The 2024 Guide to Going-to-the-Sun Road Vehicle Reservations (Updated for 2024)
Hey, I’m Cait! I own River Haus right at the entrance to Glacier National Park. I love climbing Glacier peaks with the Glacier Mountaineering Society and know a thing or two about how to get into the country’s best national park.
Getting a Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTTSR) reservation can be tricky, so I put together this guide to share exactly how to get your vehicle entry pass for 2024. Read on, and be sure to watch the video for tips on booking last-minute reservations!
When is a Vehicle Entry Pass required in 2024?
Glacier National Park has released details for the 2024 vehicle reservation system. Here’s the key information:
- Reservation Required: A GTTSR vehicle reservation is needed for vehicles entering the West Entrance past the Apgar Check Point between 6 AM and 3 PM from May 24th through September 8th, 2024.
- Reservation Release Dates: A portion of reservations become available on a rolling 120-day window. Reservations open up exactly 120 days before your desired entry date. Log in at 8 AM MST on that specific date to try to secure your spot. Next-day reservations open 24 hours in advance, released at 7 PM MDT starting on May 23rd, 2024.
How to Get Your GTTSR Vehicle Reservation
- Create a Recreation.gov Account: Have your account set up with payment information ready ( https://www.recreation.gov ). Important: Tickets often sell out quickly, so logging in early is crucial.
- 120-Day Advance Reservations: Struggling to figure out when to book your Going-to-the-Sun Road reservation? I’ve got you covered! I created a handy Google Sheet calculator that does all the date math for you. Just input your travel date, and it tells you the exact day to log in for your reservation.
- 24-Hour Reservations: If you missed the first release, log in 24 hours before your desired entry date at 7 PM MDT to try for last-minute openings. Here’s the video showing how to book 24-hour reservations:
Other Ways to Get Into Glacier Park Without a Vehicle Entry Pass
If you don’t manage to buy a ticket in advance you still have options to get in!
- Enter Glacier National Park before 6 am or after 3 pm without a ticket
- You can rent gear from Glacier Outfitters in Apgar or book a tour along the GTTSR corridor which will give you access to the rental or tour date
- Reserve a campsite at Apgar Campground
- Check recreation.gov often! Many people end up canceling their vehicle reservation tickets. When they do, they become available to purchase on recreation.gov. It is worthwhile checking back and seeing if any new tickets become available.
Still not sure what to do?
Don’t worry and don’t stress! I want to make sure you get in. Feel free to reach out and message me on my Airbnb listing – I am a Superhost which means I HAVE to reply within 24 hours to any message. I get a lot of people who never end up booking but I’m happy to help guide you in the right direction.
There is a lot more information on the Glacier Park website including all the details about getting reservations for other areas of the park like Two Medicine, Many Glacier, and the North Fork/Polebridge area.
Remember – GNP just released their most up-to-date details for the 2024 vehicle entry pass. I’ll keep this page updated with all of the details and any tips, tricks or hacks to make sure you can reserve a GTTSR vehicle entry ticket.
Feel free to reach out directly! If you have any questions about the reservation system or anything else related to planning your trip, just send me an email at stay@riverhausglacier.com
Bookmark This Page: I’ll keep it updated as more 2024-specific details are released by Glacier National Park. For the latest official information, visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm
Onward and Upward,
-Cait
