Will It Be Easier to Visit Glacier National Park in 2025?`

Glacier National Park won’t require vehicle reservations on the east side of the popular park for summer visitors in 2025. However, the park is making more changes for visitors on the west side.

The park has been using the reservation system for the past few summers and is continually “tweaking” the model. The goal has been to provide the best visitor experience possible, while still managing the crowds during the height of summer, especially on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Last year’s changes included no longer requiring visitors entering Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east at St. Mary to need vehicle reservations.

How will Glacier National Park reservations work in 2025

Now, Glacier National Park leaders have announced they will use a system of “timed entries” for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork. Visitors will still need a reservation between 7 am and 3 pm but will be allowed to stay for “blocks” of time as long as they want. And visitors can still enter before 7, or after 3 pm if they don’t have a reservation.

Timed entries build off “success”

“In 2025 we are continuing successful measures from the 2024 season, including access to Apgar Village, Two Medicine, and the East Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road outside of the vehicle reservation system.

Within that successful framework we are going to try timed entry to see if we can minimize congestion, optimize visitor arrival, and improve visitor experiences,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “Timed entry has proven to be a valuable tool in other popular national parks and should reduce congestion and wait times at the West Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.”

Reservations will open in February.