Sensational Stops on A Seattle to Glacier National Park Road Trip

Head indoors if the weather’s a bit iffy. Families with little ones will love the Children’s Museum. Kids of all ages will have fun at the Museum of Pop Culture (closed Wednesdays except in the summer), Seattle Aquarium, or the Pacific Science Center (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). 

When the sun is shining, play in the sand at the Golden Gardens Park and let the kids be kids at the Artists at Play Playground. 

Of course, no trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the Space Needle and a stroll along Puget Sound on Alaskan Way. But once you’ve had your fill, it’s time to set off on your scenic drive through the Pacific Northwest and onto the Glacier National Park road trip.

You’ll love strolling through town, checking out the cool murals and architecture. For a bit of history, stop in to the Kittitas County Historical Museum. 

Everyone in the family will enjoy a stroll in the Rinehart Riverfront Park. Or you could hike the Umtanum Creek Canyon Trail, which crosses the Yakima River on a cool suspension bridge.

One of the best events in the annual Ellensburg Rodeo. Known as the largest in the state of Washington and one of the best in the country, it takes place over Labor Day weekend. It’s a perfect stop on a late summer Glacier National Park road trip. 

The architecture of downtown Leavenworth will transport you to the great historic towns of Germany. You’ll love the whole look with the thatched roofs, wooden details of the buildings, and the mountains in the backdrop. But the experience doesn’t end there. 

Make sure to visit the Greater Leavenworth Museum. Here you’ll learn about the town’s German roots and history. You’ll even hear about great places you’ll want to visit after the museum. Don’t miss the Nutcracker Museum or the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. You’ll find incredible German food and drink in Leavenworth too. A favorite is Rhein Haus. 

To get some exercise and excitement, go for a walk in Waterfront Park or get your adrenaline pumping on the Leavenworth Ziplines. Hiking the Icicle Gorge Trail is one of the best things to do in Leavenworth. 

It’s one of the most magical places to visit in the US around Christmas time!

Pro Tip: Leavenworth is a great place to spend the night on your Seattle to Glacier National Park road trip. If you’re camping or RVing, there are plenty of places to choose from, including the Icicle River RV Park and the Leavenworth/Pine Village KOA Holiday.

You’ll definitely want to shop around in Pybus Public Market. With the heart of a local market, you’ll find everything from local produce to works of art and even kid’s activities. There are also great places to grab a coffee, pastry, or even a full meal – perfect when you’re in the middle of your epic Seattle to Glacier road trip.

Wenatchee is well known for outdoor adventure. You can easily hike Saddle Rock, Apple Capital Loop Trail, Sage Hills, or take a stroll in Wenatchee Confluence State Park. 

Wenatchee has three great breweries downtown: Wenatchee Valley Brewing, Columbia Valley Brewing Co., and Badger Mountain Brewing. They all serve up great beers and meals to keep your whole family happy!

Riverside, Spokane’s downtown, has plenty of places to eat and shop. Kids will love all the parks in Spokane, including those with playgrounds and skate parks.

Spokane’s Riverfront Park is a place you must visit when in town. You’ll love it all, from the restored Looff Carousel to the Numerica SkyRide and, of course, the view of Spokane Falls. The Mobius Discovery Center (open Wednesday-Sunday) is perfect for families who enjoy hands-on learning. 

To get the family into the beauty of nature, make a trip to Riverside State Park. With 55 miles of hiking and biking trails, there’s a lot of terrain to explore. The Centennial Trail, a Spokane favorite, runs along the Spokane River within the park too.  

Don’t miss exploring the nearby area of Spokane Valley. You’ll fall in love with the land, people, and things to do.

After Spokane, head east on Mount Highway 28 and US 93N to West Glacier and the entrance to Glacier National Park. 

Pro Tip: If you’re looking to take a bit more of the scenic drive through Washington to Glacier after Spokane, follow Route 95 to Route 2 instead. On this road, you’ll spend more time in the Idaho panhandle, passing through the Kaniksu and Kootenai National Forests and a bunch of charming mountain towns. On this route be sure to check out the swinging bridge at Kootenai Falls and the Conrad Mansion Museum in Kalispell, MT.

Surrounding the lake are many great towns like Bigfork and Polson, ready to help you with everything from places to eat and sleep to water sports and boat rentals. During the summer, you’ll find awesome events like the Whitewater Festival and the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. 

Don’t miss visiting Wild Horse Island in Flathead Lake. It’s only accessible by water, but once you’re there, you’ll love to hike this beautiful state park. It’s also so awesome to catch a glimpse of the wild horses that call it home. 

A must-do is to learn more about the native people of the Flathead Lake area. Definitely make time to visit The Three Chiefs Culture Center (formerly The People’s Center), where you can learn about the Salish, Ksanka & Qlispe people.

You can go hiking, relax with a picnic, or get out on the water on the beautiful mountain lakes. If you want to paddle, just make sure to get your watercraft inspected before you do. 

Admission fees to the park are charged per person. Adults are $10.50, and seniors are $9. Kids 17 and under are free.  

Pro Tip: Remember to bring your passport so you can easily cross the border into Canada and back again.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking to camp (including RVs) at Waterton Lakes National Park on your Seattle to Glacier National Park road trip, make sure to book a reservation on the reservations.pc.ca website in advance.

It’s important to note Canada has its own Glacier National Park located 6 hours north of the border in British Columbia. Don’t confuse it with Waterton Lakes National Park, which is adjacent to the US Glacier National Park!

Coming from Flathead Lake or Kalispell, you’ll reach West Glacier and the park entrance in just under an hour. 

Definitely plan to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which takes you clear across the park. You’ll also get to Logan Pass on the road, another must-do. Many Glaciers and Two Medicines are also ones to put on the itinerary.

One of the best things to do in Glacier National Park is to walk the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. This path follows the natural border of the Great Continental Divide, separating watersheds that flow into the east and west. The views from this trail are incredible. 

It takes more than a day to fully experience Glacier. So camping (and RVing) is a great idea. There are several sites throughout the park that are first come by reservation.

Pro Tip: You’ll need both a vehicle reservation and a parking pass for Glacier National Park. Entrance passes for private cars are $25 from November 1 to April 30 and $35 from May 1 through October 31. Passes are valid for 7 days.