Glacier park pass going to the sun road

May 27, 2022 – September 11, 2022: 6am – 4pm, Vehicle Reservation Tickets are Required on the Going-to-the-Sun Road at the West Glacier, Camas, and St. Mary entrances as well as 6am-6pm at the North Fork area of Glacier entering at the ranger station in Polebridge.

We encourage you to check out Glacier National Park’s information and FAQ about Ticketed Entry. The most current info on Glacier is always on the Park’s website. The Park Service is updating this page frequently, and their FAQ is a little different than ours, which is geared more towards how Ticketed Entry affects our rafting, hiking, fishing, biking, and lodging guests.

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Still Have Questions?
Where do you need a pass for Going
Can we go to road to Sun glacier without ticket?
Do you have to pay to drive Going
Is Glacier National Park Going

*Reservation Tip From The Folks at Recreation.Gov: Login to your Recreation.gov account, or create an account if you don’t have one, at least 10 minutes before tickets go on sale and make a plan to book online to avoid delays.* Tickets will start going on sale in early March.

For Glacier Guides and Montana Raft guests, you will typically meet us outside of Glacier National Park for our rafting, hiking, fishing, and biking guided tours, at our West Glacier office on Highway 2. You will not need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket to go on a guided activity with us, but you will need one to enter the park on your own. Read on!

#1 Do I need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket for guided adventures with Glacier Guides and Montana Raft?

NO. If you’re going on an adventure with us, you don’t need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket to go into Glacier WITH us. If you plan to enter Glacier National Park, with or without us, you still need to buy a park pass.

Park Pass Prices

$35/Vehicle (This is a entrance fee for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van). The pass is non-transferable. Visitors can enter the park at any time, if the entrance station is not staffed, a self-registration area is available for purchasing a 7-day park pass)

$30/Motorcycle (This is a per motorcycle entrance fee. The pass is non-transferable.)

$20/Individual (This is a per person entrance fee for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, or for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. The pass is non-transferable.)

PLEASE REMEMBER: Reservations for our guided services do NOT equal an Vehicle Reservation Ticket for the Sun Road, because we meet you outside of Glacier, at our office on Highway 2. So, if you are going into the park without us through the West Glacier, Camas Road, Polebridge or the St. Mary entrance by Rising Sun Campground, you will need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket. Specifically:

RAFTING – If you’re going rafting with us, your reservation does NOT equal an Vehicle Reservation Ticket. You will need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket if you plan to enter the park at West Glacier, Camas Road and St. Mary May 27 – September 11, 6am – 4pm or Polebridge Ranger Station May 27 – September 11, 6am-6pm
HIKING/BACKPACKING/CHALET TOURS – If you’re going into the park WITH US you do not need a vehicle reservation. For example, if you’re joining us for hiking, backpacking or chalet trip, you’ll be driving into the park WITH us, so therefore you will NOT need a vehicle reservation. If you plan to visit the park WITHOUT us through the Going-To-The-Sun Road corridor (W. Glacier, Camas Road, St. Mary) or The North Fork area of the park (Polebridge entrance station), you need a vehicle reservation.
FISHING – if you’re going fishing with us, your reservation does NOT equal an Vehicle Reservation Ticket. You will need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket if you plan to enter the park at West Glacier, Camas Road and St. Mary May 27 – September 11, 6am – 4pm or Polebridge Ranger Station May 27 – September 11, 6am-6pm
BIKING – If you’re going on a guided bike tour with us, you do not need a vehicle reservation. If you plan to visit the park WITHOUT us through the Going-To-The-Sun Road corridor (W. Glacier, Camas Road, St. Mary) or The North Fork area of the park (Polebridge entrance station) you need a vehicle reservation.
- If you are renting bikes from us, your rental does NOT equal an Vehicle Reservation Ticket, even if you plan on biking on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. You need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket, because you are not entering the park with us.
- However, we do run a bike shuttle, 7 days a week, until the road opens to vehicles. If you decide to use this shuttle, we will drive you INTO the park so you DO NOT need a vehicle reservation. Here’s more info about our bike shuttle.
GLACIER GUIDES LODGE/GLACIER GUIDES GUEST HOUSE – if you’re staying with us, your lodging reservation does NOT equal an Vehicle Reservation Ticket, as our accommodations are located outside of Glacier National Park. You will need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket if you plan to enter the park at West Glacier, Camas Road and St. Mary May 27 – September 11, 6am – 4pm or Polebridge Ranger Station May 27 – September 11, 6am-6pm

#2 We have reservations for other — not Glacier Guides and Montana Raft — commercial services/campgrounds/guides/lodging/etc on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Will we have to just show proof of our reservation or will they send us Vehicle ReservationTickets?

You will need to show proof of your reservation, so have it downloaded to your phone for access without wifi/cell service, or printed out. No entry tickets will be sent from commercial services. Keep in mind, your reservation has to be for services ON the Sun Road – a boat tour at Many Glacier is not on the Sun Road, and does not equal an Vehicle Reservation Ticket. When in doubt, check with the company your reservation is with. We cannot answer questions for other Glacier Park partners, such as the Glacier Park Boat Co.

#3 What is an Vehicle Reservation Ticket?

The vehicle reservation ticket system in the park is designed to manage high traffic volumes within the park and avoid gridlock. To alleviate congestion, one ticket per vehicle will be required to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) at the West Entrance, St. Mary Entrance and Camas Entrance. New in 2022, a ticket per vehicle will also be required at the Polebridge Ranger Station to visit the North Fork area of the park.

First, let’s get familiar with the terms you need to know to make sense of Ticketed Entry, which from here on out should be called your Vehicle Reservation.

Your Vacation Date = the 1st day you would like to drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Vehicle Reservation Ticket = Ticketed Entry = Online Reservation — all of these terms mean the same thing, and you may see them all over the place, but for consistency we will use Vehicle Reservation Ticket in the rest of this post, as requested by NPS.
Vehicle Reservation Ticket for the Going-to-the-Sun Road/ North Fork area of Glacier and Entrance Pass into Glacier National Park are NOT the same things – these are two separate things and you’ll likely need both – read on!

#4 When do I need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road or the North Fork of Glacier National Park?

If you’re driving a vehicle or a motorcycle, you need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket from from May 27 through September 11, 2022, from 6am-4pm (times TBD), at the West Glacier, Camas Road, St. Mary or Polebridge entrances of the park.

Tickets will not be required at the St. Mary Entrance PRIOR to the full opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, typically in late June. Once snow removal and road preparations are complete and the road opens to vehicle traffic to Logan Pass, tickets will be required at the St. Mary entrance through September 11, 2022.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork tickets will be two separate tickets. The park anticipates a portion of tickets becoming available by early March. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain tickets. Although the park does not charge for the tickets, Recreation.gov charges a $2 nonrefundable service fee.

The park will offer three-day tickets for Going-to-the-Sun Road instead of the seven-day tickets offered last year, and one-day tickets for the North Fork area of the park.

Visitors arriving on foot or bicycle do not require a day-use Vehicle reservation ticket. Day-use reservations are included with any overnight lodging and service reservations along the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor between the West and St. Mary Entrance Stations. This includes visitors with overnight accommodations and activity reservation IN the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor, such as:

Lake McDonald Lodge
Village Inn
Rising Sun Motor Inn
Fish Creek Campground
in-park private lodging
backpacking permits
Granite and Sperry Chalets
boat rides
guided hikes
horseback rides
bus tours

Again, these service reservations must be for lodging/activities offered between the West and St. Mary entrances of the park, i.e. the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor. For example, if you’re going on a boat ride in Many Glacier, that service reservation ticket will NOT provide you an Vehicle Reservation Ticket to the Sun Road, as Many Glacier is not located in the Sun Road corridor. Another example: service reservation tickets for activities outside of the park, such as rafting, will NOT provide you an Vehicle Reservation Ticket to the Sun Road, as rafting is located outside of the park.

#5 How do I get an Vehicle Reservation Ticket?

First, go ahead and set up an account on recreation.gov. There is an app for recreation.gov, too. And you can call, too –Call centers are open every day of the week from 8am MDT to 10pm MDT. The following lines are available for callers:
- Reservation line (Toll-Free) – (877) 444-6777;
- Reservation line (International) – (606) 515-6777;
- Reservation line (TDD) – (877) 833-6777.
Next, figure out which day you’d like to drive the Sun Road or the North Fork area of the park, and determine when to put in for your Entry Reservation Ticket, i.e. 120 days prior. Count carefully. Make yourself a reminder!
Entry reservation tickets are available beginning at 8 am MST on the day of release.
Then, 120 days prior to the first day you’d like to drive on the Sun Road or visit the North Fork, go to recreation.gov to put in for your Entry Reservation Ticket. And while you’re at it, might as well go ahead and get your GNP Entrance Pass (this is DIFFERENT than the vehicle reservation ticket.) More on that below.
If you receive an Vehicle Reservation Ticket, it will be in your email account. Download/print it so it will be available to you even without Wi-Fi/cell service.
If you do not receive a ticket, then 24 hours prior to the day you would like to drive the Sun Road, same process — go to recreation.gov to put in for your Vehicle Reservation Ticket.
Note: recreation.gov is not accepting Vehicle Reservation Tickets submissions until sometime in early March.

#6 Other than the Vehicle Reservation Ticket, what else do I need?

You need your photo ID, i.e. the person applying for the Vehicle Reservation Ticket for the Sun Road or the North Fork area should be in the vehicle with their photo I.D. You also need your Entrance Pass for Glacier National Park.

A Vehicle Reservation Ticket and a Park Entrance Pass into Glacier are not the same thing.
We recommend purchasing your Entrance Pass in advance, here on recreation.gov.
If you’re renting a car, don’t panic when you get to the screen requesting your license plate info. Click on the drop down menu and change personal car to rental car, and that requirement goes away.
You’ll need your Entrance Pass to access any of the other Glacier entrances, too, i.e. Cut Bank, Two Medicine, Many Glacier and St. Mary valleys. Note that access to these areas may be temporarily limited during times of peak visitation.
Seven-day, annual, or lifetime Entrance Passes can be purchased online or at park entrance stations with a credit card.
Note: you do not need an Entrance Pass or an Vehicle Reservation Ticket to enter the park on U.S. Highway 2, along its southern border.

#7 How much is an Entrance Pass?

The entrance fee for Glacier National Park is $35.00 per vehicle ($30 for motorcycles) and is good for seven days.
The nonrefundable $2.00 GTSR vehicle reservation ticket is in addition to the entrance fee and is also valid for 3 days for the Going to the Sun Road. The park will offer one-day tickets for the North Fork area of the park. Both, the entrance pass and Vehicle Reservation ticket are required to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road or to enter the North for area of the Park at the Polebridge Ranger Station entrance.
If you hold a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass, you will only have to purchase the $2.00 nonrefundable GTSR/Polebridge vehicle reservation ticket.

#8 Do I have to purchase my Entrance Pass at recreation.gov?

No, you don’t, but we recommend saving time and purchasing online before your trip. Again, if you’re renting a car, don’t panic when you get to the screen requesting your license plate info. Click on the drop down menu and change personal car to rental car, and that requirement goes away.

#9 Do I have to purchase my Vehicle Reservation Ticket at recreation.gov?

Yes, you do.

Tickets will NOT be available at park entrance stations or park offices. If a visitor arrives at the West Glacier, Camas, St. Mary or Polebridge entrance without an vehicle reservation ticket, they will be turned away but can go online at www.Recreation.gov to see if an vehicle reservation ticket is available for that day. This may be possible if vehicle reservation tickets are not sold out.

Note: cell service in and around Glacier National Park is limited. Visitors are encouraged to secure day-use vehicle reservation tickets prior to arriving at the park. Limited cell service is available in West Glacier and St. Mary. Wi-Fi may be available in surrounding communities. Many public libraries and hotels provide free computer access.

#10 What about camping? Do I need a reservation?

The Apgar and Sprague Creek campgrounds will require advance reservations in addition to Fish Creek and St. Mary campgrounds. Reservations will be available on Recreation.gov in 2022. Rising Sun and Avalanche campgrounds will remain first come, first served. The park anticipates all campgrounds to be operating in 2022.

#11 How much does the Vehicle Reservation Ticket cost?

Tickets are free but require a $2 nonrefundable reservation processing fee.

#12 What is the process to purchase an Vehicle Reservation Ticket like?

Register for an account on recreation.gov
Visitors who purchase an entry reservation ticket will receive an email confirmation from recreation.gov with an attached entry reservation ticket.
Print out a copy of your entry reservation ticket or download on your mobile device or on the www.Recreation.gov mobile app prior to arriving at the park.

#13 What if I decide I don’t need my Vehicle Reservation Ticket? Can I sell it?

No. Vehicle Reservation Tickets are non-transferable and resale or auction of reservations is prohibited.

You are encouraged to turn your ticket back in on recreation.gov so that it can be re-allocated!

#14 How many Vehicle Reservation Tickets will there be?

Numbers will be tracked each day and additional vehicle reservation tickets will be available if there is additional capacity.
There will be fewer vehicle reservation tickets available prior to the full opening of the Sun Road.
When the road opens, the number of vehicle reservation tickets available will increase.
NPS has stated that the maximum daily capacity is estimated to be 4,600 vehicles per day once the road is open all the way over Logan Pass.
The date for the Sun Road opening is unknown at this time and subject to weather and plowing progress.
The park plans to start plowing the Sun Road on April 5. Track plow progress here.
NPS has also stated that about 75% of tickets will be available on recreation.gov 60 days prior. The other 25% will be released 48 hours prior.

#15 How long is the Vehicle Reservation Ticket good for?

3 straight days if purchased for the Going to the Sun Road. 1 day if purchased for entering the North Fork area of Glacier National Park at the Polebridge Ranger Station.

#16 Do I need an Vehicle Reservation Ticket for other roads or areas in the park?

No. You only need an vehicle reservation ticket to access the Sun Road at St. Mary (the eastern entrance), the Camas Road, and West Glacier (the western entrance) and at the Polebridge Ranger Station.

You need an Park Pass, but NOT an vehicle reservation ticket, to enter any access point in the park except for the U.S. Highway 2 section. GTSR vehicle reservation tickets are not required for any other portions of the park (for example Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Cut Bank, Chief Mountain Highway), although access to these areas may be temporarily limited during times of peak visitation.

#17 I’m walking, hiking, or riding my bicycle into the park. Do I need an Vehicle Reservation?

No, you do not. So, if you get here and you don’t have a ticket, we recommend renting a bike!

You need an park pass, of course, anytime you’re in the park.

#17 Do I need a separate online Vehicle Reservation for each day I visit the park?

No. Vehicle reservation tickets for the GTTSR are valid for three days and you can enter and exit the park at any point during this time. You will need a second vehicle reservation ticket if you visit for more than three days or return for another visit later in the summer. The park will offer one-day tickets for the North Fork area of the park.

#18 Does my Vehicle Reservation Ticket guarantee me a parking spot?

No. Parking will continue to be in demand at popular locations such as Avalanche, Logan Pass and St. Mary Falls areas.

#19 Why is the online reservation system being implemented?

Glacier National Park has experienced record visitation and congestion issues in recent years. This will be the second year of the pilot ticket system in the park, designed to manage high traffic volumes within the park and avoid gridlock. This management tool will continue to improve traffic flow along the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and the North Fork area of Glacier, reduce crowding and congestion, and improve visitor experiences and safety.

#20 Should I stress about vehicle reservations into Glacier Park?

Don’t stress! The decision to implement vehicle reservations into Glacier Park, specifically on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, is NOT the end of your vacation. It’s also not going to forever ruin your life if you’re a local. Get organized, get your plan together, and get ready to get your Vehicle Reservation Ticket!

We hope that our collective experiences on the Sun Road and the North Fork of Glacier will be richer than they have been in recent years. We hope there will be more spaces to park in, less people on trails located off the Sun Road, less pressure on wildlife and sensitive vegetation, and in general more room to fully explore this stunning area of Glacier National Park. Let’s be open minded and see what happens.

#21 What about face masks in Glacier National Park?

The NPS has updated its masking guidance based on the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels tool, which helps communities decide what prevention steps to take. Masking requirements will vary by park based on local conditions, however masks are still required on all forms of enclosed public transportation. In areas CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings, regardless of vaccination status. In most low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional, and you are welcome to wear a mask if it makes you more comfortable. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus

Current COVID-19 community level of Glacier National Park: MEDIUM
MEDIUM and LOW: masks are optional indoors.
Masks are still required for everyone on all forms of public and commercial transportation.
Practice physical distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet (2 m) of distance between you and others.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you feel sick, please do not visit the park.

Still Have Questions?

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Where do you need a pass for Going

What parts of Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor require a vehicle reservation? The Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Vehicle Reservation Area includes all points between the West Entrance Station, Camas Entrance Station, and Rising Sun checkpoint (located 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance).

Can we go to road to Sun glacier without ticket?

Both, the entrance pass and Vehicle Reservation ticket are required to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road or to enter the North for area of the Park at the Polebridge Ranger Station entrance.

Do you have to pay to drive Going

The ticketed entry system does not cover your park entrance cost. All visitors will be required to either present a valid national park pass (including lifetime senior passes) or pay the $35 7-day entrance fee upon entering the park. Your national park pass does not grant you access to Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Is Glacier National Park Going

Alert, Severity, closure, Going-to-the-Sun Road Construction ClosureBeginning October 1, 2022, the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) will be closed on the west side of the park from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass.