own pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. The pizzas are larger than most people expect, so come hungry or plan on leftovers. The crust runs thick and bready, which works well for the all-you-can-eat crowd but is worth knowing before you order. It is a casual and convenient option, especially for families coming off a long morning of hiking who want something filling and easy.
Gift Shop
There is a gift shop is located in the main lobby of the Lake McDonald Lodge.
Things to know when planning a visit to Lake McDonald Lodge
Season: Mid-May through End of September
Check-in time - 4 pm
Check-out time - 10 am
Lake McDonald Lodge Address
466 Lake McDonald Lodge Loop Road
West Glacier, MT. 59936
Smoking - Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all guest areas unless designated.
WiFi - Free WiFi available in some public places
Cell Phone Service - Cell Phone service is generally unavailable or extremely spotty in Lake McDonald Lodge.
GPS Coordinates -
48.6174147N
-113.8812527W
Pet Friendly - Service Animals are permitted in the hotel. No other animals are allowed in the rooms
Guests with hearing impairment can get alternative communication devices including TTYs, phone flashers, door knockers, bed shakers, and alarm clocks from the front desk.
ATM - Located in the lobby of Lake McDonald Lodge
Box Lunches to Go - You can order box lunches to go from the restaurant. Orders need to be placed by 8 pm. Lunches can be picked up the next day before 10 am.
Check out all of the Glacier National Park Lodging options! We try to move around to different lodges each night as we explore the park.
Things To Do Around Lake McDonald Lodge
🚣 Take a historic boat tour on Lake McDonald, a Glacier tradition
🛶 Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard on the lake
🥾 Hike the Trail of the Cedars, an accessible boardwalk through old-growth cedar and hemlock forest
🏔️ Access the Going-to-the-Sun Road directly from the lodge area
🎣 Fish for westslope cutthroat trout in the lake and nearby streams
📸 Photograph the famous colorful pebbles along the lakeshore
🌅 Watch sunsets over the lake from the lodge's lakeside porch
🍽️ Dine at Russell's Fireside Dining Room inside the lodge
☕ Grab a drink or snack at Jammer Joe's Grill and Pizzeria
🛍️ Browse the gift shops in the lodge for souvenirs and park essentials
🐻 Wildlife watch for bears, deer, and eagles along the lakeshore
Best Glacier National Park Tours & Activities
Glacier National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.2 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2-3 hours | 🔊Check Rates and Availability
Experience the Crown Jewl of the National Parks with this self-guided tour. Cruise past crystal-clear glacial lakes, hike across breathtaking alpine tundras, and discover the secrets hidden in this sprawling wilderness. Plus learn about the Blackfoot Confederacy, an ill-fated gold rush, and lots more along the route.
Half Day Scenic Float on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2-3 hours | 🛶 Check Rates and Availability
Relax and unwind as you float the Flathead River as you take in the scenery and learn about the area as you float by. There are opportunities to spot wildlifeas this relaxing and rejuvenating tour takes place on the boundary of Glacier National Park. This tour requires little effort and is great for familieswith small children.
Nature Walk in Glacier National Park
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (730+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | Check Rates and Availability
Meet for a brief orientation then head out to Glacier where you'll explore Glacier's natural wonders on a guided adventure. Start with a 1-mile round trip walk through Lake McDonald Valley, admiring its glaciated beauty and resident wildlife. Then venture to the North Fork Valley with scenic stops along the way. Take another 1-mile roundtrip walk along the wild and scenic North Fork of the Flathead River, learning about the environment and its history.
Glacier Park Lodge History
In those early years, the arrival experience was unlike anything travelers had seen before. When guests stepped off the train at the East Glacier station, they were greeted by members of the Blackfeet tribe. Each evening, Blackfeet members performed ceremonial dances on the grounds, and a tipi village was set up for guests to tour. It was a theatrical and immersive welcome to the American West that made Glacier Park Lodge famous well before the age of social media.
The lodge has had its share of dramatic history as well. A boiler explosion rocked the property in 1962, and a historic flood closed it for several days in 1964. In 1967, an attempted robbery by two masked men was foiled by a quick-thinking night watchman, and that same year, two lodge employees were among the victims of the now-infamous "Night of the Grizzlies," one of the most tragic events in Glacier National Park history. Through all of it, the lodge has endured, and today it stands as a testament to the vision of the Hills and the craftsmanship of the men who built it.
The story behind Glacier Park Lodge begins with one of the most ambitious businessmen in American railroad history. Canadian-American James J. Hill built the Great Northern Railway into a dominant force stretching from St. Paul, Minnesota all the way to Seattle, Washington, earning him the nickname "The Empire Builder." His son, Louis W. Hill, inherited that ambition and turned his attention to something even grander. When Glacier National Park was established in 1910, Louis Hill saw an opportunity. He wanted to draw wealthy American travelers away from European vacations and toward the spectacular mountain scenery of the American West, launching a now-famous marketing campaign around the slogan "See America First." His pitch was simple and brilliant: the peaks of Glacier looked more like the Alps than anything else in North America, so why cross an ocean?
To make that vision a reality, Louis Hill stepped down from the presidency of the Great Northern Railway specifically to oversee the design and construction of the Glacier hotels himself. He hired St. Paul architect Samuel L. Bartlett to draw the plans, but Hill controlled every major decision. The design was inspired in part by the Forestry Building at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, and the floor plan of the grand lobby was modeled on a Christian basilica, creating a soaring three-story hall stretching 200 feet long and 100 feet wide. Hill purchased 160 acres of land on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation through a special act of Congress in 1912, and a crew of 100 men completed the main building in roughly a year. The lodge opened with 61 rooms in 1913 and was designed to be the showpiece of the entire Glacier region, the first impression every visitor would carry home. The annex, employee quarters, powerhouse, and expanded dining room followed during the winter of 1913 to 1914, with 75 men spending over a year and a half completing those additions.
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Where to Stay in Glacier if Lake McDonald Lodge is Full
⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - Many Glacier Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Many Glacier Hotel is one of the classic National Park Lodges! It's Swiss Chalet design with sweeping views of Swiftcurrent Lake and the mountains in the background simply cant be beat! It's pricey but it's a lodge you will never forget.
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Glacier Park Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
This is another classic national park lodge. It's lobby, "a three-story Big Tree Lodge" with 60 forty foot long massive Douglas Fir Tree Pillars with a centrally located stone fireplace is absolutely spectacular. Don't forget to bring your clubs and go golfing, enjoy complimentary WiFi, on-site dining at the Great Northern Dining Room, and enjoy Glacier!
⭐️ 4.8 of 5 Stars - Village Inn at Apgar - Click here for Rates and Availability.
This is one of my favorite lodges in Glacier and is located in Apgar Village. The lodge has several amenities and some come with a full kitchen. I love the 70's motor Inn retro vibe, but what makes me keep rebooking this lodge is sitting back in an Adirondack chair located on your back porch with epic views of Lake McDonald. It's the chef's kiss!
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Rising Sun Motor Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The Rising Sun Motor Inn has both motel style rooms and cabins with beautiful mountain views. It is also the perfect location for those wanting to explore the Going-to-the-Sun Road! We thouroughly enjoyed our stay here and the Two Dog Flats restaurant had really good food too!
If you were unable to get into one of these lodges, make sure to check out my Glacier National Park Lodging Guide for a complete breakdown of lodges in Glacier.
Click on this link ot the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Glacier.
Glacier National Park Entrance Fee
New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Glacier National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$45.00-$145.00 for commercial sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons), $25.oo for vehicle plus $20.00 per person 16+.
$75.00 for a commercial van with 7-15 seats
$100 for a commercial mini-bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for a commercial motor coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Glacier National Park Resources
- Top things to do in Glacier National Park - All of the epic things you do not want to miss during your trip to the park.
- Glacier National Park Lodging - Find out about all of the amazing lodges and places to stay within the park.
- Going to the Sun Road - You do not want to miss the scenic drives in the park!
- Glacier National Park Camping Guide - Find out about all of the campgrounds within the park, which ones you need reservations for, site photos and more.
Parks near Glacier National Park
- Grant Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
- Big Hole National Battlefield
- Nez Perce National Historical Park
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Check out all of the Montana National Parks along with neighboring National Parks in Wyoming, National Parks in South Dakota, North Dakota National Parks, and Idaho National Parks.
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