Glacier National Park Entrance Fees, Passes & Free Days 2026

A private vehicle pass to Glacier National Park costs $35 for a 7-day permit in 2026 (Nov 1–Apr 30 winter rate: $25). The biggest change this year: vehicle reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road are no longer required — Glacier is managing congestion with temporary closures instead.

Whether you’re planning a single visit or a summer-long road trip, knowing which pass to buy and when to come free can save you $35–$250 or more. Here’s everything verified directly from NPS.gov for 2026.

Standard Entrance Fees 2026

All standard passes are valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of purchase, per NPS.gov. A vehicle pass covers everyone in the car — there is no per-person charge on top of the vehicle fee. Children age 15 and under always enter free.

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Solo visitors arriving on foot, bike, or horseback pay $20 per person (winter: $15). This covers one individual — if you hike in with a group, each person pays separately. Groups of four or more adults arriving on foot are generally better off paying separately than buying any single pass.

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Annual Passes & America the Beautiful

If you plan to visit Glacier more than once, or visit other national parks in the same year, an annual pass will almost certainly save you money. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80 for US residents) pays for itself after just three vehicle entries at Glacier’s $35 rate, per NPS.gov.

All America the Beautiful passes are now available as fully digital passes through Recreation.gov — buy instantly and store on your phone. Physical cards are still available and link to your digital account. Starting 2026, each pass covers two motorcycles per pass (up from one).

Non-Resident Surcharge ($100)

Visitors who are not US citizens or permanent residents face an additional $100 per-person fee at Glacier in 2026, per NPS.gov. This is charged on top of the standard entrance fee for anyone aged 16 or older.

For example, a non-resident couple arriving by car pays $35 (vehicle pass) + $200 (2 × $100 non-resident fee) = $235 total. Children 15 and under are exempt from both the standard fee and the surcharge. Non-residents who purchase an America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250) have the surcharge waived.

Commercial & Tour Vehicle Fees

Tour operators, shuttle services, and other commercial vehicles are charged based on seating capacity — not including the driver — per NPS.gov. These fees apply per entry; personal America the Beautiful passes cannot be used for commercial vehicles.

Free Entrance Days 2026

Glacier National Park waives entrance fees on six days in 2026, per NPS.gov. Free days apply only to US citizens and permanent residents — the $100 non-resident surcharge still applies on these days.

Free entry days do not waive camping fees, shuttle ticket costs, or other amenity charges — only the standard vehicle or per-person entrance fee. Going-to-the-Sun Road on free days tends to see significantly higher traffic; arrive before 8 a.m. or use the park shuttle to avoid congestion-related temporary closures.

Vehicle Reservations & 2026 Changes

For the first time in five years, Glacier is not requiring timed-entry vehicle reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2026, per NPS.gov. Instead, park staff will implement temporary closures to incoming vehicles when areas reach capacity — similar to how busy trailhead lots work.

The ticketed Logan Pass shuttle launches June 30, 2026. A portion of tickets goes on sale 60 days in advance starting May 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. MDT on Recreation.gov. Remaining tickets release daily at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry. Shuttle tickets are a separate purchase from your entrance pass.

Tips to Save on Entry

Several strategies can meaningfully reduce what you pay at the gate. The right approach depends on how often you visit and whether you hold US residency.

• Visit in winter (Nov 1–Apr 30): Vehicle pass drops from $35 to $25 — a 29% discount on every entry when you have a compelling reason to visit off-season.
• Get the America the Beautiful Pass ($80): Covers Glacier and 2,000+ other federal sites. Pays off after just 3 vehicle visits to Glacier alone.
• Age 62+? Get the Senior Lifetime Pass ($80): Same price as one year of Annual Pass, but covers all federal fee sites for life.
• Active military: Free Annual Pass for you and your dependents — show your Common Access Card or Uniformed Services ID at the entrance station.
• 4th graders (Every Kid Outdoors): Free annual pass for the student plus up to three accompanying adults. Apply at everykidoutdoors.gov.
• Visit on a free entry day: Six days in 2026 with no entrance fee — Memorial Day and Presidents’ Day fall during shoulder season and are less congested than peak summer dates.
• Buy digitally before you arrive: Skip the entrance station line entirely by purchasing via Recreation.gov and displaying your digital pass on your phone.

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Non-resident visitors planning stops at multiple national parks should strongly consider the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250) — it waives the $100-per-person surcharge and covers all federal fee sites for a year. Two adult non-residents visiting Glacier and one other major park break even immediately.