Worried about Glacier National Park ticketed entry and how it might affect your trip? You’re not alone.
Every year, travelers get caught off guard by the park’s entry reservation system – missing out on Going-to-the-Sun Road access or scrambling for last-minute solutions.
I know the system well and I’ve helped many others plan around it. I know which rules are easy to overlook, what times sell out first, and what to do if you miss a reservation. I’ve seen how frustrating it can be – but I’ve also figured out how to navigate it smoothly.
This is best for anyone planning a summer visit to Glacier, especially if it’s your first time or you’re trying to visit multiple areas of the park.
Quick tip? Different areas of the park require separate reservations — and yes, which areas require reservations keeps changing each year!
In this updated 2025 guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how Glacier National Park ticketed entry works, which areas require reservations (and when), how to get them, and what to do if you can’t.
Let’s make sure you get those breathtaking Going-to-the-Sun Road views without the stress.
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Table of Contents
Type of entry tickets/ reservations
There are three separate tickets needed:
1) Going To The Sun Road (West – Agpar – Entrance only)
Glacier National Park reservations are required to enter the Going to the Sun Road between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm (a change from 6:00am in 2024) via the West Glacier (Agpar) Entrance. Reservations valid for 1 day. Note that there is no timed entry requirement for the east St. Mary Entrance to the park in 2025.
You can access Apgar Village amenities, including the Apgar Visitor Center, without a vehicle reservation.
2) North Fork
One ticket per vehicle is required at the Polebridge Ranger Station between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm to visit the North Fork area of the park (also a change from 6:00am in 2024). Reservations valid for 1 day.
3) Many Glacier Valley
The Swiftcurrent area of Many Glacier Valley will be closed to public access during the summer of 2025 due to ongoing construction. The closure will greatly reduce the amount of available parking in Many Glacier Valley.
Due to extremely limited parking during construction in the Swiftcurrent area, you will NOT be able to drive into Many Glacier this summer. Instead, there will be a temporary shuttle service for hikers to access Many Glacier and Swiftcurrent from July 1, 2025, to September 21, 2025. The hiker shuttle service will be available to around 120 groups per day, limited by parking, and only available to reserve on short notice.
Shuttle tickets will be available seven days in advance each morning at 8:00 am, starting on June 24, and at 7:00 pm the night before entry, starting on June 30. This is separate from the timed entry permit system, but you’ll get your ticket on Recreation.gov. Time blocks for shuttle boarding and details on the daily shuttle service will be announced in late spring. Only one shuttle ticket is required per vehicle and will admit all members of the party included in the vehicle.
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Guide to Glacier National Park Ticketed Entry
Hikers with a shuttle ticket will park at one of several designated pull-outs, transformed into temporary parking lots, along the Many Glacier Road. Hikers will board the shuttle from their parking location for a 15–30-minute ride to Many Glacier Hotel. Shuttles will stop near the Many Glacier Entrance station where park entry passes will be validated prior to entry.
There will be no general public entrance into Many Glacier between July 1 and September 21, 2025, without a shuttle ticket, or commercial service or lodging reservation. However, the Many Glacier Hotel, Swan Mountain Outfitters and Glacier Park Boat Company will operate as usual.
Prior to July 1 and after September 21, entrance to Many Glacier is accessible without a shuttle ticket or commercial service or lodging reservation. However, because parking is limited to the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot, capacity will be reached quickly, and daily temporary access restrictions are expected.
Note that reservations for these sections are all separate and one does not cover the others.
Note also that reservations are NOT required for Two Medicine Valley and the St. Mary (east) entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2025
Period reservations are needed for
The ticketed vehicle entry system will be in place between June 13 and September 28, 2025 for the West Entrance to the Going to the Sun Road and North Fork area. Both these areas are on the west side of the park.
How to get entry tickets/ make reservations
1) The first round of the tickets are block released at 8:00 am Mountain Time each morning 120 days in advance, on a rolling basis starting February 12, 2025 at 8:00 am MST.
2) A small number the tickets are released at 7:00 pm Mountain Time the day before, starting June 12, 2025.
Entry tickets are only available online at the NPS reservation system or on the phone. They will not be available at park entrance stations, visitor centers or park offices. Phone reservations will be available 8:00 am – 10:00 pm MST on 877-444-6777 (toll free); 606-515-6777 (international); or 877-833-6777 (TDD).
One thing to note is that more entry tickets will be issued each day than there are parking spots along the Going to The Sun Road, so getting an entry ticket doesn’t guarantee getting a parking spot. Try to get there early if you can.
Cost of tickets/ reservations
Tickets to each of these four areas cost $2 per vehicle (and all its occupants).
All tickets are valid for one day only.
Note that this $2 is in addition to the park entrance fee and is not included in the national park fee.
When is it not necessary to make a reservation for Glacier National Park?
This reservation (and fee) is not required in the following circumstances:
1) You enter any areas requiring reservations before 7:00am or after 3:00pm. The entry ticket is only required for entry between 7:00am and 3:00pm.
2) If you enter the Going to the Sun Road at the east St Mary Entrance at any time or date.
3) You take a shuttle on the Going to the Sun Road from the Agpar Visitor Center at the west entrance. You can take the park shuttle from either entrance now that you can access the Apgar Visitor Center without needing a vehicle reservation.
4) If you have a lodging, camping transportation, or commercial activity reservations on the west side of the Going to The Sun Road (west of Logan pass and beyond Apgar Village).
This includes Lake McDonald boat cruises.
It also includes bus tours that run along the Going To The Sun Road. There are a couple of options: Red Bus Tours and the native-American owned Sun Tours.
5) You hike or ride a bicycle. The entry ticket is only required for automobiles, not bicycles or on-foot entry.
Note though, that cyclists aren’t allowed on the west side of the Going to The Sun Road (Apgar turnoff (at the south end of Lake McDonald) to Sprague Creek Campground in both directions) and eastbound from Logan Creek to Logan Pass) between 11:00am and 4:00pm in summer (June 15 through Labor Day).
6) It is not necessary to make a reservation for the North Fork if:
🔘 you are planning to camp there. The campground is first-come, first-served, but if you show up to the Polebridge Entrance Station and tell the ranger you want to camp that night, if there is a space available at that time, they will reserve it for you for you and let you enter without a reservation. Spots fill early!
🔘 you enter before 7:00AM or after 3:00PM
7) It is not necessary to make a reservation for the Many Glacier area if: (TBA)
8) It is not necessary to make a reservation for Two Medicine Valley.
9) it is not necessary to make a reservation for tribal members throughout the park pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978.
⚠️ NOTE that if you have a reservation for an activity or accommodation, you will not need a reservation, but this only applies for that AREA on the day(s) of your reservation(s) only!
Getting a reservation for Glacier National Park is a very important step in planning your trip if they’re required for when you’re going to be there – and I hope this guide helps.
However, as I’m sure you’re very aware, this is just one of many things that goes into planning and preparing for your trip.
In fact, the thing that people ask me about most is how to put everything together into an itinerary that actually makes sense. They get reservations for Glacier (or decide they’ll enter outside the reservation hours) but still worry about what there is to do (and when), how to minimize the crowds, and how to coordinate it all.
To help take away the overwhelm of planning a trip to Glacier National Park, I’ve created several super detailed itineraries.
Without them, people often feel stressed about planning their trip. With them, they have the confidence of getting all the info they need in one spot. Plus, there’s flexibility built in, so they can easily adapt them to their own interests and activity levels.
There are 1, 2, 3, and 4-5 – day options: all with detailed hour-by-hour schedules, including alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Glacier National Park.
And if you follow the itineraries exactly, you won’t actually need reservations for Glacier!
Tips For Making Reservations for the Going to The Sun Road, Glacier National Park
Read my post about which national parks require reservations for some insider tips on making reservations (and the low down on the other national parks that also require some form of reservations this summer).
Remember, you have 15 minutes from when you place the first item in your shopping cart to check out, so you can Continue Shopping and try to nab more reservations for all the sections of the park you’ll be visiting.
If you miss out, book a boat tour or other activity (or accommodation) and/ or try again for the last-minute release.
Good luck and enjoy Glacier National Park!
Here is a simple summary of the steps to take to maximize your chances of getting a reservation for the national parks. You’re welcome to share this image on your site using this code and attribution:
Additional Planning Resources for Glacier National Park
⭐ Planning A Trip to Glacier National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ 15 Tips For Visiting Glacier National Park
⭐ The Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
⭐ How to Get to Glacier National Park
⭐ When is The Best Time To Visit Glacier National Park?
⭐ Visiting Glacier National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ The Airports Near Glacier National Park
⭐ The Closest Airport To Glacier National Park
⭐ 10 Fun Facts About Glacier National Park
Do you have any other tips for getting tickets for Glacier National Park? I’d love to hear them. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know.
Subscribe to daily national parks planning tips, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of this
Guide to Glacier National Park Ticketed Entry
If you are thinking about traveling to some other national parks, don’t miss my guides to:
➡️ Which national parks require reservations
➡️ Angel’s Landing permits lottery system
➡️ Yosemite National Park day use reservations
➡️ Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry system
➡️ Acadia Cadillac Mountain reservation system
➡️ Arches National Park timed entry system
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‼️ Are you looking for helpful tips for visiting US national parks? Read articles that share useful tips on a range of national-park related issues
💻 Are you starting to plan a trip to Glacier National Park? Read my Glacier National Park Guide
📋 Do you want a ready-made super detailed plan for your trip to Glacier? Get a detailed 1 – 5-day Glacier National Park Itinerary
💲 Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
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