The 2025 Guide to Going-to-the-Sun Road Vehicle Reservations (Updated for 2025)
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 2025. Read on, and be sure to watch the video for tips on booking last-minute reservations!
When is a Glacier Park Vehicle Entry Pass required in 2025?
Glacier National Park has released the official details for the 2025 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 (at the foot of Lake McDonald) between 7 AM and 3 PM from June 13 through September 28, 2025.
- Reservation Release Dates: Reservations are available through two release windows:
- 120 days in advance: Released at 8 AM Mountain Time (Example: June 13 reservations become available February 13)
- Day before: Released at 7 PM Mountain Time the night before your visit
- Reservation Duration: Vehicle reservations are valid for a 2-hour entry block. Once you enter during your time block, you can stay in the park as long as you like that day.
What’s New in 2025?
Glacier National Park has made several significant changes to the reservation system this year:
- Timed Entry Blocks: Instead of all-day access, reservations now specify a 2-3 hour window when you can enter the park. This is a major change from previous years.
- East Side Access: Vehicle reservations are NOT required at the St. Mary entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2025, providing an alternative access point.
- Two Medicine Free Access: No vehicle reservations required for Two Medicine in 2025.
- Many Glacier Shuttle System: From July 1 to September 21, access to Many Glacier will require either a service reservation or a shuttle reservation due to construction.
- North Fork Requirement: Vehicle reservations are still required for the North Fork entrance from 7 AM to 3 PM. If you’re planning to visit the North Fork you’ll want to check out our guide to Polebridge!
How to Get Your GTTSR Vehicle Reservation
- 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 setting up your account in advance is crucial.
- 120-Day Advance Reservations: These become available at 8 AM Mountain Time exactly 120 days before your desired visit date. For example:
- For June 13: Book on February 13
- For June 14: Book on February 14
- And so on…
- 24-Hour Reservations: If you missed the advance reservations, log in the day before your visit at 7 PM Mountain Time to try for last-minute openings. Here’s the video showing how to book these last-minute reservations:
Understanding Park Passes vs. GNP Vehicle Reservations
This is a common point of confusion, so let me clear it up:
- Park Pass: This covers your entrance fee to Glacier National Park. Options include:
- $35 seven-day vehicle pass
- America the Beautiful Pass
- Glacier Annual Pass
- Senior, Military, or Access Passes
- Vehicle Reservation: This is an additional timed entry permit required to enter specific areas during peak hours
- You need BOTH: A park pass AND a vehicle reservation during the required times and locations
Recreation.gov charges a $2 processing fee for vehicle reservations. The National Park Service does not receive this money.
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!
- Early or Late Entry: Enter Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance before 7 AM or after 3 PM without a reservation
- East Side Entry: Access Going-to-the-Sun Road from the St. Mary entrance without a reservation at any time
- Two Medicine: Visit this beautiful area without a reservation at any time
- Service Reservations: If you have reservations for lodging, camping, boat tours, horseback rides, or other commercial activities within the specified area, you can use your confirmation as your vehicle reservation. Note: The activity must be located between Apgar and Logan Pass to use the West Entrance.
- Check Recreation.gov Often: People frequently cancel reservations, making them available for rebooking
Navigating Peak Season in Glacier: July and August Strategy
July and August are the most competitive months for GTTSR reservations. Here’s my insider strategy:
- Early Bird Advantage: Plan to enter before 7 AM for stunning morning light and easier parking
- East Side Alternative: Consider accessing Going-to-the-Sun Road from St. Mary if you can’t get a West Entrance reservation
- Split Your Visit: Combine unreserved areas (Two Medicine, St. Mary entrance) with reserved areas
- Weekday Priority: Target Tuesday through Thursday for your GTTSR West Entrance days if possible
- Monitor Weather: Bad weather forecasts often lead to cancellations, creating last-minute availability
Common Questions About 2025 Vehicle Reservations
What if I miss my entry time block?
If you miss your reserved time block, you can still enter the park after 3 PM on the same day.
Do I need to leave at the end of my time block?
No, once you enter during your reserved time block, you can stay in the park as long as you want that day.
What about rental cars?
When making your reservation, you don’t need to enter a license plate number for rental vehicles.
Do tribal members need vehicle reservations?
No. Pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, vehicle reservations are not required for tribal members throughout the park.
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
A Personal Journey with GTTSR Reservations
As someone who’s called the Flathead home since long before Instagram discovered Lake McDonald, I’ve watched Glacier transform from our local paradise to an international destination. Growing up, we’d pack sandwiches and thermoses of hot chocolate on a whim, hopping in the truck whenever the mood struck. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was our playground, not something that required planning months in advance.
When the reservation system first appeared in 2021, I was admittedly furious. This was OUR park, OUR mountains – and suddenly I needed government permission to drive a road I’d traveled hundreds of times? That first summer, I stubbornly refused to make reservations, instead arriving at 5 AM to beat the checkpoint or avoiding the corridor entirely. My silent protest only hurt myself, missing those familiar views of the Weeping Wall and the thrill of cresting Logan Pass.
By 2023, my stubbornness had softened to resignation. I begrudgingly set my alarm for reservation releases, muttering about bureaucracy while clicking through recreation.gov. The moment that changed everything came unexpectedly – a July evening at Avalanche Lake when I realized I could actually hear the waterfalls instead of a hundred conversations. The trail felt like it had in my childhood, with space to breathe and time to spot the family of deer watching from the trees.
Now in 2025, I’ve made peace with the new reality. The truth I’ve come to accept is that my beloved Glacier was being loved to death. What felt like theft of my birthright was actually preservation of it. These days, I still keep a reservation calendar, but with appreciation rather than resentment. I’ve developed new traditions – showing my niece her first mountain goat on a perfectly-timed mid-morning Logan Pass hike, without the crushing crowds that would have scared the wildlife away. Last year, I even helped a confused couple from Michigan navigate the reservation system on my phone while waiting in line at the West Glacier Mercantile. “Trust me,” I told them, “it’s worth it.”
Onward and Upward,
-Cait
