EV road trip

Going-to-the-Sun Road in an EV

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most spectacular drives in North America — and for EVs it's a short, scenic add-on to a bigger Montana or Pacific Northwest road trip rather than a standalone destination. Charging infrastructure at park gateways has matured; the road itself has no charging. Plan accordingly.

Quick facts

• · Going-to-the-Sun length: 50 miles each way
• · Drive time: 2-3 hours each way; you'll stop constantly for views
• · Season: Late June through early October. Closed all winter.
• · Vehicle restrictions: No vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide on the road's narrow stretches
• · Vehicle reservations required during peak summer (check NPS site)

The 50-mile road has zero charging

There is no EV charging on Going-to-the-Sun Road itself. The road climbs to Logan Pass at 6,646 ft elevation. Your battery will be discharged faster than EPA range suggests due to the climb, then partially recovered through regen on the descent. Plan to enter the road with 70%+ battery and leave with 30%+.

Charging happens at the gateways: West Glacier / Apgar (west entrance) and St. Mary (east entrance). Both have growing L2 charger coverage at lodges but still limited fast charging.

The bigger trip: making it work as part of a larger route

Glacier is remote. The most common ways to include it in an EV road trip:

• From Seattle/Portland (PNW loop): ~8 hour drive each way. Plan overnight stops with charging in Spokane and Kalispell.
• From Calgary, AB: ~3.5 hours to the east entrance. Tesla Supercharger coverage in Alberta is now good.
• From Minneapolis (cross-country): ~14 hours. Reasonable only as part of a longer trip; plan 2-3 overnight stops.
• From Yellowstone: ~6 hours. Both parks fit a 10-day Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem trip nicely.

Charging at gateways

Where to stay

Best vehicles for this trip

• · Rivian R1S — capable on bumpy backcountry roads to Many Glacier and Two Medicine sections
• · Tesla Model Y Long Range — Supercharger access in Kalispell makes the practical Montana trip work
• · Hyundai Ioniq 9 — 3-row family-friendly + 800V architecture for fast stops

The size constraint: Going-to-the-Sun Road has vehicle length and width limits — no vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide on certain stretches. R1T trucks and bigger SUVs may run into this. Check NPS vehicle restrictions before committing.

Seasonal reality

• Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens late June after snow plowing completes. Check the NPS site before booking.
• Smoke season (late August): Pacific Northwest wildfire smoke can fill Glacier's valleys for weeks. Views you came for may not exist.
• Vehicle reservation system: NPS requires vehicle reservations during peak summer hours. Book on Recreation.gov 6+ months in advance.
• Early/late season cold: Logan Pass can see snow in June and September. EV range loss from cold at elevation is real — pad your battery.