Planning a trip to Glacier National Park? Figuring out the vehicle registration and pass system can feel like a hassle, but I have you covered. I have been through it and lay out the essential details you need to know in this guide.
From sorting out where to enter to understanding the pass system, this article breaks it down so you can get in hassle-free and enjoy the gorgeous beauty of Glacier National Park. Dive into the below for this straightforward information and hit the sightseeing road without any unnecessary bumps.
What you need to get into Glacier National Park.
To enter Glacier National Park, you need two things. First, you need a park vehicle or individual entrance pass.
Second—if you plan to enter a restricted entrance area of the park from late May through early September after 6 AM or before 3 PM, you need a vehicle, lodging, or in-park activity reservation (e.g., boat tours, horseback riding, sightseeing tour, etc.) to gain access.
7 Glacier National Park entrances.
Glacier National Park has seven vehicle entrances, each varying in proximity and travel time from your origin point. Given the enormous size of this park, driving from one entrance to another may take anywhere from one hour to three hours or more.
Click on the map below with the circled entrances to see more detail.
3 Glacier National Park entrances that require vehicle reservations.
As of the 2024 season, these three Glacier National Park entrances limit vehicle access from 6 AM to 3 PM during the busiest parts of the summer season—late May through early September.
- West Glacier: The West Glacier entrance, recognized as the busiest, offers the most extensive lodging and services, serving as a primary gateway to the renowned Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Many Glacier: In the northeast corner—find the Many Glacier entrance, with access to its beautiful lakes and hiking, with limited lodging and services available.
- Polebridge: Venturing northwest, discover the Polebridge entrance, adjacent to the small town of Polebridge, which serves as a tranquil gateway to the North Fork, the park’s most remote section.
Vehicles can enter through these gates if drivers have a pre-purchased one-day vehicle reservation, an official concessionaire activity ticket, or an accommodation booking for that area.
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4 Glacier National Park entrances that do not require a vehicle reservation.
Beginning in the 2024 season these four Glacier National Park entrances do not require a vehicle reservation.
- St. Mary: In the east, the quieter St. Mary entrance provides access to the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road and some lodging and services.
- Two Medicine: Towards the southeast, the Two Medicine entrance provides entry to its eponymous area, with a small selection of accommodations and services in the nearby town of East Glacier.
- Camas Creek: Situated on the western side, Camas Creek is a more remote and less-traveled entrance that is accessible via the North Fork Road (Highway 486), where the final 10 miles are unpaved.
- Cut Bank: Lastly, the Cut Bank entrance, about a 30-minute drive south of the St. Mary entrance, is the least frequented gateway, offering access to a campground and backcountry trails.
Vehicles can enter through these gates without a reservation. However, visitors must have an entrance pass, which can be purchased online or in person at the gates.
As the vehicle reservation requirements at Glacier National Park have changed frequently over the last several years, check the official Glacier website vehicle reservation page for any in-season updates to the policy.
Which Glacier National Park entrance pass to get?
Every vehicle or individual entering Glacier National Park must purchase an entrance pass. These passes cost between $20 to $35 and are valid for seven days. If you need a pass for longer, you can buy an annual Glacier National Park pass for unlimited entry. Buy all passes at the park entrance or online.
Or you can enter Glacier National Park using an annual or lifetime interagency National Parks Pass, which provides access to all US national parks and federal recreation lands. You can buy these passes in person at the park or online.
Discounted or free National Parks entrance passes are available for the military, seniors, fourth-grade families, the disabled, and federal land volunteers with accrued hours. See the chart for park discounts below.
7 essential things to know about Glacier entrance reservations.
For the past several years, Glacier National Park has been piloting a vehicle reservation system to control the flow of visitors so that it can protect its fragile environment and create a more enjoyable experience for all. Each new visitor season—based on data and usage from the previous year—park leadership adjusts the program.
Here are seven essential things you need to know about the Glacier National Park vehicle reservation system:
- Three entrances require reservations: For the current year, vehicle reservations are required for only the West Glacier, Many Glacier, and Polebridge entrances.
- Reservation dates: The reservation system kicks in late May, lasting through early September. See the Glacier National Park vehicle reservation page for specific dates.
- Reservation times of day: During these summer months, you must have a vehicle reservation to enter the three restricted park entrances between 6 AM and 3 PM. You can gain entry before and after these times without a reservation.
- One-day passes: Vehicle reservations are one-day passes you can purchase in advance. Get them here.
- Reservations do not transfer across days or entrances: You need to buy a separate reservation for each day you want to enter through a restricted area. Additionally, you will need to purchase individual reservations for each restricted entrance.
- In-park ticketed activities may substitute as a reservation: If you have tickets for an official park concessionaire activity, like a boat ride, driving tour, or horseback riding, within a restricted area—you do not need a vehicle reservation. Your activity ticket, which you will show to rangers at the entrance gate, will gain you access.
- In-park lodging stays grant access to restricted entrances: If you have in-park lodging booked in a restricted area of the park, you will not need a vehicle reservation to enter through that area. Your accommodation booking will gain you access for the days of your stay.
Glacier no longer requires vehicle reservations or implements restrictions at the less crowded other four entrances, which include the St. Mary and Two Medicine entrances. However—be sure to check the Glacier Park website vehicle reservation page for any in-season updates to this policy.
How to get a Glacier National Park vehicle reservation.
Although a Glacier National Park vehicle reservation is inexpensive (~$2), it requires the right timing and some effort. To pre-purchase a reservation, visit this Recreation.gov page.
A portion of vehicle reservations will be available 120 days in advance, starting at 8 AM MST on a rolling basis. The remaining vehicle reservations will be available on Recreation.gov at 7 PM MST for the next day. Get the most up-to-date information on the Glacier National Park website, including any changes to the vehicle registration program.
Otherwise, reserved in-park lodging or bookings for official park concessionaire activities, such as boat rides, driving tours, and horseback riding, will allow you to bypass the need for a vehicle reservation to a restricted area. To gain entry, you will show proof of your booking for that day to the rangers at the gate.
How to enter Glacier National Park without a vehicle reservation.
If you plan to visit Glacier National Park between late May and early September, which falls into its restricted access window, and you cannot get a vehicle reservation, have no fear. If you are an early riser, arrive at a restricted park entrance before 6 AM and before a reservation is required so you can enter without one.
If this sounds brutally early, it can be. However, even though we had a vehicle reservation during our early July visit to Glacier, we got up this early several times to make it to activities. We found it relatively easy to do so, especially given the anticipation of more time in the park. Plus—we did it with a cranky 13-year-old whose preferred wake-up time is 1 PM. Fortunately, she loves a good hike and hoped to see a bear (which, fortunately, we did not see), so she rallied.
Or, instead, you can sleep in and visit after 3 PM, keeping in mind that in the height of the summer months, the sun sets on Glacier National Park close to 10 PM, so you will still have hours of daylight.
Alternatively, plan your visit to enjoy time in the unrestricted entrance areas of the park, which includes the very pretty Two Medicine area. Or take a long drive around and enter through another entrance.
During high season, you can also access restricted entrances when you book in-park lodging within that area. Or if you pre-purchased tickets for an official park concessionaire activity, like boat rides, driving tours, and horseback riding in that area. Your proof of lodging or activity bookings will double as a vehicle reservation.
Related Reading
If you are planning a Glacier trip, check out these related articles. Get more information, ideas, and resources to plan better travel and get out the door with less hassle.
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Feedback & questions.
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