Glacier National Park Trip Planner: Reservations, Road Dates & Where to Stay

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Part of our Glacier National Park guide →

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Quick answer: Glacier National Park has not announced whether it will require vehicle reservations in 2027. In 2026 the park required none, but limited Logan Pass parking to three hours and ticketed its shuttle through Recreation.gov. Going-to-the-Sun Road has fully opened between June 13 and July 13 over the past ten years. Check NPS before you book.

The 2027 rules haven’t been announced yet. As of November 3, 2026, the park has not said whether it will require vehicle reservations or ticketed shuttles next summer. Its latest access notice covers the 2026 season, which has ended (NPS news releases). So this guide does two things. It sets out exactly how 2026 worked, clearly labeled, because 2027 will probably be some version of it. And it covers the parts of a Glacier trip that barely change from year to year: when the road opens, what entry costs, which side of the park to base yourself on, and how far ahead lodging and campsites book.

We’ll update this page when the park publishes its 2027 plan. Until then, treat every 2026 rule below as a guide to what to expect, not as next year’s rules.

How access worked in 2026 (not yet confirmed for 2027)

The big change in 2026: no vehicle reservations anywhere in the park. That applied to Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Two Medicine and the North Fork (NPS, Vehicle Reservations in 2026). The park tried two other tools instead:

A few details tripped people up:

• Three hours is shorter than it sounds. The park chose that limit to cover Hidden Lake Overlook, the visitor center, or a ranger talk. For the Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet or down to The Loop, the park says to ride the shuttle instead (NPS, Feb. 18, 2026).
• Tickets weren’t sold inside the park, and cell service there is unreliable. The park told riders to print or save tickets before arriving.
• The shuttle was one-day only. It wasn’t meant for backpackers leaving a car overnight.

How did it go? In its end-of-season release, the park said Logan Pass has 235 parking spaces and that it issued 1,200 to 1,300 three-hour permits on most days, with about 100 an hour at peak (NPS, Sept. 8, 2026). The park called the program a pilot and said it “continues to refine transportation and access.” As of Nov. 3, 2026, the park hadn’t announced whether the 3-hour limit and ticketed shuttle will return in 2027. Its latest news releases covered wildlife disease and the fall closure of the alpine road (NPS Glacier news releases).

For comparison: the 2024 and 2025 reservation systems

If 2027 brings back timed entry, it will probably look like recent years:

In both years, a lodging, camping, boat-tour or horseback reservation could take the place of a vehicle reservation for the area where the booking was. Arriving before or after the reservation hours also worked.

When does Going-to-the-Sun Road open?

There’s no fixed date. Plowing starts in early April. In its 2026 operations announcement, the park said Logan Pass typically opens between mid-June and early July, and that crews work across about 40 avalanche paths (NPS, Feb. 18, 2026). The lower ends of the road, near the West Entrance and St. Mary, stay open all year.

Recent full-opening dates over Logan Pass:

Over those ten years the road opened between June 13 and July 13, and in seven of them by June 25. The park’s long-term table (1933–2022) shows that late-May openings were once common. The latest dates have mostly come in the last two decades: July 1 in 2007, July 2 in 2008, July 13 in 2011, July 2 in 2014, and July 13 in both 2020 and 2022.

What that means for planning: If driving over Logan Pass is the main reason for your trip, plan for the second half of July or August. A June date is a bet. Even after the road opens, the high trails can stay snowbound. The Highline was still closed on opening day in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Closing: The alpine section typically stays open until about the third Monday in October, weather permitting (NPS, Directions). Weather often cuts it short. In 2026 the park put in a temporary alpine closure from Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook on October 9, and by October 19 it listed the road as closed for the season at those two points (NPS park alerts, via the NPS data service). Summer weather also caused closures. In late June 2026, heavy rain and flooding closed the road and the Many Glacier valley for several days. The park expected to reopen the full road on the evening of June 30 (NPS, June 30, 2026). The alpine section was also closed from 5 p.m. Sept. 6 to about 2 p.m. Sept. 9 because of heavy rain and rockfall risk (NPS, Sept. 9, 2026).

Vehicle limits: No vehicle or combination longer than 21 feet (bumpers included) or wider than 8 feet (mirrors included) may drive between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun. Anything over 10 feet tall may have trouble westbound below Logan Pass because of rock overhangs (NPS, GTSR info). Leave the trailer at camp, or take US-2 around the south edge of the park.

Ordinary rental cars and SUVs fit under the limits; even a Chevrolet Suburban is about 19 feet long and 7.8 feet wide with mirrors, per Chevrolet. The rule mostly affects RVs, trailers and big passenger vans: a 12- or 15-passenger Ford Transit is 8.1 feet wide with its mirrors out, over the 8-foot limit, according to Ford’s specs. If you’re renting a van for a group, plan a different route than Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, or check whether the park runs a shuttle that year.

Get road alerts by text: send GNPROADS to 333111 (NPS).

Entrance fees

Source: NPS, Glacier Fees & Passes (page last updated Feb. 24, 2026). Glacier does not accept cash. The 2027 fee schedule hasn’t been published. As of Oct. 22, 2026, the fees page still showed the 2026 rates and the 2026 fee-free dates.

If you’re visiting more than one park in a year, the $80 America the Beautiful pass pays for itself by the third $35 vehicle entry. If Yellowstone is on the same trip, see our guide to visiting Yellowstone from Montana.

Entrances and drive times inside the park

Glacier has one big west-side gateway and several smaller east-side ones. The east side is where Many Glacier and Two Medicine are, and getting between the two sides takes longer than most people expect. Flying in? Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), near Kalispell, is about 30 miles from the West Entrance. You’ll want a car to get between the two sides of the park, so compare rental cars at FCA when you book your flights.

Source: NPS, Directions & Road Conditions. The park notes that times vary with traffic and construction.

• There’s no gas anywhere in the park. The only EV charging station is at Lake McDonald Lodge (NPS; Glacier National Park Lodges FAQ).
• Expect a line at the West Entrance at peak times. In 2026 the park warned of waits of up to 2 miles and 30 minutes (NPS, June 23, 2026).
• Getting there: Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell is about 30 miles from the West Entrance. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops year-round at West Glacier and seasonally at East Glacier Park (NPS).
• Waterton (Canada): St. Mary to Waterton Lakes National Park is about 50 miles and an hour, plus border delays. You need a passport. The Chief Mountain crossing is open only May 15 to Sept. 30 (NPS).

Shuttles and tours

The free park shuttle has changed almost every year. In 2024 and 2025 it ran first-come, first-served from July 1, with stops along the road. In 2026 it became the ticketed Logan Pass express described above. Check the shuttle page for whichever version runs in 2027.

Guided options listed by the park (NPS, Directions):

• Red Bus Tours (Glacier National Park Lodges/Xanterra): historic open-top buses along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
• Sun Tours: Blackfeet-led interpretive tours on 25-seat buses.
• Glacier Institute: educational van tours with short hikes.
• Boat tours (Glacier Park Boat Co.): at Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Rising Sun (St. Mary Lake) and Lake McDonald (NPS, Lodging, Restaurants & Services).

On a recent-years timed-entry setup, a booked tour or boat trip counted as your access. If you don’t want to deal with permits at all, browse a guided west-side Glacier driving tour from West Glacier, and check that the operator is authorized to work in the park.

If you’d rather drive it yourself, there’s a self-guided Going-to-the-Sun Road audio tour. It isn’t a park entry reservation, so you’ll still need one if reservations are required when you go.

Where to stay

Inside the park

Sources: NPS, Lodging, Restaurants & Services; Glacier National Park Lodges FAQ.

Things to know before you book an in-park room:

• Xanterra takes bookings up to 13 months ahead. On the 1st of each month it opens the same month of the following year. So the first chance at July 2027 rooms came on July 1, 2026, and August 2027 opens on August 1, 2026.
• The lodges are seasonal. They run roughly May through September, and each one opens and closes on its own dates.
• Room features: no air conditioning (fans are available), no TVs except in the Lake McDonald Lodge suites, and no pets.
• Dining is first-come, first-served with no reservations.
• Availability changes: Xanterra keeps no waitlist, but it notes that cancellations do come up.

Source for all of the above: Glacier National Park Lodges FAQ.

Camping

Glacier has 13 drive-in campgrounds (NPS, Camping). Most must be reserved on Recreation.gov, and the bookable dates open on a rolling basis six months ahead. Some campgrounds hold back a share of sites for shorter-notice booking. Apgar and Two Medicine, for example, release “a good handful” of sites four days out (Recreation.gov, Apgar; Two Medicine).

Site counts from the NPS campgrounds data service, retrieved Oct. 21, 2026. Reservation status from NPS Camping Information. The park lists summer camping fees as $15–$30 per night, and $8 per person at hiker/biker sites.

Rising Sun is same-day reservation only. The park’s campground listing says Rising Sun “requires a reservation” with a “0-day booking window.” Sites must be booked on Recreation.gov on the day of your stay. The park suggests booking before you enter, or using the public wifi at the St. Mary or Apgar visitor centers (NPS campground data; Recreation.gov, Rising Sun). The park’s general Camping Information page still lists Rising Sun as first-come, first-served, but the campground listing is the more specific source. Text GNPCGS to 333111 for alerts when campgrounds fill (NPS).

Before you reserve: RV length limits vary by campground. Only 25 sites at Apgar take rigs up to 40 feet, and only 13 at Many Glacier fit 35 feet. Hookups aren’t available anywhere (NPS Camping Information).

Construction closures on the east side:

• St. Mary Campground will be closed to all camping from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2027, for construction (NPS campground data).
• Two Medicine Campground was closed for all of 2026 for a water-system replacement.
• Two Medicine Road has been closed at Highway 49 since mid- to late September 2026 for a rehabilitation project that’s scheduled to finish in late 2027 and may run into 2028 (NPS, Road Construction and Infrastructure Project Work).

Check both pages before you plan an east-side trip for 2027.

Outside the park

Most visitors stay in the Flathead Valley (West Glacier, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell) or on the east side (St. Mary, East Glacier Park, Babb). To compare options, browse West Glacier hotels or Flathead Valley vacation rentals. We compare the towns, with drive times, in Where to Stay Near Glacier.

Montana adds an 8% lodging tax to hotel stays. In Whitefish and Columbia Falls, a 3% local resort tax also applies to lodging, restaurants and some retail. Our guide to Montana sales, lodging and resort taxes has the details.

Want to add a soak to the trip? Our Montana hot springs guide lists the state’s hot springs with their posted hours and day-pass prices.

A planning checklist for summer 2027

1. Now: if you want an in-park lodge, look at Xanterra’s booking calendar. Summer 2027 months open on the 1st of the same month in 2026, so May through October 2027 should already be open.
2. Six months out: campground windows open on Recreation.gov, one day at a time.
3. Late winter 2027: watch for the park’s 2027 operations announcement. In 2026 it came on February 18.
4. If tickets or reservations return: book the first release window, then the 7 p.m. next-day release as a backup. Both windows were used in 2026.
5. When you book flights: reserve a rental car, ideally one with free cancellation, then re-check prices closer to the trip. Compare rental cars at FCA.
6. Want a guide? The park lists boat tours on four lakes, and the four rafting companies it lists for the Middle and North Forks are based in West Glacier.
7. The week before: download offline maps and save your tickets. Plan your gas stops, because there’s none in the park.

Thinking about staying longer? Read Moving to Montana in 2027 and Cost of Living in Kalispell & the Flathead Valley.

Frequently asked questions

Are vehicle reservations required for Glacier National Park in 2027?

Not announced yet. As of November 3, 2026, the National Park Service’s Glacier pages still describe only the 2026 rules, and the park has called its 2026 changes a pilot that continues to be refined (NPS, Vehicle Reservations in 2026; NPS, Sept. 8, 2026). The 2026 plan was announced on February 18, 2026 (NPS), so late winter is when to look again. Check back here and on the NPS Glacier pages before you book.

Did Glacier require a vehicle reservation in 2026?

No. NPS said vehicle reservations were not required at Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Two Medicine or the North Fork in 2026. Instead, parking at Logan Pass was limited to three hours from July 1 through September 7, 2026, and a ticketed Logan Pass shuttle ran on those dates. Shuttle tickets were sold only on Recreation.gov, for a $1 non-refundable processing fee per ticket (NPS, Visiting Logan Pass in 2026; Recreation.gov).

What did a Glacier vehicle reservation cover in 2024 and 2025?

In 2025, a vehicle reservation was needed for Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance (past Apgar) and for the North Fork, June 13 to September 28, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. In 2024 it covered the west side past Apgar through September 8, the North Fork, and Many Glacier from July 1, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Neither year required one from St. Mary. These are past rules, not a forecast for 2027 (NPS, 2025; NPS, 2024).

When does Going-to-the-Sun Road open?

There is no fixed date. NPS says the entire road does not usually open until late June at the earliest. It fully opened June 22 in 2026, and between June 13 and July 13 in each of the last ten years. The latest openings were July 13 in 2020 and 2022. The road is open year-round near the West Entrance (NPS, Directions; NPS, June 2026 release; NPS, opening and closing dates).

When does Going-to-the-Sun Road close for the season?

NPS says the alpine sections typically close for winter around the third Monday of October, and can close earlier in wintry weather (NPS, Directions). Sign up for road alerts by texting GNPROADS to 333111.

How much does it cost to enter Glacier National Park?

NPS lists a standard entrance pass at $20 to $35 depending on season and how you enter. A private vehicle is $35, or $25 from November 1 to April 30, and the pass is good for seven days. The park does not accept cash. NPS had not published 2027 fees when this page was last checked (NPS, Fees & Passes).

How long does it take to drive from West Glacier to St. Mary?

NPS estimates 50 miles and 2 hours on Going-to-the-Sun Road, or 90 miles and 2 hours by U.S. 2 and U.S. 89. Times vary with traffic and construction (NPS, Directions).

Can an RV or large van drive Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Only if it fits. Vehicles or combinations longer than 21 feet (bumpers included) or wider than 8 feet (mirrors included) are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, and vehicles over 10 feet tall may have trouble driving west from Logan Pass because of rock overhangs (NPS, Directions).

Sources

1. NPS Glacier, Vehicle Reservations in 2026: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm
2. NPS Glacier, Visiting Logan Pass in 2026: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/visiting-loganpass-2026.htm
3. NPS Glacier, “Glacier National Park Announces 2026 Summer Operations” (Feb. 18, 2026): https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacier-national-park-announces-2026-summer-operations.htm
4. NPS Glacier, “Updates on the 2026 Shuttle System and Logan Pass Parking” (Sept. 8, 2026): https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacier-national-park-provides-updates-on-the-2026-shuttle-system-and-logan-pass-parking.htm
5. NPS Glacier, “Going-to-the-Sun Road Open for the 2026 Season”: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/going-to-the-sun-road-open-for-the-2026-season.htm
6. NPS Glacier, “Going-to-the-Sun Road Open for the 2025 Season”: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/going-to-the-sun-road-open-for-the-2025-season.htm
7. NPS Glacier, “Going-to-the-Sun Road Open for 2024 Season”: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/going-to-the-sun-road-open-for-2024-season.htm
8. NPS Glacier, “Going-to-the-Sun Road Opens for the 2023 Season”: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/going-to-the-sun-road-opens-for-the-2023-season.htm
9. NPS Glacier, Logan Pass Opening and Closing Dates (historic table): https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/logan-pass-opening-and-closing-dates.htm
10. NPS Glacier, Going-to-the-Sun Road General Info: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm
11. NPS Glacier, Directions, Transportation & Road Conditions: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm
12. NPS Glacier, Fees & Passes: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/fees.htm
13. NPS Glacier, Lodging, Restaurants, and Services: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/lodgingrestaurantsservices.htm
14. NPS Glacier, Camping and Camping Information: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/camping.htm and https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/camping-information.htm
15. NPS Data API (campgrounds, alerts, news releases for parkCode=glac), retrieved Oct. 21, 2026: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/developer/api-documentation.htm
16. NPS Glacier, “Park Provides Updates on Reopening Areas of the Park After Flooding” (June 30, 2026) and “Announces Reopening of the Alpine Sections” (Sept. 9, 2026): https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacier-national-park-provides-updates-on-reopening-areas-of-the-park-after-flooding.htm and https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacier-national-park-announces-reopening-of-the-alpine-sections.htm
17. Recreation.gov, Apgar Campground: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10171274
18. Recreation.gov, Two Medicine Campground: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/258799; Rising Sun Campground: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10363618
19. Glacier National Park Lodges (Xanterra), FAQs: https://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/plan-your-trip/faqs/
20. Recreation.gov (Logan Pass shuttle tickets were sold only here in 2026): https://www.recreation.gov/

Cole Bennett edits MontanaHelp, a research-driven guide to moving to and living in Montana. Articles cite official and public sources and are updated as rules and data change. AI tools help research and draft them; a person runs the editorial process and spot-checks one article from each batch before it’s published.