Glacier National Park — Interstate Access, 2026 Fees & Truck Notes

01 Park overview

Glacier protects a million acres of the northern Rockies along the Canadian border — over 700 lakes, 175 named mountains, and 25 active glaciers (down from over 80 a century ago). Founded in 1910 and joined with Canada's Waterton Lakes in 1932 to form the world's first International Peace Park, Glacier is best known for the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, a National Historic Landmark engineered to traverse the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 ft). From I-90 the access is Exit 96 in Missoula, then 156 miles north on US-93. The east side of the park is reached from I-15 Exit 363 in Shelby via 99 miles of US-2. NPS confirmed in early 2026 that no vehicle reservations are required this year — a change from the 2021-2024 pilots.

Established 1910; joined with Waterton Lakes to form the world's first International Peace Park (1932)
Going-to-the-Sun Road is a National Historic Landmark and a National Civil Engineering Landmark
About 25 active glaciers remain inside park boundaries (down from 80+ in 1850)
Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site
Logan Pass on the Continental Divide tops out at 6,646 ft

02 Photos

Mountain goat at Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA

03 Don't miss

Logan Pass and the Hidden Lake Overlook
Lake McDonald
Many Glacier Hotel and area trails
Two Medicine Lake
Highline Trail along the Garden Wall

04 Getting there & truck/RV access

Route from interstate

From I-90

Exit 96 (Missoula)

156 mi north on US-93 and MT-35 to West Glacier; or from I-15 Exit 363 (Shelby), 99 mi west on US-2 to East Glacier

Big rigs & RVs

Truck access

US-93 and US-2 to the gateway towns are unrestricted for all vehicle sizes. Inside the park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road has firm size limits — vehicles over 21 ft long, 8 ft wide (including mirrors), or 10 ft tall cannot traverse it between Avalanche Creek and Sun Point.

Parking: Apgar (West Glacier), St. Mary, and Many Glacier have RV-capable lots; the Logan Pass lot fills by 8 AM most summer days. Truck stops in Kalispell (Sinclair, Town Pump) are the closest commercial fuel and parking.

Restrictions: No vehicles over 21 ft / 8 ft / 10 ft on the Going-to-the-Sun Road central section. Two Medicine and Many Glacier roads are paved but narrow — exercise caution with anything over 30 ft.

05 Seasonality & road closures

Best months: Mid-July through early September — Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open, all visitor centers and shuttles operating.

Closures: The Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens by July 1 (full traverse) and closes with the first significant snow in mid-October. Outside the open window, it is plowed only to Avalanche Creek (west) and Rising Sun (east).

Notes: Vehicle reservations are NOT required for 2026, per NPS. This may change in future years — verify before traveling.

06 Entrance fees (2026)

Pass	Price
Private vehicle (7-day)	$35 (Nov 1–Apr 30: $25)
Motorcycle (7-day)	$30 (winter: $20)
Individual / walk-in (7-day, age 16+)	$20 (winter: $15)
Park-specific annual pass	$70 (Glacier Annual Pass)
America the Beautiful (annual, all NPS sites)	$80 U.S. residents · $250 non-residents

2026 nonresident fee — applies at this park

Each non-U.S. resident aged 16 and older pays an additional $100 per person on top of the standard entrance fee. The fee is waived for visitors holding the $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass (which also covers up to three additional adults). Children under 16 are exempt. U.S. residency is verified with a U.S. passport, U.S. driver's license / state ID, or Permanent Resident Card.

Fee-free days available for U.S. residents only beginning January 1, 2026.

Note: Reduced winter fees apply November 1 through April 30. No vehicle reservations required in 2026.

Official NPS fee page →

07 Current alerts

No active NWS weather alerts or FEMA disaster declarations in Glacier National Park's state(s) right now.

08 FAQ

How do I get to Glacier from the interstate?

For West Glacier: I-90 Exit 96 in Missoula, then 156 miles north on US-93 and MT-35. For East Glacier: I-15 Exit 363 in Shelby, then 99 miles west on US-2. Both routes are paved and accommodate any vehicle size up to the park gate.

Can I drive an RV over Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Only if it's under 21 ft long, 8 ft wide (including mirrors), and 10 ft tall. The central section between Avalanche Creek and Sun Point has tight switchbacks and rock overhangs — these limits are strictly enforced. Larger vehicles use US-2 around the southern boundary as the alternate.

Do I need a vehicle reservation in 2026?

No. NPS confirmed in early 2026 that no vehicle reservations are required this year for any area of the park. The standard entrance fee still applies.

When is Going-to-the-Sun Road open?

The full 50-mile traverse typically opens between late June and early July (depending on snow plowing) and closes in mid-October. Year-round, the road is plowed to Avalanche Creek on the west side and Rising Sun on the east side.

From I-90

Truck access

2026 nonresident fee — applies at this park

Glacier National Park on the live map