As the planning season for motorcoach tours and international visitors to Western Montana’s Glacier Country for 2025 and beyond is in full swing, we are excited to announce that Glacier National Park has revised their vehicle reservation system to a timed entry system, and we are here to get the word out earlier than ever before.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Vehicle Reservation System for Visitors Arriving by Car
To help ease congestion and enhance visitor experience, Glacier National Park is continuing to institute an online vehicle reservation system.
West Entrance
One timed entry reservation per vehicle will be required to travel the Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond the Apgar Village area from June 13 through September 28, 2025, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. New in 2025, the park will pilot timed entry reservations for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Visitors will enter the park according to the time block they have reserved and can remain in the park for as long as they like on the day of their reservation. Visitors who miss their reserved time block can enter after 3 p.m. Multiple time blocks will be available between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Visitors will be able to access Apgar Village amenities, including the Apgar Visitor Center, without a vehicle reservation. Lodging, camping (including front-country developed campgrounds and backcountry camping permits), transportation or commercial activity reservations originating in Apgar will no longer provide access beyond the Apgar filter checkpoint.
This does not affect motorcoaches that enter the park from the west entrance because they cannot travel past Avalanche Lake and ascend the Going-to-the-Sun Road and must arrange the transfer of their clients to a park concessionaire (Red Bus Tour or Sun Tour) for transport.
North Fork
One timed entry reservation per vehicle will be required at the entrance station June 13 through September 28, 2025, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Timed entry reservations are good for one day. Visitors can enter before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. A reservation is not needed to access the community of Polebridge, which is located outside the park entrance. There is no motorcoach access beyond the community of Polebridge.
Many Glacier Valley
As the park has announced, 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. The park is currently researching access alternatives for the valley in 2025. More information about 2025 visitor access options will be announced in a separate news release and we will keep you updated.
Two Medicine Valley and St. Mary (east side entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road)
As in 2024, vehicle reservations (or timed entry) will not be required to enter Two Medicine Valley or the St. Mary entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2025. Entry may be temporarily restricted at certain times of day (typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) when areas become too congested. Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback ride, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.
Vehicle Reservations and Entrance Passes
Vehicle reservations will only be available on recreation.gov, the Recreation.gov mobile app and 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.
- A portion of reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance, starting on February 12, 2025, at 8 a.m. MST on a rolling daily basis.
- The remaining vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting on June 12, 2025.
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. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass. A vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass, and the park entrance pass does not serve as a vehicle reservation.
Bus and Boat Tours
Glacier National Park Shuttles, Red Bus Tours, Sun Tours and Glacier Park Boat Company are all operating this year, with no changes. Please plan ahead in terms of arrangements and ticketing. If you plan to come to Glacier National Park and have not chartered or reserved your Red Bus Tour or Sun Tour for your group, please do so at your earliest convenience at redbustours@xanterra.com and glaciersuntours@gmail.com.
Things to Do Outside the Park
While Glacier National Park offers plenty of sought-after exploration and adventure, the allure extends beyond the park into Western Montana’s Glacier Country. You’ll find access to the world-class recreation the region is known for, as well as arts and culture, dining, breweries and distilleries, farmers markets and family fun. It’s good to have an alternate plan in place in one of the communities outside the park in the event that the park is congested, or you have a couple of days before your vehicle reservation date.
If you need additional itinerary assistance or have questions about the vehicle reservation system, Glacier National Park’s FAQs page is a great resource. Feel free to reach out to us as well. We are always here to help.
See you in 2025,
DP
November 11, 2024
Related: American Indian, Amtrak, Blackfeet Nation, Browning, East Glacier Park, FIT, Glacier National Park, Group Tours, Itinerary, Outdoor Adventure, St. Mary, Student tours, Tour Operator, West Glacier
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