Do I Need a Reservation to Visit Glacier National Park?
Glacier National Park’s popular Going-to-the-Sun Road, the North Fork, Two Medicine and Many Glacier areas of the park will require a reservation to enter during summer peak hours.
Visitors to Glacier National Park in 2023 will need to use a reservation system to access portions of the park during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. From west entrances, reservations are required from May 26 through September 10, 2023. From east entrances, reservations are required from July 1 through September 10, 2023. This special reservation is in addition to your park entrance fee. You may visit these areas of the park without a reservation before or after peak hours.
- Going-to-the-Sun Road: You will need one reservation per vehicle to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the West and Camas entrances, May 26 through September 10, 2023 and at the St. Mary Entrance, July 1 through September 10, 2023. and the new Camas Entrance. It will be good for three days. Between Apgar and Lake McDonald Lodge, there will be a full road closure from October 1, 2022 to May 26, 2023 due to construction, as well as additional bridge work in 2023. Read more at www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/projectwork.htm.
- North Fork: You will need a separate one-day reservation per vehicle at the Polebridge Ranger Station to visit the North Fork area of the park from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 26 through September 10, 2023.
- The Many Glacier area of the park will also require one-day reservations for the 2023 season, July 1 through September 10, 2023, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The Two Medicine area of the park will also require one-day reservations for the 2023 season, July 1 through September 10, 2023, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Most reservations become available on recreation.gov 120 days in advance at 8 a.m. MDT. The remainder of reservations are released the day before at 8 a.m. MDT, also on recreation.gov. You may also call the reservation line at 877-444-6777, International 606-515-6777, TDD 877-833-6777. Although the park does not charge for the reservations, recreation.gov charges a $2 nonrefundable service fee. The reservation is required in addition to a park pass. Reservations are expected to sell-out quickly, so be sure to grab yours as soon as the advanced window opens for your desired date.
Visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the reservation areas can use their lodging or activity reservation for entry in lieu of a $2 vehicle reservation.
The entry reservations are hoping to curb the famous traffic on Going-to-the-Sun Road. (Download a PDF map)
In 2020, temporary closures were required 29 times at the West Entrance. The reservation system, in its third year in 2023, hopes to alleviate that and allow visitors peace of mind that they’ll be able to access the park when they plan to.
Reservations won’t guarantee a parking spot at some of the more crowded parking lots like Avalanche, Logan Pass and St. Mary Falls. For your best bet at snagging a parking spot, enter the park early in the morning, or late in the evening. During Montana summers daylight lasts for 15 or 16 hours, so there’s plenty of time to explore if you get out early or stay out late.
For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrticketedentry.htm