Glacier National Park Reservations in 2025 (with FAQs)
This guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners.
When exploring the outdoors, I encourage you to follow Leave No Trace Principles and be respectful of where you are so we can preserve these spaces for future generations. ♥️
Confused about Glacier National Park reservations this year for your trip?
When I was younger, there wasn’t a need for Glacier National Park reservations! The park used to be pretty quiet, and you didn’t have to worry about finding parking spaces or a vehicle reservation. I still remember hiking the Avalanche Lake trail without any crowds and having the beach to ourselves–there was always room in the parking lot!
However, Glacier has now had reservations for the past few years–and it continues to change as the park tries to figure out the best way to manage crowds while also encouraging a positive experience for visitors. This means that there is a lot more planning involved!
Even I’ve had trouble keeping up sometimes, and I’m constantly on the Glacier National Park website keeping updated on the tweaks they make year to year. In 2025, Glacier has also removed some reservation requirements for certain areas that needed them last year, as well as changed some of the times you need them.
But don’t worry! With a bit of planning and some knowledge of why the park is requiring reservations, you can still have the trip of a lifetime in Glacier–and you’ll be dealing with fewer crowds too!
In summary: This article covers the basics of the reservation system, why the park has one, and some frequently-asked questions I get from readers about navigating it.
Quick tip: Don’t want to deal with the reservations at all? Consider the shoulder seasons when the park is quieter–no tickets needed!
Overview of Glacier National Park reservations in 2025
Over the past few years, Glacier National Park has implemented a reservation system to curb the number of people going through the park. The park has exploded in visitation (it is now the tenth most-visited national park in the system) and this has put strain on the environment and park staff.
A reservation system was first introduced in 2022, and it has changed every year as the park receives new data on visitation and looks over the needs of the ecology of the region. In 2025, you will need reservations for two areas of the park: Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork.
There have also been several changes since 2024. These include that you do not need reservations for the Many Glacier area of the park, you can enter the park at 7:00 am instead 6:00 am to avoid reservations, and you are now required to book a timed slot.
Why Glacier National Park has a vehicle entry reservation system
As I mentioned before, the park was experiencing an overwhelming number of visitors over the past few years. This has caused a lot of damage to park facilities and the environment and has made it difficult to assist visitors while there.
From the Glacier National Park website:
“In 2025 we are continuing successful measures from the 2024 season, including access to Apgar Village, Two Medicine, and the East Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road outside of the vehicle reservation system. Within that successful framework we are going to try timed entry to see if we can minimize congestion, optimize visitor arrival, and improve visitor experiences.”
Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer
Personally, I am all for the reservation system and have noticed a big difference in the quality of the experience for visitors, as well as maintaining the park for future generations. Which, as you can guess, is super important to me!
Need help planning your national park trip?
I offer custom national park itinerary planning as a service to help you make the most of your adventures! These itineraries cover everything from where to stay, eat, what to do, and more!
How to get Glacier National Park reservations for 2024
Unlike last year, tickets are now released on a rolling basis 120 days before your planned dates of entry, with a limited number available at 7:00 am MT the day before beginning June 12, 2025. These reservations are required from June 13, 2025 until September 28, 2025.
If you are planning your trip ahead of time, you will need to log onto the Recreation.gov website 120 days before your dates. I recommend doing it right as that day’s tickets become available at 8:00 am MT in order to have a better chance of grabbing them. They sell out very fast! This starts February 12, 2025.
Quick tip: Create a Recreation.gov account before you plan on purchasing tickets so you have quick checkout!
Once you have your tickets ready to checkout, you will need to pay a $2 fee through the site. Credit and debit cards are the only accepted form of payment.
You will get a confirmation of your reservation for those dates, which you also have access to on the Recreation.gov app. On the day you plan on entering, you will need to show your ticket at the entrance checkpoint.
If you are looking to grab reservations the day before you plan on entering the park, they go on sale at 7:00 am MT on recreation.gov. These sell out even faster than the advanced tickets, so you want to make sure you are on the site or app right at that time.
Quick tip: I recommend printing this out since service inside of the park is limited–you want to be able to access your reservations as needed!
Types of reservations for Glacier National Park in 2025
In 2025, Glacier National Park has two different reservation systems for two different areas of the park. I’ll dive into each one since they are all a little unique and so you have any easier time planning for what you’ll need.
Going-to-the-Sun Road reservations
In order to drive the main road through the park from the west side near West Glacier, you will need a ticket for entry. These go on sale February 12, 2025 for dates in June, and can be purchased 120 days in advance from your planned dates of entry. These reservations are based on a time block system, meaning you will choose a time and enter then.
The dates you will need this ticket for run from June 13, 2025 to September 28, 2025 between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:00 pm MT. This ticket allows you access to the main attractions in the park, including the Avalanche Lake hike, Highline Trail, Logan Pass, and more.
Like in 2024, you can access Apgar Village and the south shore of Lake McDonald without needing a reservation. You are also given access to the Apgar Transit Center where you can catch the Glacier National Park shuttle. That means, like last year, you can use the shuttle without needing a reservation.
You can travel Going-to-the-Sun Road from east to west without a reservation by entering at St. Mary. If needed, you can drive around the south boundary of the park and enter from the east side.
Similar to last year, if you have booked any lodging or campsites located on Going-to-the-Sun Road past Apgar such as Lake McDonald Lodge, that serves as your reservation ticket. This is also true for any commercially-approved tours located in the area, such as boat tours on Lake McDonald or St. Mary Lake.
Reservations for lodging or camping in Apgar do not provide access to Going-to-the-Sun Road without a ticket.
North Fork reservations
The North Fork reservation system also remains similar to previous years. Reservations are required from the dates between June 13, 2025 and September 28, 2025 from the hours of 7:00 am until 3:00 pm MT. These can also be purchased on the Recreation.gov website 120 days before entry. They are also based on a time slot basis.
Any campsite reservations in the North Fork area also serve as your entry ticket.
Construction in Many Glacier
While you do not need a reservation for Many Glacier in 2025, there is planned construction in the Swiftcurrent area of Many Glacier. This means that there is limited parking since you are required to park at the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot. Just keep this in mind when planning your hikes and exploring Many Glacier!
The park is looking for additional solutions for overflow parking.
Join the community! Love the outdoors? Join my free Facebook community where we chat and share information about national parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more! JOIN HERE!
Glacier National Park reservations FAQs
Here’s all you need to know for Glacier National Park reservations in 2025 when planning your Glacier National Park itinerary.
You will need a reservation for Glacier depending on what you plan on doing in the park. If you are checking out some of the best things to do in Glacier like Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west side or the Hidden Lake Overlook, then you will need a reservation.
If you are planning on exploring a less-visited area like Two Medicine or you want to enter Going-to-the-Sun Road on the east side at St. Mary, a reservation is not required. As of this year, you also do not need a reservation to access the Glacier National Park shuttle at Apgar Village.
You also do not need them outside designated dates (I’ll get into that a little more later) and before 7:00 am MT and 3:00 pm MT.
Reservations are required for three areas of the park in 2024. These include:
- Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west side
- North Fork
This map from the National Park Service shows which areas require reservations visually:
Unlike last year when the park released the in blocks, tickets are now released on a rolling basis 120 days before preferred dates of entry.
This means that you have to do a bit more planning than you might have in the past and to have your dates locked in so you know which days you’ll need to have reservations.
Quick tip: Set a calendar alert on your phone–this always helps me remember to get my reservations on time!
You can get into Glacier without reservations in several ways. One is by entering the park at the entrances that require reservations before 7:00 am MT or after 3:00 pm MT.
Another way you can enter the park via Going-to-the-Sun Road is by entering on the east side at St. Mary. Reservations are not required at this entrance.
You can also book tours from approved partners. Visitors also do not require entry reservations if they have a campground or lodging booked.
All reservations in 2025 last for a single day once you have entered during your chosen time slot. You will need to book a ticket for each day you plan on being in the park.
You can drive through the park via Going-to-the-Sun Road without a reservation by entering the east entrance at St. Mary.
You will need a park pass to enter all areas of the park in addition to your reservations for the areas that need them.
You can purchase a 7-day pass for $35, an annual Glacier pass for $70, or my recommended option of a year-long annual parks pass for $80. If you plan on visiting more than one park within a year, this is the way to go!
New to 2024, you can now take the Glacier National Park shuttle without having to have vehicle reservations.
You can board the shuttle at either the Apgar Transit Center in Apgar Village or the St. Mary Transit Center at St. Mary.
Keep in mind that you will still need your park pass to enter these areas.
Don’t worry! It’s not the end of the world if you can’t get your reservations!
You have several options for getting into the park. The one I most usually recommend is to enter the park before 7:00 am MT, or after 3:00 pm MT. The truth is that the most popular areas and things to do in the park are often packed after the early morning anyway–Logan Pass will be a zoo after 7:00 am anyway.
Another is to book a tour with a licensed tour provider. This tour reservation will serve as your ticket for the area of the park where the tour runs for that day. I’ve included a list of tour providers later on in the FAQs that qualify.
Quick tip: It might be tempting to skip the tour and do your own thing, but I highly recommend going–you can get some great insight into the park from knowledgable guides!
Booking a tour from an approved tour provider can serve as your reservation ticket for your day in the park. Here are a few things you should know before you book your tour, though:
- This only allows you access without a reservation to the area of where the tour is being run (i.e. Lake McDonald boat tour serves Going-to-the-Sun Road, Swiftcurrent Lake boat tour serves the Many Glacier area).
- Tours must be booked from a Glacier National Park approved tour provider.
Here is an approved list of tour providers that offer entry to the park via their tours:
Yes–lodging can exempt you from needing a vehicle reservation. These must be booked from approved park lodging and they allow you access within the area you are staying.
Here is a list of lodging in each area of the park that offers an exemption from needing vehicle reservations:
West Side (Going-to-the-Sun Road)
Yes–like lodging reservations, camping reservations exempt you from needing vehicle reservations in the area you are staying. I have a full list of campgrounds on my post on Glacier National Park camping article.
Yes. Like lodging and front-country campgrounds, backcountry camping reservations allow you access to the area you have reservations for without the need of a vehicle reservations.
No–vehicle reservations do not guarantee parking spaces at any of the major trailheads or attractions. That’s why I recommend entering early since you’re much more likely to get the parking spots you need!
No. If you have a special events permit for a wedding, commercial photography permit, or any other permit that falls into the category, you do not need reservations.
Quick tip: Make sure to print these out to show at the reservation checkpoints so you don’t have to worry about the limited cell service!
Reservation tickets for all areas of the park cost $2 on Recreation.gov. You will need to pay this fee for each day that you need reservations.
You will also need your park pass for entry, which rages from $35 to $80 depending on which pass you want to purchase.
Conclusion
While Glacier National Park reservations can be complicated, with a little planning you can figure out what you need for certain days and how to take the frustration out of the process. I’ve tried to create a comprehensive article that addresses the questions I most commonly get from readers and clients about the reservation system.
Of course, if you have any questions, feel free to comment below or reach out and I’ll be happy to answer!
National Park essentials
You’ll need to enter: National parks pass 🎟️
Document your trip: National parks journal ✏️
Wear your national parks love: National parks shirts 👕
