When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?

If you want fewer people, go in June, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and February the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.

How much does it cost to visit Glacier National Park?

$35 / vehicle. Also: $100 nonresident fee (16+). An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park, and waives the nonresident fee.

Do you need a reservation for Glacier National Park in 2026?

No. Vehicle reservations will not be required in 2026. (nps.gov, checked October 1, 2026). Some tours, permits and campgrounds may still need booking.

What are some things to do in Glacier National Park?

The National Park Service lists 41 things to do in Glacier National Park, including Attend One of Glacier's Evening Programs, Listen to Glacier's Podcast, Visit One of Glacier's Historic Lodges, Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, Take a Half-Day Hike in Glacier. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.

When did Glacier National Park become a national park?

Glacier National Park was established as a national park on May 11, 1910.

What is the closest national park to Glacier?

Yellowstone National Park, about 322 miles away in a straight line (roughly 8 hours' drive, estimated).

Montana · Est. 1910

Glacier National Park

Last verified October 1, 2026$35 / vehicle

A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking a landscape steeped in human culture. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. — nps.gov

Jagged peaks rise out of a forested valley and an empty road curves off into the distance. — Photo: NPS Photo

State: Montana
Established: May 11, 1910
Size: 1,013,126 acres
2025 visits: 3,136,557
Busiest-park rank: #10 of 63
Entrance: $35 / vehicle

Best time to visit

When is Glacier quiet?

Glacier is busiest in July and quietest in February. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, June is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 3,136,557 recreation visits, the #10 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Glacier open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA

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Quietest: FebruaryBusiest: July

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Glacier

Private vehicle$35

Motorcycle$30

Per person (on foot / bike)$20

Nonresident fee, per person 16+$100

Glacier annual pass$70

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov

Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.

Reservations · 2026

No reservation needed in 2026

Vehicle reservations (used in past summers for Going-to-the-Sun Road)

“Vehicle reservations will not be required in 2026.”

nps.gov (updated June 22, 2026)

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Glacier

The National Park Service lists 41 things to do in Glacier National Park, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.

All activities →

Attend One of Glacier's Evening Programs30-60 Minutes · Summer
Evening programs are a chance for rangers to help visitors find amazing meaning in specific park resources.
Listen to Glacier's Podcast1-30 Hours · All year
Rangers recommend Glacier's podcast, Headwaters: a podcast about how Glacier is connected to everything else!
Pets OK
Visit One of Glacier's Historic Lodges1-3 Hours · Summer
Step inside one of the historic lodges and pretend you are a traveler on the Great Northern Railway in the 1910s.
Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road3-8 Hours · Summer
A drive across this engineering marvel has been a quintessential part of any trip to Glacier since the 1930s.
Reservation/permitPets OK
Take a Half-Day Hike in Glacier3-5 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
Glacier is a hiker’s paradise. Spend part of your day on one of these 3-5 hour hikes.
Take a Full Day Hike in Glacier5-12 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
Glacier is a hiker’s paradise. Spend your whole day in nature on one of these popular trails.
All about birding in Glacier National ParkAll year
Glacier provides a wonderful opportunity to birdwatch, with plenty of spaces for birders of all ages to sit, listen, and observe the sights and sounds of nature. With 279 documented species including raptors, songbirds,…
All about wildlife watching safetyAll year
View wildlife across Glacier National Park's vast landscapes. The diversity of habitat types creates opportunities for a wide range of animals. Find more information on everything from the large and majestic elk of the…

Show all 41 things to do

American DipperAll year
American MartensAll year
BatsSpring, Summer, Fall
BearsSpring, Summer, Fall
BeaversSpring, Summer, Fall
Bighorn SheepAll year
BobcatsAll year
Canada LynxAll year
Check out a Mission 66 Visitor CenterSummer
Clark's NutcrackerAll year
Columbian Ground SquirrelsSpring, Summer, Fall
Common LoonSpring, Summer, Fall
CoyotesAll year
DeerAll year
EaglesAll year
ElkAll year
Fire-Adapted WoodpeckersAll year
Gray WolvesWinter, Spring
Harlequin DuckSpring, Summer
MarmotsSpring, Summer, Fall
MooseAll year
Mountain BluebirdSpring, Summer
Mountain GoatsAll year
Mountain LionsAll year
Northern River OttersAll year
OspreySpring, Summer
OwlsAll year
PikasSpring, Summer, Fall
Red FoxesAll year
Varied ThrushAll year
WeaselsAll year
White-Tailed PtarmiganAll year
WolverinesAll year

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Glacier

Glacier's weather is highly variable and can be extreme. Expect warm, sunny summer days but be ready for any type of conditions. In the winter, temperatures can fall well below freezing and typically the park receives considerable amounts of snow. Glacier's geography, straddling the Continental Divide, sets the stage for clashes of two very different climates.

Warm, wet Pacific air moves in from the west, and cold, dry Arctic air flows from the northeast. They meet at the Divide.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Glacier

Glacier National Park is located in the northwest corner of Montana along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. By car you can access Glacier via Highway 2, which runs along the southern boundary of the park. You can reach the east side of the park via Highway 89.

The nearest airports are in Kalispell and Great Falls, Montana.

64 Grinnell Drive, West Glacier, MT, 59936 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Glacier

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Seattle (401 mi)

Glacier is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

A small, brown and white structure sits on a rocky top with mountain peaks in the distance. — Photo: NPS Photo

Grinnell Glacier from Upper Grinnell Ridge in 2021 — Photo: NPS Photo

FAQ

Glacier, quickly

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?: If you want fewer people, go in June, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and February the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Glacier National Park?: $35 / vehicle. Also: $100 nonresident fee (16+). An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park, and waives the nonresident fee.
Do you need a reservation for Glacier National Park in 2026?: No. Vehicle reservations will not be required in 2026. (nps.gov, checked October 1, 2026). Some tours, permits and campgrounds may still need booking.
What are some things to do in Glacier National Park?: The National Park Service lists 41 things to do in Glacier National Park, including Attend One of Glacier's Evening Programs, Listen to Glacier's Podcast, Visit One of Glacier's Historic Lodges, Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, Take a Half-Day Hike in Glacier. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Glacier National Park become a national park?: Glacier National Park was established as a national park on May 11, 1910.
What is the closest national park to Glacier?: Yellowstone National Park, about 322 miles away in a straight line (roughly 8 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 3

1.Glacier National Park — official site · National Park Service
2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.Glacier National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/glac.

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Glacier National Park