Summer 2027 will be the second summer season in four years you can drive into Glacier National Park without a vehicle reservation ticket. The National Park Service scrapped the timed-entry system entirely — no tickets, no booking windows, no stress about missing your slot. You show up with an entrance pass and drive in.
That's the good news. The constraint that hasn't changed: Going-to-the-Sun Road still bans vehicles over 21 feet between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, which means most RVs can't drive the park's most iconic road. The campgrounds still have no hookups. And the eight reservation campgrounds still fill up weeks ahead on Recreation.gov. Here's how to plan around all of it.
TL;DR
- No vehicle reservations for 2026. NPS eliminated the timed-entry ticket system used from 2023–2025. Drive in whenever you want with a park entrance pass
- Going-to-the-Sun Road restriction: Vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide (including mirrors) prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun — no exceptions, rangers measure
- New for 2026: 3-hour parking limit at Logan Pass starting July 1. Shuttle service runs July–September via Recreation.gov reservations
- Campgrounds: 8 take reservations (Recreation.gov), 5 are first-come, first-served. No hookups anywhere inside the park
- Best RV base: St. Mary Campground on the east side — opens earliest (April), accepts larger rigs, has a dump station, and avoids GTSR entirely
- Nearest rental cities: Bozeman, MT (4.5 hours), Boise, ID (8 hours)
What changed at Glacier National Park?
Three things RV travelers need to know about this summer specifically — two of them are improvements, one is a trade-off.
No more vehicle reservation tickets
From 2023 through 2025, driving into Glacier during peak season required a timed-entry vehicle reservation — a separate ticket on top of your entrance pass, released in competitive booking windows that sold out in minutes. The RV renters we talk to who visited during those years tell us the reservation system was their biggest source of pre-trip stress.
That's done. For 2027, you drive into Glacier National Park at any time, from any entrance, with just a standard entrance pass ($35 for a 7-day vehicle pass, $80 for an annual). No booking windows, no time slots, no ticket scramble.
Logan Pass 3-hour parking limit
The trade-off for dropping vehicle reservations: starting July 1, 2026, private vehicles at Logan Pass have been limited to a maximum 3-hour stay. The Park Service implemented this to keep parking turning over so more visitors can access the visitor center, Highline Trail, and Hidden Lake Overlook. If you're driving a vehicle that fits on GTSR (under 21 feet), plan your Logan Pass stop accordingly.
Going-to-the-Sun Road opened June 22
The full 50-mile road opened to motor vehicles on June 22, 2026 — slightly later than some recent years due to snowpack. The NPS confirmed the opening with a note that lingering snow creates cold temperatures and icy conditions near Logan Pass, especially in the morning. Shuttle service runs July through September, with reservations available through Recreation.gov — tickets release in two windows: 60 days in advance (starting May 2) and same-night for next-day rides (starting June 30).
What are the RV restrictions on Going-to-the-Sun Road?
This is the hard constraint that shapes every RV trip to Glacier. There's no advisory, no "not recommended" language — it's a prohibition with enforcement.
The 21-foot rule
Between Avalanche Creek (west side) and Rising Sun (east side) — the most dramatic section of Going-to-the-Sun Road, including Logan Pass — vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet (bumper to bumper) or wider than 8 feet (including mirrors) are prohibited.
In our booking data, the most common mistake for Glacier trips is renting a 30-foot Class C and then discovering at the park entrance that Going-to-the-Sun Road has a hard 21-foot limit. That's not an advisory — rangers measure.
This means:
- Class A motorhomes: Cannot drive GTSR. Period.
- Most Class C motorhomes: Too long. Even "short" Class C rigs typically run 23–25 feet.
- Travel trailers and fifth wheels: Cannot drive GTSR while towing. You can unhitch and drive your tow vehicle through if it's under 21 feet.
- Class B campervans: Most fit. Measure yours — some extended-body vans push past 21 feet.
- Truck campers and small vans: You're clear.
Height issues
Vehicles over 10 feet in height may have problems driving westbound from Logan Pass to The Loop due to rock overhangs. Most RVs that meet the 21-foot length restriction are under 10 feet tall, but measure if you're in a high-roof van with roof-mounted accessories.
What this means for your trip
If your RV is over 21 feet, you have two options for experiencing GTSR:
- Park your RV at camp and take the shuttle. The Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle runs July through September. Reserve tickets on Recreation.gov — they go fast.
- Drive a tow vehicle. If you towed a car or SUV, unhitch and drive GTSR in the smaller vehicle. Many Glacier travelers base at campgrounds outside the GTSR restriction zone and day-trip through the road.
Which Glacier campgrounds work for RVs?
Glacier has 13 front-country campgrounds — 8 take reservations through Recreation.gov, 5 are first-come, first-served. Not all of them accept RVs, and the ones that do have tight size limits compared to parks in the Southwest.
Reservation campgrounds
Apgar Campground — west side workhorse
- Sites: 194
- RV length: 26–30 feet on select sites; most limited to 21 feet
- Season: May 1–September 29, 2026
- Fee: $30/night
- Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, dump station, camp store nearby
- Generator hours: Designated hours (check posted signs)
Apgar is the largest campground in the park and the closest to the west entrance. Lake McDonald is a short walk. The dump station is one of four in the park. Select sites accommodate rigs up to 30 feet, but you'll need to filter by site size on Recreation.gov — most sites max out at 21 feet.
Fish Creek Campground — west side alternative
- Sites: 178 (3 loops; Loop C = no generators)
- RV length: 26–30 feet on select sites; most limited to 21 feet
- Season: May 22–September 3, 2026
- Fee: $30/night
- Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, dump station
Three miles from Apgar on the west shore of Lake McDonald. Same RV size constraints as Apgar. If you need generator access, avoid Loop C.
St. Mary Campground — the RV-friendly pick
- Sites: 148 (3 loops; Loop A = no generators)
- RV length: Accommodates rigs up to 40 feet (more flexible than west-side campgrounds)
- Season: April 18–September 11, 2026 ($20/night shoulder Apr 18–May 21; $30/night peak May 22–Sep 11)
- Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, dump station
We see experienced Glacier RV travelers gravitate toward St. Mary on the east side. It opens earliest, accepts the largest rigs, has a dump station, and you skip Going-to-the-Sun Road entirely on the way in. The east entrance off US-89 has no vehicle size restrictions. St. Mary Lake — the park's second-largest — is right there.
Many Glacier Campground — alpine scenery, tight fit
- Sites: 109
- RV length: 21 feet maximum (strictly enforced; slide-outs not accommodated on most sites)
- Season: June 12–September 12, 2026
- Fee: $30/night
- Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, gray water sinks — no dump station, no showers
Many Glacier is widely considered Glacier's most scenic campground area — alpine peaks, Swiftcurrent Lake, grizzly sightings from camp. But the 21-foot limit is strict, and there's no dump station. Campervans and truck campers only.
Rising Sun Campground — east side, GTSR-adjacent
- Sites: 84 (10 RV-accommodating sites)
- RV length: Up to 25 feet on select sites
- Season: Mid-June–mid-September, 2026
- Fee: $30/night
- Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water, dump station, showers (one of the few in-park shower options)
Rising Sun sits on the east side of GTSR near St. Mary Lake. It's one of the few campgrounds with showers — a genuine luxury after hiking in Glacier. The dump station is a plus for multi-day stays.
Avalanche Campground — GTSR trailhead access
- Sites: 87 (50 can accommodate RVs up to 26 feet)
- RV length: Up to 26 feet
- Season: Late May–early September, 2026
- Fee: $30/night
- Amenities: Flush toilets, potable water — no dump station
Avalanche sits inside the GTSR restriction zone, but west-side access from Apgar doesn't trigger the size restriction — the 21-foot prohibition starts at Avalanche Creek heading east. Getting here from the west is fine in a larger RV. Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake trailheads start here.
Sprague Creek Campground — no RVs
- Sites: 25
- RV restriction: No RVs or trailers permitted
- Season: Mid-May–mid-September, 2026
- Fee: $20/night
Tent camping only. Beautiful lakeside setting on Lake McDonald, but not an option for RV travelers.
Two Medicine Campground — southeast corner
- Sites: 100 (10 can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet)
- RV length: Up to 35 feet on select sites
- Season: June–September, 2026
- Fee: $20/night
- Amenities: Pit toilets, potable water — no dump station, no showers
Two Medicine is the most remote of the reservation campgrounds. Less crowded than Apgar or St. Mary, with good hiking and a scenic lake. The 35-foot limit on select sites works for mid-size rigs. No dump station means you'll need to plan tank management.
First-come, first-served campgrounds
These five campgrounds don't take reservations — you show up and hope for a spot. In July and August, that means arriving before 7 a.m. or not getting in.
- Bowman Lake: 45 sites, up to 21 feet, $15/night, vault toilets, rough dirt access road. Remote North Fork area.
- Kintla Lake: 13 sites, up to 21 feet, $15/night, pit toilets. Even more remote than Bowman — at the end of a long gravel road.
- Cut Bank: 14 sites, no RVs or trailers, $10/night, pit toilets, no water. Tent-only.
- Logging Creek & Quartz Creek: Primitive backcountry-adjacent sites. Not practical for RV travelers.
Are there hookups or dump stations at Glacier?
No hookups exist inside Glacier National Park — every campsite is dry camping. If your RV setup needs shore power, you're looking at gateway options outside the park.
Dump stations inside the park
- Apgar: Available May through September
- Fish Creek: Available when campground is open (late May–early September)
- St. Mary: Available April through September (longest season)
- Rising Sun: Available mid-June through mid-September
Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Avalanche, and all FCFS campgrounds have no dump station. If you're camping at Many Glacier for multiple days, plan a tank-dump trip to St. Mary (about an hour drive) or Rising Sun.
Gateway town options with hookups
West Glacier KOA Resort — 3 miles from the west entrance. 165 sites, 30/50-amp full hookups, pool, hot tubs, camp store, laundry, showers. Sites run $133–167/night in peak season. The premium is steep, but you get every amenity the park campgrounds lack. Build your RV essentials checklist around what's available at your base — if you're staying at KOA, you can pack lighter.
Glacier Campground (West Glacier) — full hookups, lower price point, walking distance to rafting outfitters and restaurants.
St. Mary / KOA (East Glacier area) — full hookups on the east side, useful if you're basing at St. Mary Campground inside the park but want a hookup night between stays.
How do you plan an RV route through Glacier?
Glacier is a two-sided park split by the Continental Divide. The west side (Lake McDonald, Apgar) and the east side (St. Mary, Many Glacier) feel like different parks — different terrain, different weather, different access. Planning for both sides is the key to a complete trip.
The big-rig strategy (over 21 feet)
- Base at St. Mary Campground. East side access via US-89 has no size restrictions. St. Mary opens earliest, accepts the largest rigs (up to 40 feet), and has a dump station. Book on Recreation.gov as soon as your dates open — six-month rolling window.
- Shuttle GTSR. Reserve shuttle tickets on Recreation.gov for a Going-to-the-Sun Road experience. The shuttle runs July through September and stops at all major trailheads and viewpoints including Logan Pass. No stressing about the 21-foot limit or the 3-hour Logan Pass parking restriction.
- Drive to Many Glacier by car. If you're towing a vehicle, unhitch and drive the Many Glacier Road (12 miles from Babb) for alpine scenery, Swiftcurrent Lake, and some of the park's best wildlife viewing. The road itself has no RV prohibition, but Many Glacier Campground caps at 21 feet.
- Day-trip Two Medicine. The southeast corner of the park is the least crowded and has excellent day hiking. Access from US-89, no size restrictions on the approach road.
The small-rig strategy (under 21 feet)
If you're in a campervan, truck camper, or short van — or if you've checked that your best family RV measures under 21 feet bumper to bumper — you can drive Going-to-the-Sun Road yourself. Camp at Avalanche (west side) for Trail of the Cedars access or Rising Sun (east side) for St. Mary Lake views. Drive GTSR early morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst congestion at Logan Pass, and remember the 3-hour parking limit there starting July 1.
Fuel and services
No gas stations inside the park. Fill up in West Glacier, East Glacier, St. Mary, or Browning before entering. The nearest full grocery stores are in Kalispell (33 miles from West Glacier) or Browning (35 miles from St. Mary entrance).
Renters picking up in Bozeman consistently tell us the drive up US-93 through the Flathead Valley is one of the best approach drives to any national park — wide highway, mountain views the whole way, and plenty of fuel stops.
Cell service: Sporadic at best. Some connectivity near the west entrance (Apgar) and around St. Mary village. Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and most campgrounds have no service. Download offline maps, campground details, and shuttle schedules before you enter.
Weather reality check
Glacier's summer season is short and intense. Even in July and August:
- Nighttime temperatures drop to the 40s°F at most campgrounds, 30s at higher elevations
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common, especially on the east side
- Snow can linger at Logan Pass into July — trails may be icy or closed
- Wildfire smoke from regional fires can reduce visibility significantly in August
Pack layers, rain gear, and bear spray (required for all hiking — available for purchase and rental at park entrances).
Where should you rent an RV for Glacier National Park?
Two cities work as pickup points, plus a statewide Montana RV rental search for broader inventory.
Bozeman, MT (4.5 hours)
The most popular pickup city for Glacier trips. Take I-90 west to Missoula, then US-93 north through the Flathead Valley to the park. Bozeman has a strong rental market with good inventory across Class B vans and smaller Class C motorhomes. If you're combining Glacier with a Yellowstone leg (3 hours south of Bozeman), this is the logical base.
Browse Bozeman RV rentals for options.
Boise, ID (8 hours)
A longer drive but worth considering if Bozeman inventory is thin during peak season. Take I-15 north to Butte, then I-90 west and US-93 north. The Boise to Yellowstone road trip covers the first leg of this route if you want to add a Yellowstone stop.
Browse Boise RV rentals for options.
What to rent for Glacier
The Going-to-the-Sun Road restriction is the deciding factor:
- If you want to drive GTSR yourself: Rent a Class B campervan or truck camper under 21 feet. Measure bumper to bumper — not the manufacturer's listed length, the actual vehicle. Rangers enforce this.
- If GTSR access isn't critical (or you'll shuttle): A mid-size Class C (25–30 feet) works well for St. Mary, Two Medicine, and select sites at Apgar and Fish Creek. You'll have more living space and storage for a park where you need to bring everything — no hookups, limited camp stores, cold nights.
- Skip the Class A. Glacier's campgrounds aren't built for 35-foot motorhomes. Even St. Mary's 40-foot max applies to only a fraction of sites. A Class A makes more sense at parks with wider, flatter campgrounds.
About this guide
This guide draws on campground data and vehicle restriction information from the NPS Glacier National Park camping page, the NPS Going-to-the-Sun Road 2026 opening announcement, the NPS reservation campgrounds page, and the NPS first-come, first-served campgrounds page. Campground availability and booking details reference Recreation.gov's Glacier National Park gateway. 2026-specific changes — the eliminated vehicle reservation system and Logan Pass parking policy — are sourced from Glacier Park Collection's 2026 season update. RV-specific insights reflect patterns from Outdoorsy's rental and booking data. All information was verified against current NPS sources as of August 2026.
