Lake McDonald Lodge

One of the nicer lodges in Glacier, great overlook spot for seeing Lake McDonald. Food was pretty good at the restaurant along with the service.

Very cozy, great Wi-Fi, could just hang out here all day. In fact I did.

Did not personally stay here, but have stayed at a few other NP lodges and this one seemed no different! Super cool rustic building that has a distinct national park feel. Not necessarily 5 star hotel but that's also not really what your going for in a national park anyway! Location is incredible, and the views out the back make everything well with it!

Lake McDonald lodge is an historic lodge that sits on the shore of Lake McDonald and is located right on the Sun Road. The lodge offers beautiful views and inviting surroundings. The location is close to great hikes and there's lots of options for food. We stayed in a wonderful cabin which was very comfortable and quaint plus we had fans to cool the room. The staff was attentive and welcoming and we loved staying here. I would highly recommend booking a room or cabin just to experience the uniqueness of this hotel.

Beautiful place , amazingly decorated and nice restaurant. We ordered the salad , various drinks, trout , steak and so much more on different days . Everything was good 😊 plus the view from deck is beautiful

Beautiful lodge. We will try to stay here when next in glacier. We only visited to take a boat out on the lake and ended up spending way too much in the gift shop and at Russell's for lunch.

The location of Lake McDonald Lodge is absolutely unbeatable. Sitting right on the shore of the lake, it offers incredible views and immediate access to one of the most beautiful parts of Glacier National Park. Waking up to that scenery is something truly special. The staff deserve a lot of praise — every interaction we had was warm, friendly, and genuinely helpful. They clearly care about making guests feel welcome.

That being said, the lodge is definitely showing its age. While the historic charm is part of its appeal, the rooms and beds are in real need of investment. The mattresses are worn, the furnishings feel tired, and the overall room setup could use an update to make overnight stays more comfortable, especially given the price point. For many guests, a good night’s sleep is just as important as the scenery, and this is an area where the lodge could make a big impact with some improvements.

Another consideration is how busy it gets. During our stay, the lodge felt extremely crowded, and at times it seemed like they are struggling to balance the needs of overnight guests with the large number of visitors who just come to look around. This can take away from the sense of peace you might expect from such a beautiful setting.

The boat dock is located directly in front of the lodge. While it’s convenient for tours, it does detract a little from the otherwise serene lakeside view. Parking is another challenge — the lot is small, fills up quickly, and can make arrival or day trips more stressful than they should be.

Overall, Lake McDonald Lodge is worth visiting for its location and wonderful staff. However, guests should be prepared for crowds, parking challenges, and rooms that feel more rustic than comfortable. With some investment in the rooms and beds, this could easily become not just a beautiful place to stay, but one that delivers a truly top-tier lodging experience in Glacier National Park.

Wished we spent a few more days here at Glacier for our honeymoon. It was so beautiful, peaceful and quiet. This truly is heaven on earth. I definitely recommend staying at the Lake McDonald Lodge.

Stayed in the Snyder house - yes the room is “prison cell” small lol but who cares? The location of this lodge was perfect. I was just so happy to be in the park I don’t care how small the room is. All I’m doing there is sleeping anyway! Plus, the room was cozy and clean. The restaurant was great and also the pizza place close by is great too. It’s funny to me that people will complain about weak WiFi here— ahem, you are at a national park, so taking a break from the outside world is the whole point! If I needed WiFi, then the short walk to the lobby was no big deal to me. I would definitely stay here again. The view and the location was amazing.

Unpopular opinion, I think the GNP lodges are a bit overrated. The view is better at Apgar, they don't share wifi with guests unless they're staying at the lodge, the food isn't anything to write home about and the dining room isn't open all day/has weird hours. Some upgrades while preserving the history would go a long way.

Incredible. Amazing place for star watching.

A nice stop on the way into Glacier, well worth stopping by to see the old lodge. The grand entryway was beautiful, and some great views of the lake from down on the dock.

After a long day of hiking and exploring Glacier on my wife’s birthday, we were exhausted, hungry, and in need of a hot shower, a good meal, and a comfortable place to sleep. On a whim, we stopped into Lake McDonald Lodge to see if they had any rooms available — and we totally lucked out. The staff were incredibly kind and helpful, and they offered us the last available room at a great rate since it was already after 8pm.

The room was clean, cozy, and exactly what we needed after a week of camping in the back of our truck. The hot shower alone was worth it! We had dinner and drinks at Russell’s Fireside Dining Room overlooking the lake, and it was the perfect way to end a full day of adventure — delicious food, great cocktails, and an unbeatable view.

We’re so glad we made the last-minute decision to stop in. The lodge and its staff helped turn an already special day into a truly memorable one.

Loved our cabin at Lake McDonald. We enjoyed walking right out of our cabin and straight to the water or lodge. This property was very walkable, and the beds are so comfortable.

Excellent food!