Montana’s wide-open spaces and stunning mountain scenery can be reached on Amtrak’s Empire Builder. This daily long-distance train stops in small towns in the Great Plains and near Glacier National Park, making it a great vacation train if you know where to go. This guide highlights the best stops with easy transportation, lodging options and interesting things to see and do so you can start planning your trip.
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Best Montana Stops Overview
| Stop | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Whitefish | Walkable town with great restaurants, rental cars, lake, nearby ski resort |
| West Glacier | Glacier National Park shuttle, bike rentals, river rafting |
| East Glacier Park | Glacier National Park shuttle and bus tours, historic lodge |
| Havre | Underground frontier town, dinosaur history, small airport |
Whitefish
Whitefish is a fabulous mountain town near a ski resort, recreational lake, great restaurants, and local shops. It’s the most walkable train stop in Montana and a perfect base for a variety of activities, including golfing, hiking, skiing, boating, and water sports. It’s also the best stop for car rentals (Hertz and Dollar rentals at the Amtrak station or use Turo — Glacier National Park is a 40-minute drive away). There is also a free ski shuttle in the winter.
Things to Do
You can walk to the following attractions and activities from the Whitefish Amtrak Station (rideshare is also available or with a rental car you can easily visit Whitefish Lake State Park and Whitefish Lake Golf Club).
- Local events (various walking time)
- Whitefish Farmers Market (2 minutes)
- Whitefish Theatre Co. (2 minutes)
- Going to the Sun Gallery (5 minutes)
- Whitefish Performing Arts Center (5 minutes)
- Remington Bar & Casino (5 minutes)
- Whitefish Massage Therapy (8 minutes)
- Riverside Park (14 minutes)
- Whitefish City Beach (24 minutes)
- Glacier National Park tours (pick-up available)
Where to Stay
Whitefish has a variety of hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals, many of which you can walk to from the train station. Several hotels and resorts have shuttles and can pick you up from Amtrak, including Grouse Mountain Lodge. For our trip with three adults, we booked the above two-bedroom duplex in the Crestwood area. It was a comfortable stay with a pool, hot tub, and full kitchen.
Explore lodging closest to the Whitefish Amtrak stop below (walking time from the station included).
- Larch House (6 minutes): Boutique luxury hotel with outdoor pool
- Farmhouse Inn (6 minutes): Quaint lodging in a historic home
- Firebrand Hotel (9 minutes): Modern rustic hotel with rooftop patio
- Vrbo vacation rentals (various walking time to downtown rentals, a rental car is helpful for accommodations closer to the lake)
West Glacier
West Glacier is a rustic mountain stop that’s one mile away from Glacier National Park. It’s ideal for outdoor lovers with walking and biking the main forms of transportation (no rental cars). There is a variety of lodging, a grocery store, a few restaurants, mini-golf, and outfitters for river rafting and bike rentals. If you want to visit Glacier National Park, rent a bike or plan to use the seasonal shuttle timed with train arrivals and stay at lodging on the shuttle stops.
Things to Do
You can walk or bike to the following activities from the West Glacier stop:
- Going to the Sun Mini Golf
- S. Boundary Trail
- Apgar Bike Trail
- Flathead Outdoors (bike rentals)
- Glacier View Golf Club (club rentals available)
- Glacier Raft Company (float trips and whitewater rafting)
Where to Stay
For seasonal stays inside Glacier National Park, book lodging at the Village Inn at Apgar or Lake McDonald Lodge. Otherwise, there are a range of accommodations within walking distance of the West Glacier Amtrak stop (walking times listed below).
- Belton Chalet (2 minutes): Historic lodging built by the Great Northern Railway
- Glacier Highland Motel (4 minutes)
- Glacier Guides Lodge (8 minutes): Top-rated stay away from town
- West Glacier Cabin Village (15 minutes): Near Flathead River with kitchens, grills, and a playground
- Village Inn at Apgar (use shuttle)
- Lake McDonald Lodge (use shuttle)
East Glacier Park
Located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, the East Glacier Park Station is only open between mid-spring and mid-fall. The main attraction is the 1913 Glacier Park Lodge, featuring a three-story lobby built with massive tree timbers. You can board free national park shuttles here or book a bus tour to explore Glacier National Park without driving, making this stop convenient for families and seniors.
Things to Do
Walk five minutes from the East Glacier Park stop to reach the following:
- Glacier Park Red Bus Tours (pickup at lodge)
- Glacier Park Shuttle (pickup at lodge, to St. Mary Village and Two Medicine)
- Glacier Park Lodge Golf Course
- Rising Wolf Outfitters (5 minutes)
- East Glacier Village (saloon and a few restaurants)
Where to Stay
Glacier Park Lodge is the most convenient place to stay at the East Glacier Park stop. However, there are no elevators and rooms do not have air conditioning or in-room TVs. View all lodging in walking distance of the East Glacier Park stop below with walking times from the station.
- Glacier Park Lodge (5 minutes)
- Circle R Motel (5 minutes)
- Whistling Swan Motel (7 minutes)
- Mountain Pine Motel (11 minutes)
- Vacation Rentals (various walking time)
Havre
For frontier and dinosaur history, consider a stop in Havre, Montana. The area was developed when the Great Northern Railway arrived in 1887, but a large fire in the early 1900s destroyed many buildings so businesses moved into basements. View this history at Havre Beneath the Streets and check out the oldest back bar in Montana at the Palace Bar.
Things to Do
Havre is a small town and a one night stay is enough time to see the sights. You can walk to attractions in the historic downtown, and with a rental car or local taxi you can visit the Fort Assinniboine State Historic Site and the Great Northern Fairgrounds for the July fair. There is also a small airport with flights to other Montana cities.
Contact Havre Auto Rental before your trip to see if they can pick you up from the train station or check Turo for vehicle rentals. Otherwise, use Hi-Line Taxi, Town Taxi or JJ’s Lunar Taxi if needed or simply walk to the following attractions near the Havre Amtrak Station:
- James J. Hill Monument (The “Empire Builder”, 1 minute)
- H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum (4 minutes, has dinosaur fossils)
- Hi-Line Gold Casino (4 minutes)
- Palace Bar (5 minutes, oldest back bar in Montana)
- Havre Beneath the Streets (6 minutes)
- Cottonwood Cinema (6 minutes)
- Crystal City Casino (7 minutes)
Where to Stay
The following accommodations are within walking distance of the Havre stop.
- Siesta Motel (6 minutes)
- Hi-Line Motel (7 minutes)
- Best Western Plus Great Northern Inn (16 minutes)
- Quality Inn Havre (17 minutes)
More Information
- Amtrak Stations in Montana
- 10 best small-town Amtrak stops
- 10 best stops on the Empire Builder route
- Most scenic part of the Empire Builder (and how to ride it)
Top photo East Glacier Park Amtrak Station by Loco Steve (CC by 3.0)
