2025 Updates: Glacier National Park Tickets + And What To Do If They’re Sold Out

Glacier National Park has announced it will continue to pilot visitor reservations and timed entry for the 2025 summer season. This is the 5th year Glacier National Park has implemented a timed entry pilot, and there are some significant changes to the 2025 pilot from previous years.

The intent of the Glacier National Park timed entry system is to improve visitor experience while simultaneously protecting the park resources.

Given that Glacier National Park sees about 3 million visitors each year, most between July and September, this planning program is crucial to keeping the park wild for generations to come.

In this article:

• When and where you need Glacier National Park reservations
• List of alternative reservations that include Glacier National Park ticketed entry
• Updates to Glacier National Park ticket system in 2025
• What to do if Glacier National Park ticketed entry is sold out

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Changes for 2025 Glacier National Park Tickets

Glacier National Park ticket reservation programs change slightly each year! Make sure you know the new details for your trip – don’t rely on outdated information about past programs.

2025 Glacier National Park ticket changes:

• Reservations will now be timed (similar to Arches National Park) – they will not be for full-day access as in past years.
• Reservations are only required from 7 am – 3 pm. Last year access was restricted from 6 am – 3 pm.
• Between June 13 – September 28 vehicle reservations are required at 2 entrances: (1) west entrance to Going To The Sun Road and (2) North Fork (Polebridge).

NOTE: Many Glacier access is also restricted in 2025 due to construction. This is technically a different reservation system, but I cover it in detail below.

Details that will not change from previous years include:

• un-restricted access to Apgar (the checkpoint was moved farther into the park at the west entrance to Going To The Sun Road in 2024), and
• no restrictions to entry at Two Medicine or the east entrance to GTS road near St Mary.

Like last year, reservations for activities, camping or lodging in Apgar will not include a vehicle reservation. Vehicle reservations will only be included for activities, camping and hotels in Glacier National Park that are located within restricted areas (complete list below).

Reservations can be made at recreation.gov, on the recreation.gov mobile app or by calling 877-444-6777.

Before you get vehicle reservations you’ll want to know your exact Glacier National Park itinerary so you can determine which dates and entrances you need tickets for.

The detailed NPS press release for 2025 vehicle reservations can be found here.

Glacier Timed Entry 2025

Glacier National Park will implement a timed entry vehicle reservation system in 2025, similar to past years, with a few big changes.

2-Hour Time Blocks For Entry (No Longer All-Day)

Reservations for Glacier National Park will be for one day only with time blocks, whereas in past years tickets were good for up to 3 days in Glacier National Park.

In 2024, timed entry tickets were limited to only one day, but due to continued issues with congestion in the park the 2025 pilot will impose time blocks for entry.

Available entrance blocks include: 7-9 am, 9-11 am, 11 am-1 pm, 1-3 pm.

Fewer Entrances With Restrictions

The only entrances with vehicle reservation requirements are North Fork (Polebridge) and the west entrance to Going To The Sun Road (past Apgar Village).

Like 2024, you will not need any Glacier National Park reservations to enter from Two Medicine or the east entrance to Going To The Sun Road near St Mary. Keep in mind that these entrances may close temporarily if the park becomes too congested – this is most likely to happen between 10 am and 2 pm during the summer.

2025 Many Glacier Construction

In addition to the vehicle reservation requirements listed above, there are additional access restrictions to Many Glacier in 2025 due to construction in the Swiftcurrent area.

From July 1 – September 21, 2025 you can only access Many Glacier with an approved reservation.

Approved reservations that will allow you to access Many Glacier in 2025:

• Many Glacier hotel reservation
• Boating reservation
• Horseback riding reservation
• Wilderness permits that start or end at Many Glacier

You can also reserve tickets for the Many Glacier day hiker shuttle. This is a temporary shuttle for the 2025 construction restrictions.

• Tickets are released 7 days in advance at 8 am MDT
• Additional tickets are released the day before at 7 pm MDT
• 1-hour pick-up times are available starting at 7 am, with the last window at 10:00-10:59 am daily
• One person can reserve 8 tickets per day
• Each shuttle rider must have a ticket
• Tickets are “free” but there is a $2 transaction fee (up to 4 tickets can be placed on 1 transaction)

The shuttle will pick-up at designated parking locations near the Many Glacier entrance. Your ticket includes round-trip, but only your inbound time is required. You can take any return shuttle (last one picks up at Many Glacier Hotel at 8 pm.)

NOTE: Due to construction, trailheads have been shuffled around which means total trail distance for hikes has temporarily increased: detours for trails in Iceberg/Ptarmigan Valley add 1.2 miles one-way, detours to trails in Swiftcurrent Valley add 1.7 miles one-way.

Glacier National Park Ticket Fee

There is no fee for Glacier National Park timed entry vehicle reservations (technically). However, there is an online processing fee of $2 when you make your reservation.

Glacier National Park Timed Entry Requirements

To enter Glacier National Park with a timed entry ticket you must have both a timed entry reservation AND pay the park entrance fee. These are two independent items and you must have both.

• A vehicle reservation does not include your entry fee.
• Your entry fee does not grant you access to Going To The Sun Road (west side) or North Fork without a timed entry reservation.

2025 Glacier National Park timed entry reservations are specific to the park entrance they designate. You may only enter the park at the entrance noted on your reservation. Prior to 2024, one reservation was good for any entrance, but that is no longer the case.

You will also be limited to a 2-hour time block and must enter during the time on your Glacier National Park ticket.

Glacier National Park Entrance Fee

The Glacier National Park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle (good for 7 days), or you can enter with either a GNP annual pass ($70) or an America The Beautiful National Parks pass ($80).

I have the America The Beautiful National Parks pass and highly recommend it. It’s good for 12 months from the month you purchase and gets you into every National Park (including 2,000+ Federal recreation sites throughout the country).

If you plan to visit more than 2 National Parks in a year this pass will save you money on entrance fees.

Additionally, many National Parks offer “express lanes” for pass holders. Glacier National Park is one of them. This means you won’t be stuck waiting up to two hours in line to enter the park – just flash your pass and they’ll waive you right in.

How To Get Glacier National Park Tickets 2025

There are two ways to get Glacier National Park tickets … (1) advanced reservations and (2) day-before.

(1) Vehicle reservations for Glacier National Park open 120 days in advance, and are released on a rolling schedule.

For 2025, Glacier National Park vehicle timed entry passes are available to reserve starting February 12, 2025, at 8 am MST for visits beginning June 13, 2025.

I highly recommend setting a calendar reminder and getting tickets the minute they become available 120 days before your trip. They can sell out within minutes, so be sure to be online and logged in exactly at 8am MST.

NOTE: You will need to have an account on recreation.gov in order to reserve tickets so be sure to do this ahead of time.

(2) If you’re unable to secure tickets with the 120 day advanced vehicle reservation, additional tickets are also released the day prior at 7 pm MDT. The reservation process is the same, and tickets will be gone in minutes, so be sure you’re online and logged in before 7 pm.

What To Do If Glacier National Park Ticketed Entry Is Sold Out

Tickets for Glacier National Park and for Going To The Sun Road sell out quickly – usually within minutes of being released. So what do you do if Glacier National Park ticketed entry is sold out? There’s a few options to get into the park, even if timed entry tickets are sold out.

1. Book Lodging Or In-Park Activities

Reservations for some hotels and campgrounds in Glacier National Park may also qualify as your vehicle reservation if they’re located in areas with restrictions.

Other activities, like horseback rides and boat tours may also qualify as a replacement for the timed entry tickets.

For 2025, any commercial activity or lodging reservation between the checkpoint just east of Apgar (not including Apgar) and Logan Pass will serve as a vehicle reservation for Going To The Sun road. No tickets accompany reservations between St Mary and Logan Pass, on the eastern portion of the road.

These reservations will only give you vehicle reservations for the specific area of the park (for example, Many Glacier or Going To The Sun Road) the activity or lodging is located in, and it’s only good for the date(s) of your activity/lodging reservation.

Glacier National Park reservations that will also provide a vehicle reservation ticket for the same location and date.

Going To The Sun Road Tickets (access east of Apgar Check Point):

• Boat Tours & Rentals (Lake McDonald Lodge only, reservations for Apgar Village do not qualify)
• Horseback Rides (Lake McDonald Lodge only, Apgar Village rides are excluded)
• Avalanche Creek Campground
• Sprague Creek Campground
• Lake McDonald Lodge
• Motel Lake McDonald
• Sperry Chalet
• Granite Park Chalet

Many Glacier (access to Many Glacier Road, Going To Sun Road tickets not included):

• Horseback Trail Rides
• Boat Tours & Rentals on Swiftcurrent Lake or Lake Josephine
• Many Glacier Hotel
• Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
• Many Glacier Campground

NOTE: In the past, Fishcreek and Apgar Campground reservations provided access to Going To The Sun tickets. In 2024, the checkpoint was moved farther east along GTS road to allow unrestricted access to Apgar. For this reason, reservations in the Apgar area no longer provide vehicle reservations.

2. Enter The Park Before 7 AM, Or After 3 PM

Timed entry requirements are only in place from 7 am – 3 pm daily. Access to the park is unrestricted outside of these times. You may enter Glacier National Park without a timed entry reservation if you do so prior to 7 am or after 3 pm.

Expect traffic and long lines to enter the park if you’re arriving around 3 pm. You won’t be the only one with this plan.

In my experience, entering the park before sunrise in Glacier is best. There is no line at the entrance gate (in fact, they’re typically not even staffed that early) and the parking lots haven’t filled up yet.

You’ll also have the best hikes in Glacier, like Avalanche Lake hike and Grinnell Glacier Trail, to yourself!

3. Take The Shuttle

One of the updates to the 2024 Glacier National Park vehicle reservation system that continues for 2025 is that visitors are now able to access Apgar Village and Apgar Visitor Center without reservations.

This means you can drive into the park and take the shuttle from Apgar Visitor Center.

The shuttle can also have long lines, but it beats circling for a parking spot for hours. Yes, I do mean hours. The busiest shuttle times are between 10 am and 2 pm, so I recommend getting to the park before 10 am so you can spend late morning and early afternoon exploring instead of waiting in line.

I recommend taking the shuttle to the farthest point you plan to explore (like Logan Pass, Hidden Lake Overlook Trail or to St Mary to see several waterfalls in Glacier National Park) and then working your way backward along the stops on Going To The Sun Road.

You’re more likely to catch an empty shuttle during mid day if you’re moving in the opposite direction of the crowds pouring in.

4. Stop Into Local Businesses For Going To The Sun Road Tickets

I’m putting this tip last because I think it’s the least effective. However, rumor has it that small local businesses tend to have vehicle reservations they’re able to hand out to park visitors. If you’re stopping in for a coffee it’s worth inquiring about tickets.

I haven’t actually tested this one yet, so if you try it out please let me know how it goes!

FAQ About Glacier National Park Reservations and Going To The Sun Road Tickets

What Does Glacier National Park Timed Entry Cost?

It costs $2 to make a timed entry vehicle reservation online. While the reservation is “free”, the processing fee effectively makes the cost to reserve a timed entry ticket $2.

Do you need reservations for Glacier National Park 2025?

If you plan to drive your own vehicle in Glacier National Park in 2025 then you must have a timed entry vehicle reservation. Reservations are available 120 days in advance (on a rolling schedule), and additional reservations are released the day prior.

Can you enter Glacier National Park at any time?

Technically, Glacier National Park is open year round and you can enter at any time. However, from mid June through late September Glacier National Park implements a timed entry reservation system for anyone wishing to take their own vehicle into the park.

How do you get into Glacier without ticketed entry?

To get into Glacier without ticketed entry you can arrive before 7 am or after 3 pm, or visit before June 13 and after September 28.

You may also enter Glacier without ticketed entry if you arrive at St Mary or Two Medicine entrances, which eliminated timed entry ticket requirements in 2024.

If you’re driving from Bozeman to Glacier National Park the direct route through Helena will bring you to the east side of Glacier, where you won’t need a reservation to enter Going To The Sun Road.

Do Glacier park passes sell out?

Yes, Glacier park passes sell out extremely quickly. Often within minutes of being released the passes will be completely sold out. Passes are released 120 days in advance, as well as the day before.

When Is Going To The Sun Road Opening 2025?

In 2025, Going To The Sun Road opened June 16th.

There is no specific date for when Going To The Sun Road will open each year as it’s highly dependent on weather conditions.

While the road is usually open by the first week of July, it can fluctuate slightly from year to year depending on winter weather conditions, avalanche threat and snow removal (which can be up to 80 feet deep along Going To The Sun Road).