Glacier National Park 2026 Reservations: Complete Guide & What Changed

Step 1: Book Shuttle Tickets (Biggest 2026 Change)

For the 2026 season (July 1–September 7), the former free walk-on Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle system Glacier used in prior years was replaced. The Logan Pass Shuttle required pre-purchased tickets through Recreation.gov. The tickets cost just $1 per person as a processing fee, and availability was genuinely limited — sell-outs occurred on peak summer days. That 2026 season has ended; check NPS.gov for whether a shuttle system returns in future years.

How to book: tickets were sold at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777, selecting a shuttle date and route. Per NPS.gov, the 2026 60-day advance booking window opened May 2, 2026 at 8 a.m. MDT.

2026 shuttle routes (express only): the west side ran Apgar Visitor Center → Lake McDonald Lodge → The Loop → Logan Pass. The east side ran St. Mary Visitor Center → Rising Sun → Logan Pass. Riders transferred between routes at Logan Pass. Per NPS.gov, the 2026 express shuttle did NOT stop at Avalanche Creek or Trail of the Cedars — driving your own vehicle or an alternative trailhead was the workaround.

Next-day tickets: starting June 30, 2026, a next-day window opened nightly at 7 p.m. MDT for the following day — the safety net for travelers who missed the 60-day window. Tickets were sold online or by phone only, not in person; limited connectivity made the visitor-center Wi-Fi useful. Who was exempt: children under age 2 rode free. Hikers on a one-way route (e.g., Highline Trail west to east) needed both an outbound and return shuttle ticket booked at the same time. The east and west routes connected at Logan Pass, but each leg required a separate ticket.

Step 2: Reserve Your Campsite

Glacier has 13 campgrounds. Seven are reservation campgrounds; the remaining campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Two Medicine Campground is closed in 2026 for construction. All reservations go through Recreation.gov.

Reservation campgrounds (7): Apgar, Avalanche, Fish Creek, Many Glacier, Sprague Creek, St. Mary, and Two Medicine. Check the current NPS and Recreation.gov listings before choosing a site; Two Medicine is closed for 2026. Peak-season 2026 sites use a 6-month rolling calendar. Many popular sites — especially Many Glacier — book out months in advance.

Cost: per NPS.gov, nightly rates run approximately $15–$30/night depending on campground and season. Confirm 2026 rates on Recreation.gov when booking.

Generator hours (all campgrounds): generators are allowed 8–10 a.m., noon–2 p.m., and 5–7 p.m. only. Prohibited entirely at Sprague Creek, Fish Creek C-Loop, Rising Sun, some Many Glacier sites, St. Mary A-Loop, Two Medicine sites 1–36, and Cut Bank. St. Mary exception: from August 17 to September 11, St. Mary Campground shifts to walk-up only — reservations must be made the same day you arrive. This is a quieter window to visit without advance planning. Didn't get a reservation? Check current operating status and availability at first-come campgrounds, and have an alternate base in mind in case a site is full.

Step 3: Book a Lodge

Glacier's in-park lodges under the Glacier National Park Lodges brand are operated by Xanterra. Reservations for these properties open up to 13 months in advance, with the monthly window opening on the 1st of each month at midnight MT for the corresponding month of the following year.

How to book: online at glaciernationalparklodges.com or by phone at 855-733-4522 (daily 7 a.m.–7 p.m. MT).

Deposit: first night's rate charged at booking. Check the selected property's rate details for child, extra-adult, and pet policies before booking (service animals permitted).

Missed the lodge window? Check Whitefish (25 miles west) or West Glacier (park gateway) for private lodging. Both towns have year-round options, and gateway stays let you enter the park early each morning before crowds build.

Step 4: Get a Backcountry Permit (If Applicable)

A day hike in Glacier National Park does not require the overnight wilderness permit process. Backcountry camping in Glacier's designated wilderness sites requires a permit year-round. Skip this step if you're camping only in developed campgrounds or day-hiking.

Cost: $10 non-refundable application fee + $7/person/night camping fee. Per NPS.gov, cancellations made more than 7 days before the trip receive a refund of the camping fee; the $10 application fee is non-refundable.

Walk-up permits: about 30% of backcountry sites are reserved for walk-up permits, distributed at ranger stations. Check the specific issuing station's hours and arrange your permit pickup in advance.

Booking: online at Recreation.gov (permit #4675321) or call 877-444-6777. Maximum itinerary for advance wilderness reservation applications: 16 miles per day.

Step 5: Buy Your Entrance Pass

No reservation is needed to enter Glacier National Park in 2026, but you still need the appropriate entrance pass. Pay the entrance fee at the gate or buy in advance at store.usgs.gov.

The America the Beautiful Annual Pass covers Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and 2,000+ other federal sites: $80 for U.S. citizens and residents, $250 for non-U.S. residents. It can be a good value for anyone visiting more than one national park in a year. Visitors who are not U.S. residents and are age 16 or older must also pay an additional $100 fee unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass.

Step 6: Plan for Logan Pass (No Reservation, Time Limits Apply)

Logan Pass had no vehicle-reservation requirement in 2026 — but for that July 1 through September 7, 2026 pilot, private vehicles were subject to a 3-hour maximum parking limit, per NPS.gov. Parking was first-come, required a free timestamped permit from the kiosk, and was enforced 24 hours a day. Overnight parking was prohibited except for visitors with wilderness permits starting or ending at Logan Pass and Granite Park Chalet guests.

Logan Pass parking could fill on peak July/August days, and availability could not be guaranteed. The 3-hour limit was designed to create faster turnover — mid-morning arrivals (9:30–11 a.m.) may have found openings as earlier visitors departed. Rangers could divert traffic during high congestion.

What Changed in 2026 vs. 2025

Glacier made major operational changes for the 2026 season, which ran through September 7. If you visited in 2024 or 2025, the system was substantially different. Here's the complete comparison, per the 2026 Summer Operations announcement on NPS.gov.