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Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins: Gateway to Glacier's Best Hiking Trails
The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is located in the Many Glacier Area on the Eastern side of Glacier National Park in Montana. They offer 95 rustic cabin and motor inn rooms, along with having Nell's restaurant and a camp store.
The Swiftcurrent Inn is a great base for exploring several of Glacier's iconic hiking trails including Iceberg Lake, and Ptarmigan Lake. You can also take a boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake, go horseback riding, or spend the day exploring the Going to the Sun Road and soaking in its epic views.
Room Types and Amenities
Rooms available at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins are smoke free and consists of three individual motel style units with outside access, the Pinetop Motel with access by a central hallway, and cabins that ear arranged in circles.
Cabins may or may not have a private bathroom but there is a bathroom and shower facility conviently located within walking distance from the cabin circles. Cabins have heat and the cabins that do not have a private bathroom do have a private sink with cold water.
There is one ADA accessible cabin available, as well as a limited number of ADA Accessible motel rooms.
Room Types available include:
Motor Inn Room
Motor Inn rooms are the largest on the property and has three options:
- Two Doubles Full (Sleeps up to 4) feature two double or full size beds with a ¾ bath with a shower only.
- One Double Full and One Twin Single (Sleeps up to 3) feature one double or full sized bed, one twin or single sized bed, and a ¾ bath with shower only.
- One Queen (Sleeps up to 2) Features one Queen Sized Bed and a ¾ bath with shower only.
Pinetop Motel Room (Sleeps up to 2)
Pinetop rooms are located in a building seperate from the main registration building. Each room features one Queen sized bed, ¾ bath with a shower only.
Large One Bedroom Cabin with Bathroom (Sleeps up to 4)
Located in a wooded area, each cabin is made up of one large room and features one double or full sized bed, sitting area with sofa bed, and a ¾ bath with shower only.
Historic One Bedroom Cabin with Bathroom
Located in a wooded area, each cabin is made up of one large room and features one double or full sized bed, sitting area with sofa bed, and a ¾ bath with shower only.
Historic Two Bedroom Cabin without Bathroom (Sleeps up to 4)
Located in a wooded area, Each cabin has two bedrooms, each with one double or full sized bed, seperate sitting area, sink with cold water only, and a picnic style table.
Historic One Bedroom Cabin without Bathroom (Sleeps up to 2)
Located in a wooded area, each cabin has a bedroom with one double or full size bed, a seperate sitting area, sink with cold water only, and a picnic style table. Showers and toilets are within walking distance.
Lodge Amenities
- Down Alternative, eco-smart pillows
- Energy efficient lighting
- Recycle Bin
- Alarm Clock
- Fan
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- WiFi (Very Limited)
- Nell's Restaurant
- Gift Shop & Campstore
What's Not Included
- Air-Conditioning
- Television
- Telephone
- Cannot accomodate a rollaway bed ir crib
- No cooking allowed in rooms
My Experience staying in the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
We were pleased with our Pinetop Motel Room. It was not the biggest room but it had everything we needed for comfortable night's sleep. The bed was comfortable and honestly hard to get out of the next morning we slept so great.
If you are a light sleeper you may want to pack earplugs or comfortable headphones to sleep in. The hotel walls are semi-thin and we could hear people talking in the room next to us. You can't hear the exact words but it was loud enough to hear that they were having a conversation. You can also hear when people walk up and down the central hallway.
Our room had two beds but it appears that this is not an option for the Pinetop Motel anymore. We also received coffee vouchers as there was no coffee machines in the room even though now it states that all rooms now have coffee makers.
We also had a small table with two chairs, private bathroom with shower, small dresser, and parking near the entrance and toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body wash.
We also really liked eating at Nell's, the on-site restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Like any hotel or lodge in a National Park, we do suggest making reservations as soon as you know when you want to visit the park. We lucked out and I was able to make last-minute reservations a few days ahead of time in August to celebrate my wife's birthday.
If you are planning a last-minute park trip it is definitely worth checking daily to see if there are any cancellations for rooms.
If you are thinking about moving around to different portions of the park don't miss this great article on all of the Glacier National Park lodging options!
Check Swiftcurrent Motor Inn's Availability
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn Property Map
Nell's Restaurant: Great food in Glacier National Park
Nell's Restaurant is next to the hotel lobby and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant was named for explorer George Bird Grinnell. The restaurant is fast and casual. You order at the main counter and your food is brought out to your table.
I have to say this may be the best restaurant we have tried in Glacier National Park. The prices were fantastic and the food tasted great.
I had mac and cheese with pulled chicken, barbecue sauce and seasoning for dinner and it was delicious. Honestly better than the sit-down restaurant at the big lodges in the park. Tammilee had the grilled cheese and was also very happy. I think her words were "We can come back here again".
For breakfast, we both had the Breakfast Wrap with scrambled eggs, brown potatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese, and onion. I have to say, breakfast was just as good as dinner so don't miss out eating here.
The restaurant does not take reservations and is on a first come first serve basis. They do offer a kids menu along with box lunches and food to go.
Camp store: Groceries and Supplies
The store is located in the main building off the lobby of the hotel. The store has a wide variety of grocery items, hot coffee, camping supplies and souvenirs.
Store hours - 7 am to 10 pm
History of Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins: From 1911 Teepee Camp to Today
The name Swiftcurrent is believed to have come from a Blackfeet Indian term "iakmi-awaki-mishka' which translates to mean 'fast running water'. The Great Northern Railway established a teepee camp in 1911 in the location of the hotel today.
Guests arrived in this portion of the park on horseback and slept on army cots in full-size replicas of the 23 pole Blackfeet Indian teepee.
Twenty Seven cabins were built by the Superior Building Company in 1933. The area became known as the Many Glacier Auto Tourist Camp.
The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp_ constructed a campground just south of the cabin along with the cabins in circles D and I.
The current camp store was built in 1935 to provide services to campers.
The Heavens Peak forest fire swept through the area on August 31, 1936, burning thirty-one cabins and many acres of forest area. The National Park Service planted thousands of trees to replace those burned along with the cabins being rebuilt in 1937.
In 1940 a comfort station with showers was added to the complex. E.T. Scoyen, the park superintendent at the time put pressure on the Great Northern Railway for a coffee shop. In 1941 they added the portion of the building that is now the main lobby area to the existing camp store.
In 1955 there was major construction completed for an employee dormitory building and three motel units were added. The Pine Top Motel building was originally an employee dormitory that was converted to being a motel unit.
During 2013 seven more cabins were constructed to complete the I circle. These brought the complex up to 95 guest rooms. All of the rooms were refurbished in the winter of 2014 and spring of 2015.
In January 2014 Xanterra Parks and Resorts won the primary concessionaire contract for Glacier National Park.
The Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The recognition was for its significance in local history.
Planning Your Stay: Essential Information
Check-in time - 4 pm
Check out time - 11 am
Address: Many Glacier Road, Babb, MT 59411
Smoking - Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all guest areas.
Pets - Only designated guide, service, and/or hearing companion animals are allowed in the motor inn rooms and cabins.
Religious services - Interdenominational services are held every Sunday in June through August at the Many Glacier Campground campfire circle.
WiFi - We did not have any WiFi during our stay
Cell phone service - We did not have any cell phone service during our stay.
*All properties open at 12 p.m. on opening day and close at 12 p.m. closing day. No services are available prior to opening day or after closing day.
GPS Coordinates - 48.797712 - 113.677071
Check Swiftcurrent Motor Inn's Availability
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.
Alternative Lodging Options if the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is Fully Booked
Glacier Lodging oftentimes fills up months in advance, especially in July and August. Below is a couple lodges near Swiftcurrent Motor Inn as a backup option.
⭐️ 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.
⭐️ 4.3 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!
⭐️ 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!
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 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.
Additional Glacier National Park Resources
- Complete guide to Glacier National Park
- Glacier Lodging Guide - Find out about all the lodging options within the park.
- Epic things to do in Glacier - All of the things you do not want to miss during your trip to Glacier.
- Glacier National Park Camping - An epic guide to every campground in Glacier
- Complete guide to The Going-to-the-Sun Road
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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