Going-to-the-Solar Highway is a wide ranging mountain street by way of Glacier Nationwide Park. Driving the street, you’ll encounter mountain vistas, glowing alpine lakes, and presumably a number of the wildlife that roams the park.
Going-to-the-Solar Highway, typically known as The Solar Highway for brief, is 50 miles lengthy and connects St. Mary and West Glacier. It goes over the Continental Divide by way of Logan Go and tops out at 6,646 ft above sea stage at its highest spot.
However greater than any statistics, you’ll bear in mind the surroundings from this drive lengthy after you’ve completed it.
Suggestions for RVing Going To The Solar Highway
Whereas this can be a stunning street, and seeing it’s undoubtedly a tremendous factor to do at Glacier Nationwide Park, it may also be a problem. Between park crowds, winding turns, and winter climate, you’ll need to do a little analysis earlier than you really drive it. Listed here are a couple of suggestions for benefiting from your journey.
1. See should you want a reservation
Throughout extra standard durations on the park, you’ll want a car reservation to journey the street. In 2024, from Could 24 – September 8, vacationers want a reservation for the west aspect of The Solar Highway and North Fork between 6 am and three pm. From July 1 by way of September 8, you’ll want a car reservation for Many Glacier from 6 am – 3 pm. You don’t want a reservation exterior of these hours.
If in case you have lodging, tenting, a ship tour, or one other exercise already booked alongside the street, you might be allowed to drive it to get to your exercise.
You can also make a car reservation at recreation.gov.
2. Ensure your car could make the drive
Going to the Solar Highway is a two-lane mountain street that has hairpin turns in some elements. On the best elements of the street, automobiles can’t be longer than 21 ft, and might’t be wider than 8 ft. These restrictions are for the realm between the Avalanche Creek and Rising Solar picnic areas. RVs which can be greater than 10 ft tall could not be capable to clear the rock overhangs on the portion of the street west from Logan Go to the hairpin flip often known as the Loop.
The velocity restrict on the street is 45 mph within the decrease sections and 25 mph on the steeper, winding sections.
3. Know the climate
Going-to-the-Solar Highway typically opens in early June and closes once more in October. However openings and closings are dictated by the climate. It will probably take as much as 10 weeks to plow out the street within the spring, and typically the plows solely progress 500 ft in at some point. If there was late, heavy snow the street could not open as early as regular. Conversely, if there’s an early snow within the fall, it could shut earlier than regular.
Remember to examine that the street is open if you plan to drive it. You may examine street closures on the Glacier NPS web site.
4. There are alternate options to driving your self
In case your RV gained’t make it over the street, or if you wish to be free to admire the views, there are a number of excursions that drive Going-to-the-Solar Highway as nicely. Purple Jammer buses initially drove Glacier’s roads within the Nineteen Thirties. In 2001, the buses had been modernized and now company can take guided excursions on them.
There are additionally some shuttle buses and Blackfeet tour buses that provide excursions of assorted elements of the street as nicely.
5. Gasoline up
There aren’t any gasoline stations inside Glacier Nationwide Park. You’ll wish to gasoline up earlier than coming into the park, and control the gasoline gauge so you’ve gotten loads of warning to get extra should you want it. Cities simply exterior the park like West Glacier, St. Mary, East Glacier Park Village, and Waterton Lakes have gasoline stations the place you’ll be able to refill.
6. Plan for street building
One of the best time to drive The Solar Highway is, for a similar motive, the most effective time to work on The Solar Highway. Good climate permits crews to get work performed. Through the summer time of 2024, there are a number of street building initiatives occurring that might have an effect on your drive.
The west aspect of the street is within the final section of a yearlong building mission. It’s anticipated to be performed in June.
The higher McDonald Creek Bridge can be being changed, and building on Glacier Drive in Polebridge is ongoing.
There are a number of different building initiatives underway across the park. You may examine the street building web page on the Glacier NPS web site for updates.
7. Plan to cease at many factors of curiosity
Though Going-to-the-Solar Highway is 50 miles lengthy, it takes about two hours to drive with out stopping due to the steep grades and winding turns. However you’ll wish to plan rather more time than that. There are many locations to cease alongside the drive together with Lake McDonald, Path of the Cedars, Saint Mary Lake, and different overlooks and scenic spots. You may see a few of these websites forward of time by trying out the multimedia web page on the Glacier web site. There, you’ll discover movies of a number of the most picturesque spots alongside the drive.
8. Strive the audio tour
Should you don’t wish to take a shuttle tour of the street, you’ll be able to take a self-guided audio tour. Glacier Nationwide Park employees have recorded a collection of podcasts that information you alongside the street. Study extra about lots of the locations the place you’ll be able to cease on the drive whilst you pay attention alongside. Nevertheless, cell service might be sketchy on this journey, so that you’ll wish to obtain these podcasts earlier than you begin…and doubtless earlier than you even enter the park.
RV Leases Close by
There are many choices for RV leases close to Glacier Nationwide Park. You’ll discover many trailers and Class C campers out there to hire for a visit to the park. There are additionally some choices for Class A motorhomes and Class B campervans if you need one thing smaller.
Should you plan to arrange camp after which go on a sightseeing drive on Going-to-the-Solar Highway, it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate a trailer when you’ve got a car large enough to tow it. That approach, you’ll be able to arrange your trailer and use your car to discover the park. A campervan is another choice that permits you to journey flippantly and never fear as a lot about measurement restrictions as you’d with a Class A motorhome.
Tenting Close to Going To The Solar Highway
There are many choices for tenting close to Going to the Solar Highway, with campgrounds each inside and simply exterior Glacier Nationwide Park. Needless to say Glacier is without doubt one of the largest nationwide parks. This implies you’ll wish to consider drive time to and out of your campsite every day. You can too spend a couple of days tenting on the east aspect of the park, after which spend extra time on the western aspect (or vice versa).
Saint Mary Campground
Saint Mary Campground is alongside Going-to-the Solar Highway. It doesn’t have a lot shade, however there are stunning aspen bushes. You’ll additionally get views of a number of close by mountains together with Singleshot and the Purple Eagle Mountains. St. Mary Lake is close by – it’s too chilly for swimming however is a tremendous sight. The campground is on the east aspect of the park. The websites would not have electrical hookups.
Apgar Campground
Apgar Campground is without doubt one of the largest and hottest campgrounds within the park. There are 194 campsites, and they’re unfold out with some shade as nicely. A few of the websites even have views of Lake McDonald. The campground has no hookups, however there are flush bathrooms and showers out there. There may be additionally a dump station. Apgar is on the west aspect of the park.
Beargrass Lodging & RV Resort
Beargrass Lodging & RV Resort presents much more facilities than campgrounds contained in the nationwide park. It’s in West Glacier and is a 10-minute drive from the park. The resort has full hookups, WiFi, a pool, and a laundry room. There are RV websites that may accommodate as much as a 45-foot rig.
Essential Information
Should you’re headed to Glacier Nationwide Park to drive Going-to-the-Solar Highway, right here is a few necessary info on the park.
Park Deal with: PO Field 128, West Glacier, MT 59936
Park Telephone Quantity: (406) 888-7800
Park Facilities: Glacier has a number of lodging and restaurant choices all through the park. There are additionally shops the place you should buy park merchandise and tenting necessities you will have forgotten to pack. There are boat excursions, horseback driving, bus excursions, and guided hikes out there for company.
Going-to-the-Solar Highway is a jaw-dropping drive previous a few of Glacier’s most well-known sights. You’ll wish to examine the Nationwide Park Service updates on street closures and building plans. However you’re certain to see some wonderful views and make lasting recollections!
If you wish to expertise the street your self and keep inside or close to Glacier, you’ll be able to e-book an RV with RVshare! Spend your days exploring the park, and retire to your individual house and a cushty mattress every night time. Actually, RV tenting is an excellent option to see lots of the nation’s nationwide parks and scenic spots.