Families and groups
Leans DIY on entry cost
One $35 vehicle fee covers everyone in the car, so a party of five pays $7 each to enter. A per-seat tour price has no such discount, so compare it with your whole-car cost.
Source: NPS fees, Oct 26, 2026
Montana · National Park
Glacier: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Glacier charges $35 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). Visitors 16 and older who live outside the US pay an extra $100 unless they hold a pass. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $8.75 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
Our verdict, from the fee data
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $35 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $35 | $35 |
| 2 people | $35 | $17.50 |
| 4 people | $35 | $8.75 |
| 6 people | $35 | $5.83 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $35. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35 | (Winter Rate - $25.00, November 1 to April 30) This is an entrance fee for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van). The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20 | (Winter Rate - $15.00, November 1 to April 30) This is a per person entrance fee for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, or for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30 | (Winter Rate - $20.00, November 1 to April 30) Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25 | Entrance fees are based on the seating capacity of the vehicle (driver not included). Commercial Sedan entrance fee is $25, plus $20 per person, 16 years of age or older. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $75 | Entrance fees are based on the seating capacity of the vehicle (driver not included). Commercial Van entrance fee is $75 regardless of occupancy. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $100 | Entrance fees are based on the seating capacity of the vehicle (driver not included). Commercial Mini-bus entrance fee is $100 regardless of occupancy. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $200 | Entrance fees are based on the seating capacity of the vehicle (driver not included). Commercial Motor Coach fee is $200 regardless of occupancy. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. |
| Nonresident | $100 | Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Glacier National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Glacier via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Visiting from outside the US? Glacier is one of 11 parks that charge non-US residents aged 16+ a $100 nonresident fee on top of the regular entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250. Source: nps.gov passes, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 3 visits at $35 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Glacier also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $70.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. July had 24% of the year; February was the quietest month, with about 2% of the busiest month’s visits.
BusierQuietest month
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 17,984 |
| February | 15,202 |
| March | 25,909 |
| April | 48,576 |
| May | 238,766 |
| June | 576,577 |
| July | 765,061 |
| August | 718,766 |
| September | 552,479 |
| October | 127,537 |
| November | 27,967 |
| December | 21,733 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
1 active NPS alert when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 1 closure. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Going-to-the-Sun Road Seasonal Closure
Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the season at Avalanche Creek on the west side of the park. On the east side, the closure is located at Jackson Glacier Overlook. Travel on open sections of the road may change at any time due to winter weather conditions. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
Glacier National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. An entrance fee is required, even when entrance stations are not staffed. Instructions are available at each entrance for self-payment.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Auto and ATV
- Backcountry Camping
- Biking
- Boat Tour
- Boat Tour
- Boating
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Citizen Science
- Climbing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Fishing
- Food
- Group Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Hiking
- +21 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Glacier?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for GlacierWho fits what at Glacier
Built from NPS and NOAA data, not opinion. “Leans” is a plain reading of the fee model, not a recommendation.
Seniors (62+)
A senior pass cuts DIY cost
US residents aged 62 and over can buy an annual pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80. The NPS API we use has no per-park accessibility data, so check the park page for trail and shuttle accessibility before choosing.
Source: nps.gov passes, Oct 26, 2026
Visitors without a car
Transit is listed
The NPS tags “Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour” here. Guided options tagged: Boat Tour, Boat Tour, Boating and Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour. Confirm routes and seasons on nps.gov.
Source: NPS activities, Oct 26, 2026
First-timers
Start at a visitor center
The NPS lists 3 visitor centers, 3 with passport stamps. It also publishes 7 self-guided tours, taking 10 min to 5 h, which cost nothing beyond entry.
Source: NPS visitor centers and tours, Oct 26, 2026
Short visits
Entry is valid 7 days
The vehicle fee is good for 7 days, so a one-day trip pays the same gate fee as a long one. NPS self-guided tours here run up to 5 h. February was the quietest month in 2025, which helps if you only have a day.
Source: NPS fees and IRMA Stats, Oct 26, 2026
What to book ahead
Check reservations early
The NPS campground listings (13) tag 920 sites as reservable and 90 as first-come; those tags can lag, so confirm on the park page.
Source: NPS alerts and campgrounds, Oct 26, 2026
Season
July is busiest
July drew 24% of 2025 recreation visits; its average high is 80°F at the nearest NOAA station. February was quietest, with an average high of 34°F. Mild months below the average crowd: April, October and May.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats; NOAA normals 1991–2020 (W GLACIER, 25 km away)
Parking and shuttles
No related alerts
No active NPS alert mentioned parking, shuttles or timed entry on Oct 26, 2026. Parking can still be scarce at peak times; see the park page.
Source: NPS alerts, Oct 26, 2026
Questions
How much does it cost to enter Glacier by car?
The NPS lists $35 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
Is there an extra fee for visitors from outside the US at Glacier?
Yes. Glacier is one of 11 parks where non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a $100 nonresident fee on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass (NPS, checked Oct 26, 2026).
When is Glacier busiest?
July had the most recreation visits in 2025 (24% of the year). February had the fewest, so July drew about 50.3 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
More parks in Montana
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.