Glacier National Park and Going-to-the-Sun Road

In 2025, a timed-entry vehicle reservation is required for two areas of the park: the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork. Each location requires a separate reservation.

Every vehicle entering the Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond the Apgar Village area from June 13 through September 28, 2025, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., will need to have a timed-entry vehicle reservation.

New in 2025, visitors will enter the park according to the time block they have reserved and can remain in the park for as long as they like on the day of their reservation. Visitors without reservations can enter after 3 p.m. Multiple 2-to-3-hour time blocks will be available between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Additional information regarding time blocks will be announced in the coming months.

Reservations will not be required at the St. Mary entrance for the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Every vehicle entering the park in the North Fork area through the Polebridge entrance from June 13 to September 28, 2025, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., will also need a timed-entry vehicle reservation. New in 2025, visitors will enter the park according to the time block they have reserved and can remain in the park for as long as they like on the day of their reservation. Visitors without reservations can enter after 3 p.m. Multiple 2-to-3-hour time blocks will be available between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Additional information regarding time blocks will be announced in the coming months.

Again, the Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork timed-entry vehicle reservations are two separate reservations.

Timed-entry vehicle reservations will be available through two types of booking windows. A portion of reservations will be available 120-days in advance on a rolling basis. These advance reservations will be available through recreation.gov at 8 a.m. Mountain Time starting February 12, 2025. The remaining reservations will be available at 7 p.m. Mountain Time for next-day entry starting on June 12, 2025.

Timed-entry vehicle reservations must be purchased online at recreation.gov in advance or by contacting the call center at 877.444.6777 (toll-free), 606.515.6777 (international) or 877.833.6777 (TDD). Although the park does not charge for reservations, recreation.gov charges a $2 nonrefundable service fee.

You will only need one timed-entry vehicle reservation no matter how many people are traveling in your vehicle.

You cannot give or sell your timed-entry vehicle reservation to someone else. The purchaser of the reservation must be in the vehicle entering the park. Someone else will be able to make a reservation on your behalf. See more info here.

Print or save a digital copy (e.g., screenshot) of your vehicle reservation or valid service reservation. Cell service is unreliable (and in some areas unavailable) in the park.

In addition to a vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any one of the following: a $35 vehicle pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass (including Military, Access, Senior, and Every Kid Outdoors passes).

You can enter the park from any entrance after 3 p.m. or before 7 a.m. Fortunately, it stays light until after 10 p.m. in the summertime in Montana.

You can enter the park from the St. Mary or Two Medicine entrances.

You can park in Apgar and take the free shuttles further into the park. Summer shuttle service begins July 1 and continues through Labor Day.

You can sign up for “Availability Alerts” on recreation.gov to get notified via email if someone else cancels their reservation and an entry time becomes available. Learn more here.

There are plenty of amazing things to do and see just outside the park. For inspiration, visit our Outside the Park page.

In 2025, you will encounter extremely limited parking in the Many Glacier Valley due to a construction closure in the Swiftcurrent area. The construction zone is closed to ALL traffic until mid-May 2026; the only available parking is at Many Glacier Hotel. More information about 2025 visitor access options will be announced at a later date.

Yes! Glacier National Park runs shuttles along the Going-to-the-Sun Road from Apgar Visitor Center to St. Mary Visitor Center. Find out more information, including stops and schedules, here.

Approximately 50 miles between its west entrance at West Glacier and its east entrance at St. Mary. The length of time it takes you will depend. There are various points of interest along the length of the road, as well as short hikes, if you’re inclined to pull over. Without stopping, it takes about two hours, but always plan for more time due to traffic congestion.

Weather and road conditions in the park can be unpredictable. If you are at the park, you can consult the rangers at the Logan Pass Visitor Center, Apgar Visitor Center or the St. Mary Visitor Center. Find out trail status here. Find out road status here. Find out campground status here.

One way to stay up-to-date is to sign up to receive Glacier National Park notifications via text:

• For TRAIL updates, closures and postings, text GNPTRAILS to 333111.
• For CAMPGROUND updates and fill notifications, text GNPCGS to 333111.
• For ROAD updates, including openings and closures, text GNPROADS to 333111.

West, Camas and North Fork Entrances:
From Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls, use the west entrance in West Glacier, which provides access to the Lake McDonald area, Park Headquarters and the Apgar Visitor Center, and is the only west entry point to the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

From Kalispell, head 30 miles northeast on U.S. Highway 2.

The west entrance in West Glacier is about 25 miles from Whitefish. Head south on U.S. Highway 93, turn left onto State Highway 40 E and continue onto U.S. Highway 2 E.

The west entrance is about 15 miles from Columbia Falls on U.S. 2 E.

The North Fork entrance is about 35 miles from Columbia Falls. From Highway 2, turn right onto Nucleus Drive, which becomes Outer North Fork Road. Take this mostly dirt road the 35 miles to Polebridge and hang a right. The Ranger Station lies just up the road from the mercantile.

The Camas entrance is 14 miles south of Polebridge on the North Fork Road.

St. Mary, Two Medicine and Many Glacier Entrances:
From Great Falls and Browning, use the St. Mary, Two Medicine or Many Glacier entrances, which can all be reached by taking Highway 89 north from Great Falls to Browning (125 miles) and then following the signs to the respective entrance.

The St. Mary entrance provides access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road as well as the St. Mary Visitor Center and services at Rising Sun.

The Many Glacier entrance provides access to the Many Glacier Valley and visitor services at the Many Glacier Hotel and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.

For more information, as well as details about entering the park by car, train or shuttle, visit the National Park Service website.

Yes. Vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet and wider than 8 feet (including mirrors) are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun. Due to rock overhangs, vehicle and vehicle combinations more than 10 feet may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass to the Loop.

Glacier National Park is wild country, and wildlife may be present anywhere along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are typically seen near Logan Pass. Wildlife can often be spotted in the Many Glacier Valley—north of the east entrance at St. Mary. Don’t get too close! Wildlife is just that—wild. Do not approach wildlife. Visitors are required to keep a distance of at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from any other wildlife, including nesting birds. Visit our wildlife safety page for more information about viewing wildlife safely.

Vehicle reservations have alleviated many of the park’s overcrowding problems. However, vehicle reservations and service reservations do not guarantee parking spaces in popular areas. Expect the possibility of congested and busy conditions throughout the park, and always have a backup plan.

Plan ahead. Book rental cars, accommodations and activities well in advance.

From Whitefish, Browning or Cut Bank, you can take Amtrak’s Empire Builder—trips depart daily—to West Glacier or East Glacier Park. From there you can walk to Glacier Park Lodge and take either a Red Bus Tour or a Sun Tour along the Going-to-the-Sun Road (tours only run at specific times, and you will need to make reservations in advance).

Glacier Institute offers guided sightseeing tours into the park starting from Whitefish.

A note on Uber and Lyft: They are available, but in most areas of Glacier National Park you likely won’t have enough cell service to order a driver, and even if you do, there’s no guarantee one will be willing to drive so far from “town” to pick you up. So, while it’s possible to use Uber/Lyft in our area, we definitely recommend using them for airport and town needs and making shuttle reservations to travel to Glacier National Park.

Yes, although amenities are limited in the spring, fall and winter months. Find out more about visiting during the off-season here.

Late spring is great time to visit because you can bike or hike the Going-to-the-Sun Road before it opens to vehicles. Find out more about spring opportunities here.

In mid to late September and early October (weather permitting) you can drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road amid fall colors. Find out more about fall opportunities here.

In the winter, the park is a Nordic skiing and snowshoeing wonderland, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to vehicles. Amenities are very limited. Find out more about winter opportunities here.

Educate yourself! Familiarize yourself with the park’s five different entrances and the activities and amenities available at each. Learn about the park’s history and its importance to local tribes. Your visit will be much more enjoyable if you have a plan for what you want to see and do.

If you plan to hike, know your limitations. If you are new to hiking at high elevations, then look for trails that are 5 miles or less and do not have much elevation gain. Dress in layers and carry a pack with food and water. Bring bear spray and know how to use it.

Always follow park rules and recreate responsibly.

Yes! Both motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed on certain lakes but must be inspected for aquatic invasive species first. Find out more here.