Going-to-the-Sun Road: Is This the Most Scenic Drive in America?
We started our day the way every great road trip should start: at a beautiful setting. A morning cruise on St. Mary Lake, the mountains standing up out of the lake like they’d been placed there just for us, and the whole of Glacier National Park waiting on the other side. What a morning to begin a journey on one of the most famous roads in the country.
East to West, St. Mary to Lake McDonald
Going-to-the-Sun Road runs right through the heart of Glacier National Park, about 50 miles from St. Mary at the east entrance to West Glacier and the Apgar Visitor Center on the west side. Along the way it climbs over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, 6,646 feet up, and passes the Weeping Wall, waterfall after waterfall, and views that will have you reaching for the camera every few minutes.
If you drive it straight through, plan on about two hours. But be honest with yourself: who is going to drive this road without stopping? Not your grandpas. Give yourself the whole day and allow for multiple camera stops along the way.
A Chilling Reminder — and a Sobering Number
Even though we were driving on the road in high summer, there were some chilly moments at higher altitudes and snow in patches on the mountains. That reminded us of some very sobering news. Scientists estimate there were around 150 glaciers in this park in the mid-1800s, and most were still here when Glacier became a national park in 1910. Today, only about 25 are still big enough to count as active glaciers.
Global warming is not fake news. If you want to see these glaciers, don’t wait.
Is Going-to-the-Sun Road Safe?
We’ve driven this road many times, and it’s one of the questions we get asked most. Our honest answer: it’s as safe as the drivers on it. There are good drivers and bad drivers everywhere, and we’ve seen both here — people cutting us off to grab one of the few parking spots at an observation area, and people simply going too fast for a road like this.
So here’s our advice:
Drive safely. The curves and drop-offs deserve your full attention.
Don’t let the views distract you. Easier said than done — more on that below.
Watch out for everybody else. Assume the car in front of you is about to stop for a photo, because it probably is.
Check your vehicle size. Vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet (mirrors included) aren’t allowed on the stretch between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun — which includes Logan Pass. Most RVs will need another plan.
Plan Ahead: Crowds, Parking, and the Weeping Wall
Like so many of our national parks, Glacier is busy. The good news for 2026: the park dropped its vehicle reservation system, so you don’t need a timed-entry ticket to drive the road. You still need a park entrance pass, and Logan Pass parking fills up fast. For the latest on road conditions, opening dates, and traffic limits, the National Park Service website is your best friend — we’ve put the link in the video description.
One more tip: when the Weeping Wall comes up on your right (heading west), have your camera ready. There are a few pullouts nearby, but they fill quickly, so you may be shooting from the passenger seat.
Two Tunnels and a Whole Lot of Quiet
If you love tunnels like we do, you’re in luck — Going-to-the-Sun Road takes you through two of them, carved right into the mountainside back when the road was built in the 1920s and early ’30s.
Grandpa Bobby and Grandpa Scott are big believers in slowing down and enjoying your travels. So, in a good stretch of our video, we stopped talking altogether. No narration, no chatter — just the vibe, the chill, the beauty, the thrill, and this incredible landscape. Kick back and ride along with us.
Don’t Want to Drive? Take a Red Bus
If driving (or hiking) isn’t your thing, there’s a wonderful alternative: book a tour on one of Glacier’s historic red buses. They’ve been carrying visitors over this road for generations, roll-back tops and all, and someone else handles the curves while you handle the gawking. We’ve linked the tours in the video description, and you don’t have to book them in advance.
Our Best Tip: Take Turns Behind the Wheel
Here’s the truth about this road: it is really hard to pay attention to the view when you’re the one driving. So, if you’re lucky enough to have two drivers in the car, try what we do. One of you drives the road one way, then you turn around, switch seats, and the other drives back. That way, both of you get to see this incredible view — and both of you get to say you drove Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Ending at Lake McDonald
We wrapped up our drive at beautiful Lake McDonald, where we attempted canoeing for the very first time. And yes, there was a camera rolling. That video is on our channel too, if you’d like to see how it went.
Have you driven Going-to-the-Sun Road — and do you think it’s the most scenic drive in America? If not, which road gets your vote? Tell us in the comments, we read every one!
Watch the full Going-to-the-Sun Road drive on our YouTube channel and ride along with us from St. Mary Lake to Lake McDonald. If you enjoy traveling with us, please subscribe, give the video a like, and let us know in the comments where we should drive next.
Follow along day to day on Instagram and Facebook @twogaygrandpastravel, and catch our podcast Travel Your Heart on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Travel Your Heart,
Grandpa Bobby &
Grandpa Scott
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