Entering Glacier National Park at St. Mary Requires No Vehicle Reservation

Vehicle Reservations

In 2024, a vehicle reservation is required for three areas of the park:
Going-to-the-Sun Road (coming from the west), the North Fork and Many Glacier from 6 am to 3 pm.

​A great benefit of staying at The Cottages at Glacier is that you can enter Glacier National Park
​at the St. Mary Entrance and access the Going-to-the-Sun Road without a vehicle reservation.

If you do, however, wish to enter GNP via a different entrance, here's what you need to know:

When Do You Need a Vehicle Reservation?

  • To access the west side of the Going to the Sun Road past Apgar Village between 6 am – 3 pm from May 24th – September 8th.​
  • To access the North Fork entrance station (for Bowman and Kintla lakes) between 6 am – 3 pm from May 24th – September 8th.
  • To access the Many Glacier Valley between 6 am – 3 pm from July 1st – September 8th.​

 Vehicle Reservations and Entrance Passes

​​​​Visitors entering the park in a vehicle or on a motorcycle in one of these areas during these dates need two things:
​(1) A vehicle reservation OR service reservation and​ (2) Park Entrance Fee OR valid Park Pass (Annual, Senior, Military, etc.).
*See the NPS website for detailed information on Entrance Fees and Passes.

How to Get a Vehicle Reservation

Vehicle reservations will be available on Recreation.gov, the Recreation.gov mobile app, or the Recreation.gov Call Center (Reservation Line: 877.444.6777). Each of the specified areas of the park will require a separate reservation. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain reservations. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.    
                                                     
                  Vehicle reservations will be available through two booking windows, 120 days in advance and the day before.
  • A portion of reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance, starting on January 25, 2024, at 8 am MST on a daily rolling basis. This means that on January 25, vehicle reservations will be released for May 24, 2024, on January 26, vehicle reservations will be released for May 25, 2024, and so on.
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  • The remaining vehicle reservations will be available at 7 pm MDT for next-day entry starting on May 23, 2024. This will occur on a daily rolling basis. This means that on May 23, the remaining vehicle reservations will be released for May 24, 2024, on May 24, the remaining vehicle reservations will be released for May 25, 2024, and so on.

  • ​Note: 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. A vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass/fee, and the park entrance pass/fee does not serve as a vehicle reservation. There are a limited number of vehicle reservations available for each day and demand will exceed supply.

  • The park is open 24/7 and visitors may enter vehicle reservation areas before 6 am or after 3 pm without a vehicle reservation.

Navigating Glacier National Park

Passing through the center of Glacier National Park, the renowned Going-to-the-Sun Road crests the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Travelers can enjoy breathtaking views of towering peaks, alpine meadows, wildflowers, waterfalls and wildlife from this engineering marvel and National Historic Landmark, which links West Glacier and St. Mary. The Going-to-the-Sun Road, arguably the park's most well-known feature, is among the country's most picturesque drives.

​As in past years, entry will be temporarily restricted in areas of the park that become too congested for visitor safety and resource protection. Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, and other areas may be unavailable. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of free shuttles for hiker access to Logan Pass although waits for shuttles may be long depending on the time and location. Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit outside of peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback rides, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.
A fare-free shuttle is available along Going-to-the-Sun Road on a first-come, first-served basis.
​Shuttles are wheelchair-accessible. Smoking, pets, and open alcohol containers are prohibited.
​Bear spray must be safely secured to prevent accidental discharge. Most shuttles have bike racks.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Shuttle Map
Picture
The map highlights the shuttle stops, trails, and other points of interest along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Depending on where and when you attempt to board one of Glacier's shuttle buses, you may have to wait an hour or more for an available seat. They run every 15 to 30 minutes (approximately), but by the time the shuttle arrives, it may already be full. For example, on a bus stopping at The Loop, there may be only room to board one or two additional passengers. Check at the St. Mary and Apgar Visitor Centers for more information on park shuttles.

Tips for Dealing with Crowds

Glacier has become an extremely busy park. Expect crowds on roads, at visitor centers, on popular trails, and on shuttles.

Where and When to Expect Crowds

1. In the Summertime
May through September is the busiest part of the year, with about three million people visiting during each summer season. The parking areas at popular destinations, like Logan Pass and Avalanche Creek, begin filling before sunrise and remain congested for most of the day. Other areas often become crowded throughout the middle part of the day. Be prepared to spend time looking for an available parking spot.

2. On the Roads
You’re likely to encounter congestion and long wait times around parking lots, visitor centers, and entrance stations. During extreme congestion, access to whole areas of the park may be temporarily restricted for traffic to clear and to allow access for emergency vehicles. In the summer of 2018, access to Many Glacier was restricted 26 times, access to Kintla Lake was restricted 52 times, and access to Bowman Lake was restricted 68 times. If a lot is full, do not wait for spots to open; move on, and try again later. Never park on vegetation or in a manner that blocks traffic.

3. On the Trails
The top ten most popular hikes in the park, such as Grinnell Glacier, the Highline Trail, and Avalanche Lake, all average hundreds of hikers per day. In 2017, the Hidden Lake Trail averaged 1,604 hikers per day. However, with over 700 miles of trails, many visitors find that by taking a less popular trail they can get away from the crowds and still experience beautiful views.
Please keep the following in mind:
  • There are two ways to get to the Cottages and the East Side of Glacier from West Glacier. There is the Going to the Sun Road and also Highway #2 that goes around the perimeter of Glacier. Both take almost the same driving time.
  • Once at The Cottages and St. Mary, you are less than a quarter mile from the Park entrance and less than a half mile from the free shuttle at the St. Mary Visitor Center. When the free shuttles begin running on Going-to-the-Sun Road this summer, you will be able to walk into Glacier from The Cottages and use the shuttles to access the GTTS Road and the hikes and sites along the way. You can get off and on as you wish at various spots.
  • The Cottages are only 18 miles from Logan Pass, the highest point of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It stays light for a long time, so there are plenty of hours of daylight to enjoy the drive up to Logan Pass and be back in time to take a short walk to one of the waterfalls or to the Hidden Lake overview and be back to the Cottages before dark.
  • Highway #2 is very scenic. It follows the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, enters GNP for a short distance (no pass required), and passes Goat Lick where mountain goats can often be spotted, especially in May and June.  Soon after Goat Lick you see a lovely waterfall, then Marias Pass, followed by the village of East Glacier. Historic East Glacier Lodge is beautiful and is on Highway #49, Looking Glass Pass, which is really a spectacular drive. The eight slow and curvy miles have lovely pull-offs. Once you reach Highway 89, it is only about 10 miles until you drop down into the wonderful St. Mary Valley with all the mountain views opening around you.  The total distance from East Glacier to St. Mary is only 32 miles, but takes about 45 minutes to drive.
  • We recommend that you plan at least one day in the Many Glacier Area, then another day in the Two Medicine and East Glacier area. Lovely hikes and sites are also available from the Cutbank Creek entrance and right at St. Mary, and of course, a day for driving Going-to-the-Sun Road and the many hikes along the way.
  • If you have your passport, a day visiting Waterton Lakes National Park (the Canadian side of Glacier) is well worth the visit.
Check Out the Wonderful Webcams at Glacier!
   https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm​
Visitors are encouraged to check the park website frequently for updates and additional information.