A 2026 Guide For Visiting Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road
Montana — After years of attempting to mitigate traffic on Glacier’s signature road, the National Park Service (NPS) is taking a different approach this year.
For 2026, Going-to-the-Sun Road will no longer require reservations from drivers. In addition, reservations won’t be required for the Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and the North Fork areas. Rather, Glacier National Park will introduce ticketed parking at Logan Pass while also continuing its bus service.
Here’s a rundown of what the experience will be like this year.
Logan Pass Ticketed Parking
Drivers will no longer need to reserve their place. Rather, the new plan is to have a ticketed parking system at Logan Pass. If they park at Logan Pass, drivers will need to get a ticket and place it on their dashboard. From the time they pick up their ticket, guests will have 3 hours to explore the area. This will give most guests enough time to see what they want, including checking out the Visitor Center, hiking to the Hidden Lake Overlook, or attending an interpretive program. The system will be in place from July 1, 2026 to September 7, 2026 (Labor Day). This system could be extended to fall operations, although a final decision on that has not yet been made. It will be enforced 24/7, so don’t try anything sneaky at 4:00 a.m.
From 2021 to 2025, a reservation system was tested for Going-to-the-Sun Road. According to the National Park Service, this strategy had its share of flaws:
“While vehicle reservations helped manage congestion along Going-to-the-Sun Road and outlying valleys, congestion at Logan Pass remained an ongoing challenge. Due to popularity of Logan Pass and the hikes that begin there, the parking lot often fills before dawn and remains mostly full all day, leaving few opportunities to park and visit.”
The Shuttle
For those who plan on a longer hike, don’t want to drive on a narrow road, or want to help reduce emissions, you’ll want to take the shuttle service.
For this year, Glacier National Park will continue its Logan Pass shuttle service. The shuttle will depart from the Apgar Visitor Center, Lake McDonald Lodge, St. Mary Visitor Center, and Rising Sun Picnic Area. These shuttles depart from the aforementioned stops in the morning and return in the afternoon and early evening.
Taking these shuttles requires a ticket. The shuttle costs $1, which can be paid for on recreation.gov. The shuttle will operate from July 1 to September 7.
Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens in the second half of June and stays open until around the third Monday of October.
Image/Video Credits: Brett Meliti, Living in Montana, Glacier National Park
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