Getting Around Glacier National Park: Access, Entrances, Shuttles, and Parking

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Glacier

The short answer is that you'll need a car at Glacier. But to reach the heart of the park, the free NPS shuttle will spare you the biggest source of summer stress: finding a parking spot at Logan Pass in the middle of July.

How to Get to Glacier National Park

To reach Glacier from Montana's major cities or from Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell (FCA), you'll find all the options, including distances, flights, and car-free alternatives, in our guide to getting to Glacier.

The Park Entrances and Which One to Choose

Glacier has several entrance stations. Two of them handle most visits.

West Entrance (West Glacier / Apgar) is the busiest entrance on the west side. It provides access to Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Apgar Transit Center, and the NPS shuttle departure point. Choose it if you're coming from Kalispell or Whitefish.

St. Mary Entrance on the east side provides access to Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east. It's ideal if you're arriving from Canada or eastern Montana. The visitor center is open during the summer season.

Here are the secondary entrances to know about:

Many Glacier in the northeast, via Route 464 from US-89, provides access to the area of the same name, which is very popular for hikes around glacial lakes. It doesn't connect to Going-to-the-Sun Road, so plan on a separate drive from the main entrance.

Two Medicine in the southeast is a quiet area that's much less crowded than the central sections. It's a good choice if you want to escape the August crowds.

Polebridge in the northwest is reached by a dirt road for about 12 miles. Use this entrance only with a vehicle suitable for rough roads, and check conditions first.

For the $35 private vehicle entrance fee, the National Park Fees & Passes page explains entrance fees and annual passes.

Getting Around the Park

By Car

A car is still the main way to get around Glacier. The central route is Going-to-the-Sun Road, a scenic road that crosses the park for about 50 miles from west to east. It comes with one major limitation: between Avalanche Creek on the west side and St. Mary on the east side, vehicles more than 21 feet long including the trailer or more than 8 feet wide are prohibited. This restriction applies directly to RVs and large camper vans. Check your vehicle's exact dimensions before planning to drive this route.

The speed limit is 45 mph on wider sections and much lower on the hairpin turns. The road is narrow, the pavement is in decent condition, and some cliffside stretches don't have continuous guardrails. Stay focused, especially if you're tempted to take in the views while navigating a switchback.

By Shuttle

The NPS operates a network of free shuttles on Going-to-the-Sun Road during the summer season, generally from late June through early September, depending on the road's opening date, which varies from year to year. Shuttles run between the Apgar Transit Center on the west side and St. Mary Visitor Center on the east side, with stops at Avalanche Creek, Lake McDonald Lodge, Logan Pass, Sun Point, and other key locations.

The benefit is immediate. Logan Pass, at 6,645 feet and the park's most sought-after destination, has a full parking lot by 7 a.m. in July and August. Taking the shuttle from Apgar or Lake McDonald Lodge solves that problem instantly. We strongly recommend it for any trip to Logan Pass during peak season. The schedule is published on the NPS website each year. Download it before you enter because you won't have service inside the park.

By Bike

Bikes are allowed on Going-to-the-Sun Road, with seasonal restrictions. During peak season, roughly from mid-June through the first Monday in September, bikes are prohibited from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Apgar and Sprague Creek because this section is too narrow to safely share with traffic at the busiest time of day. Outside those hours and during the off-season, bikes are allowed throughout GTSR.

The climb from Apgar to Logan Pass covers about 31 miles and 5,250 feet of elevation gain. It's a ride for experienced climbers, not a family outing.

Where to Park

Parking is Glacier's biggest source of frustration in summer. These are the sites you absolutely need to know:

Logan Pass has about 100 spaces, and they fill by 6:30 to 8 a.m. on fair-weather days in July and August. Arrive before dawn or take the shuttle. This isn't a comfort recommendation. It's an operational fact.

Apgar / West Glacier has a large lot at the Apgar Transit Center, where the shuttles depart. It's less competitive than Logan Pass, but it also fills up in the morning during peak season.

St. Mary has parking at the east-side visitor center. It's easier to access than the west side and usually has reasonable availability outside weekends.

Many Glacier has a well-maintained lot in the area, but it fills on fair-weather days. Arriving before 9 a.m. is strongly recommended.

Two Medicine has the quietest parking in the park. It's a good option if you want to avoid the crowds.

As of now, Glacier doesn't have a parking reservation system. A transit permit on Going-to-the-Sun Road has been tested during some seasons, though, so check NPS announcements before your trip because the system may change.

Distances and Drive Times Between Areas

The full drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road from West Glacier to St. Mary covers about 50 miles. With no stops and light traffic, allow 1.5 to 2 hours. With stops at overlooks, half a day is a realistic minimum.

There is no direct connection from the west entrance at West Glacier to Many Glacier via GTSR. You'll need to go around via Route 2 and US-89, covering about 56 to 62 miles and taking 1.5 to 2 hours. This isn't a minor detour, so factor it in when planning your trip. Our Glacier itineraries offer plans for trips of 2 to 7 days.

Special Cases: RVs, Vans, Accessibility, and Pets

RVs and large vans are subject to the length restriction on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Vehicles longer than 21 feet between Avalanche Creek and St. Mary, including pickup trucks towing trailers, can't use the scenic road. Oversize parking is available at Avalanche Creek on the west side. Leave your vehicle there and take the shuttle to Logan Pass. It's the most practical and stress-free solution.

Accessibility: reserved spaces are available in the main parking lots. During some seasons, the NPS accessible transportation program offers accessible vehicles to Logan Pass from Apgar. Reserve in advance through the visitor center. The Logan Pass overlook itself is accessible from the parking lot, but the trails leading from it have significant elevation gain.

Pets are allowed in the park, but significant restrictions apply. Dogs are prohibited on nearly all trails, inside buildings, and in developed picnic areas. They're allowed in parking lots, on roads, and in campgrounds. Dogs must be leashed at all times, with a maximum leash length of 6 feet. In practice, traveling with a dog greatly limits your hiking options.

Practical Transportation Information: Gas, Cell Service, and Apps

Gas: there are no gas stations inside the park. Fill up in Whitefish, Kalispell, Browning, or Cut Bank before entering. If you're driving back and forth between several areas, start with a full tank.

Cell service is almost nonexistent in the park. The immediate areas around the entrances, including Apgar and St. Mary, have partial coverage that may be enough to load the shuttle schedule. As soon as you head toward Logan Pass or Many Glacier, you'll be out of service. Download offline maps before entering. Google Maps in offline mode, Maps.me, and the official NPS Glacier app all work without a connection.

NPS Glacier app: the official National Park Service app is free on iOS and Android. It offers downloadable maps, shuttle schedules, road conditions, and closure alerts. It's our top recommendation before any visit.

Road conditions: Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens between mid-May and mid-June, depending on snowpack, and closes in the fall, usually in October. Temporary closures because of bears or snowstorms can happen on any day during the season. Check NPS alerts the day before each day in the park. For weather and its impact on access, our Glacier weather guide covers seasonal variations in detail.

Our Glacier guide provides an overview of every aspect of a visit if you're still in the general planning stage.

Frequently Asked Questions