Which month opens Logan Pass to your car, clears the high trails of snow and still leaves you a parking space? The best time to visit Glacier National Park is September. Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically open over Logan Pass until the third Monday of October, the high trails have melted out, and highs on the park's west side average 20.4 °C (69 °F). July is the next-best month, best in its second half for the wildflowers, and the busiest: 765,061 visits in July 2025. The road's alpine section has no set opening date, and snow keeps it closed from mid-October to late June.
Average high, °C: lowest −0.7 °C (31 °F), Park (west side) in December; highest 27.4 °C (81 °F), Park (west side) in August. Wet days: lowest 3, Park (west side) wet days in July; highest 13, Park (west side) wet days in November. Days with snow on the ground: lowest 0, Park (west side) snow days in May; highest 30, Park (west side) snow days in January. Park visits: lowest Low (0.06), Park visits in February; highest Peak (2.93), Park visits in July. Best months: July, September.
- September is the best month: the road over Logan Pass is typically open until the third Monday of October, the 2026 shuttle tickets and parking limit ended on Labor Day, and September 2025 drew 28% fewer visits than July.
- July and August are the busiest months: each drew more than 2.7 times an average month's visits in 2025, and wildfire smoke is common.
- Mid-October to late June is the closed season up high: cars reach Lake McDonald Lodge on the west side, and no lodging is open inside the park from mid-October to early May.
When is Going-to-the-Sun Road open over Logan Pass?
Going-to-the-Sun Road has no fixed opening day over Logan Pass: "There is no set date for the road to open over Logan Pass," the park says. The road usually opens over the pass between mid-June and early July and closes by the third Monday of October. Plows start in early April and work across about 40 avalanche paths, often through snowstorms that last into May.
The 50-mile road takes about two hours to drive without stopping. The road's full opening dates over the last five years:
| Year | Fully open | Closed for the winter |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | July 13, after a heavy avalanche year | October 16 |
| 2023 | June 13, the earliest since 2005 | |
| 2024 | June 22 | |
| 2025 | June 16 | |
| 2026 | June 22 | October 19 |
Over the 20 seasons from 2007 to 2026, the road opened as early as June 13 and as late as July 13. In 6 of those years it was still closed on June 28. If your dates are fixed, put your Logan Pass day in July.
The end of the season moves too. In 4 of the 16 seasons from 2007 to 2022, the road over Logan Pass closed in September, one of them for a government shutdown in 2013. In 4 more, road work or a 2017 wildfire closed one side, and the pass stayed open from the other side into October. On a September trip, drive Logan Pass early in your stay.
You can drive the lower road from West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge all year, weather permitting. While crews plow the high section, usually from early May, the park often opens it to cyclists and hikers only. Many Glacier Road, on the east side, closes on the third weekend of November.
Do you need a reservation for Glacier?
In 2026 Glacier dropped its vehicle reservation system, and no reservation was needed anywhere in the park. The park instead limited Logan Pass to three-hour parking from July 1 to Labor Day, September 7. Drivers took a free, timestamped permit from a kiosk after parking. On most days the kiosks issued 1,200 to 1,300 permits for the lot's 235 spaces. The park could still divert cars at an entrance when an area got too crowded.
Hikers starting a long day hike at Logan Pass, such as the Highline Trail, needed a shuttle ticket with a $1 fee. Some tickets went on sale 60 days ahead, from May 2. The rest went on sale at 7 p.m. Mountain time the evening before.
Glacier has not announced its 2027 rules as of November 2026. The park announced the 2026 system on February 18, so check the vehicle reservations page from February.
When are Glacier's lodges open?
Glacier's lodges inside the park run from early May to mid-October, and the east-side lodges open last and close first. The concessioners have already published the 2027 dates:
| Lodge | 2026 season | 2027 season |
|---|---|---|
| Apgar Village Lodge | May 8 to October 11 | May 7 to October 3 (motel) |
| Lake McDonald Lodge | May 15 to September 28 | May 14 to September 30 |
| Village Inn at Apgar | May 20 to October 2 | May 19 to October 1 |
| Many Glacier Hotel | June 5 to September 21 | June 3 to September 20 |
| Swiftcurrent Motor Inn | June 8 to September 16 | June 8 to September 17 |
| Rising Sun Motor Inn | June 11 to September 13 | June 11 to September 13 |
From mid-October to early May, no lodging is open inside the park. Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish is open all year.
Spring and the plowing season: April to June
From April to June, plows work their way up Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass.
April
Best for a quiet Lake McDonald before the lodges open
- Weather: highs 12.0 °C (54 °F), lows −1.2 °C (30 °F); 77.9 mm (3.1 in) of rain and snow over about 12 wet days, with snow on the ground about 5 days
- Access: Going-to-the-Sun Road open to cars from West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge; plowing of the high section starts in early April
- Season: low, 0.19 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in April
Grizzly cubs leave their dens in April or May, and Lake McDonald is quiet: the park drew 48,576 visits in April 2025. Trails at low elevation start to melt out late in the month. No lodge inside the park opens until May, so stay in Whitefish or West Glacier.
Come in April only for the lower valley. The $25 winter vehicle fee runs to April 30. Carry bear spray on every trail.
May
Best for cycling Going-to-the-Sun Road before the cars
- Weather: highs 18.0 °C (64 °F), lows 3.6 °C (38 °F); 72.3 mm (2.8 in) of rain over about 9 wet days
- Access: high section closed to cars; open to cyclists and hikers on plowed stretches as conditions allow, usually from early May
- Season: shoulder, 0.91 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in May
From early May, cyclists and hikers can often use Going-to-the-Sun Road above the gates while it is closed to cars. Snowstorms and avalanches still hit the high section through May, so check the plowing status on the park's road page each morning.
May is Glacier's one shoulder month, with 238,766 visits in 2025. Aim for the second half: Lake McDonald Lodge opens on May 14 in 2027, and the Lake McDonald boat tours start on May 19.
June
Best for the lower lakes, with Logan Pass opening in most years
- Weather: highs 22.1 °C (72 °F), lows 7.3 °C (45 °F); 80.5 mm (3.2 in) of rain over about 10 wet days, the wettest summer month
- Access: full road open on June 13 (2023), June 22 (2024), June 16 (2025) and June 22 (2026)
- Season: peak, 2.21 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in June
Book June only if your Logan Pass day can move: the road was still closed on June 28 in 6 of the last 20 years. In most years the road opens over the pass in the second half of the month, as the first wildflowers bloom up there. The east-side lodges open in the first half of June, and ranger programs begin around the third week.
Rainy, cool days are common all month. Snow still lies at Logan Pass when the road opens, and on the 2026 opening day the Highline Trail was closed for snow. For the high trails, wait for July.
NPS (Public domain)A bulldozer cuts through a towering snow wall at the Big Drift on Going-to-the-Sun Road
Summer: July and August, the whole park open
July and August, when all of Glacier is open, drew 47% of the park's visits in 2025.
July
Best for the high trails and the Logan Pass wildflowers
- Weather: highs 27.3 °C (81 °F), lows 9.7 °C (49 °F); 19.3 mm (0.8 in) of rain over about 3 wet days, the driest month
- Access: full road open; in 2026, three-hour parking and $1 shuttle tickets at Logan Pass from July 1
- Season: peak, 2.93 times an average month's visits, the busiest month
- Plan it: where to go in July
By mid-July, snow has cleared from most of Glacier's high trails. Trail crews try to open the Ptarmigan Tunnel around the second week of the month, and the trail to Grinnell Glacier opens fully in mid to late July. Beargrass and glacier lilies cover the subalpine meadows. Near Logan Pass you can see mountain goats almost every day.
The Logan Pass lot fills early in the morning almost every day in July. The month drew 765,061 visits in 2025, almost a quarter of the year's. Smoke from summer wildfires can haze the peaks.
Go in the second half of July. Reach Logan Pass at dawn, or catch one of the first shuttles, which left at 6 a.m. in 2026.
August
Best for the warmest days and huckleberry season
- Weather: highs 27.4 °C (81 °F), lows 8.9 °C (48 °F); 29.8 mm (1.2 in) of rain over about 3 wet days, the warmest month
- Access: full road open; in 2026, three-hour parking and $1 shuttle tickets at Logan Pass
- Season: peak, 2.75 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in August
In late summer, grizzlies gather in Glacier's Apgar Mountains to eat the ripening huckleberries, and purple asters bloom on the east side.
August drew almost as many visits as July. Fire closes roads in some years: the Sprague Fire closed the west side of the road in 2017.
Keep a spare day in case smoke hides the views.
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Jacob W. Frank / NPS (Public domain)A small stream runs between banks of pink and yellow wildflowers below Clements Mountain
Fall: September and October, the road's last weeks
In fall, Glacier stays busy through September and goes quiet in October, when the road's alpine section closes for the winter.
September
Best for the high trails with fewer people
- Weather: highs 20.4 °C (69 °F), lows 5.0 °C (41 °F); 51.3 mm (2.0 in) of rain over about 6 wet days
- Access: full road open; in 2026, Logan Pass parking limit and shuttle ended September 7, and the visitor center closed after September 27
- Season: peak, 2.11 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in September
Labor Day, September 7 in 2026, ended Glacier's Logan Pass parking limit and shuttle tickets. Through September the whole road is typically open, and the high trails have melted out. The park drew 552,479 visits in September 2025, about 213,000 fewer than in July. The trees start turning by mid-month. Bears forage hard before winter.
Lodges and services close in steps through the month: in 2026, Many Glacier Hotel closed on September 21 and Lake McDonald Lodge on the 28th. Ranger programs taper off after Labor Day. Even the valleys can see snow from mid-month.
Go in the week after Labor Day, and see the east side first, where the lodges close earliest.
October
Best for golden larch in the road's last weeks
- Weather: highs 12.8 °C (55 °F), lows 0.2 °C (32 °F); 74.9 mm (2.9 in) of rain and snow over about 10 wet days, with snow on the ground about 3 days
- Access: high section open until the third Monday of October (October 19, 2026), weather permitting; then cars reach Lake McDonald Lodge
- Season: low, 0.49 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in October
Glacier's western larches turn yellow in mid-October, the last color of the year. Highway 2, along the park's southern edge, is sometimes the best road to see them from.
October is the last month to drive all of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and it drew 127,537 visits in 2025. Snow can close the high section before the third Monday, so drive it in the first half of the month and save the second half for the larch.
Sleep at Apgar: in 2026 Apgar Village Lodge stayed open to October 11, after every other lodge inside the park had closed. In 2027 its motel closes earlier, on October 3. Apgar Visitor Center opens daily until mid-October.
David Restivo / NPS (Public domain)Golden western larch among dark conifers below a mountainside dusted with fresh snow
Winter: November to March, on skis and snowshoes
In winter, cars stop at Lake McDonald Lodge, and skiers and snowshoers take the unplowed road beyond.
November
Best skipped, unless you are already in Whitefish
- Weather: highs 4.3 °C (40 °F), lows −3.5 °C (26 °F); 83.2 mm (3.3 in) of rain and snow over about 13 wet days, with snow on the ground about 14 days
- Access: cars to Lake McDonald Lodge; Many Glacier Road closes in the third weekend of November
- Season: low, 0.11 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in November
Glacier's vehicle fee drops to $25 for seven days on November 1. Snow covers the ground for about half the month.
No lodging is open inside the park, and the St. Mary and Logan Pass visitor centers are shut. From a base in Whitefish, drive to Lake McDonald for a morning on the shore.
December
Best for fresh snow and a weekend snowshoe walk with a ranger
- Weather: highs −0.7 °C (31 °F), lows −8.1 °C (17 °F); 85.9 mm (3.4 in) of rain and snow over about 13 wet days, the wettest month, with snow on the ground about 21 days
- Access: cars to Lake McDonald Lodge; skis and snowshoes beyond
- Season: low, 0.08 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in December
December brings Glacier's wettest weather of the year, most of it as snow. Plan a weekend trip: on winter weekends rangers lead snowshoe walks and the Apgar Visitor Center opens.
Bring your own skis or snowshoes: nothing is rented inside the park, and snowmobiles are banned.
January
Best for the surest snow on the ski route toward Avalanche
- Weather: highs 0.0 °C (32 °F), lows −8.2 °C (17 °F); 69.2 mm (2.7 in) of rain and snow over about 11 wet days, with snow on the ground about 30 days
- Access: cars to Lake McDonald Lodge; the unplowed road beyond is a ski route
- Season: low, 0.07 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in January
The stretch of Going-to-the-Sun Road from Lake McDonald Lodge toward Avalanche is Glacier's most popular ski route, with gentle grades and usually enough snow. In January, snow covers the ground on the park's west side about 30 days of the month. White-tailed deer are the large animals you are most likely to see.
Base yourself in Whitefish and check the road status before you drive in. On skis, follow McDonald Creek and stop at the falls.
February
Best for solitude on skis, in the park's quietest month
- Weather: highs −0.6 °C (31 °F), lows −10.9 °C (12 °F); 74.6 mm (2.9 in) of rain and snow over about 12 wet days, the coldest nights of the year
- Access: cars to Lake McDonald Lodge; skis and snowshoes beyond
- Season: low, 0.06 times an average month's visits, the quietest month
- Plan it: where to go in February
Pick February for Glacier's ski trails with almost no one else on them: the park drew 15,202 visits in February 2025, the fewest of any month.
March
Best for winter camping in milder days
- Weather: highs 6.3 °C (43 °F), lows −5.4 °C (22 °F); 78.3 mm (3.1 in) of rain and snow over about 12 wet days, with snow on the ground about 19 days
- Access: cars to Lake McDonald Lodge; plowing of the high section starts in early April
- Season: low, 0.10 times an average month's visits
- Plan it: where to go in March
One loop each of Glacier's Apgar and St. Mary campgrounds stays open for winter camping. Camp in March rather than January: the days are warmer, and snow still covers the ground on about 19 days.
Plan your Whitefish trip →
Jacob W. Frank / NPS (Public domain)Fresh snow along the shore of Lake McDonald, with snow-covered peaks at the far end
How much does it cost to enter Glacier?
Glacier's entrance fee drops to $25 per private vehicle from November 1 to April 30, against $35 the rest of the year, each for seven days. The park does not accept cash.
| Pass | May to October | November 1 to April 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle, 7 days | $35 | $25 |
| Motorcycle, 7 days | $30 | $20 |
| Per person on foot or bicycle, 7 days | $20 | $15 |
| Glacier annual pass | $70 | $70 |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | $80 US residents, $250 non-residents | Same |
| Non-resident fee, each person aged 16 and over | $100 | $100 |
Kids under 16 need no entrance pass. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 each at Glacier and ten other busy parks, including Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Zion, unless they enter on an annual pass.
Which month suits your trip?
| If you want | Go in | Because |
|---|---|---|
| A first trip with everything open | The first half of September, or the second half of July | The road and the high trails are open; September has 28% fewer visits than July |
| The high trails, Highline and Grinnell | Mid-July to mid-September | Most high trails stay snow-covered until mid-July |
| Wildflowers at Logan Pass | July | The bloom runs mid-June to mid-August, and the road is open by early July in most years |
| Warm days and huckleberries | August | Highs of 27.4 °C (81 °F), and huckleberries ripen in late summer |
| Cycling the road without cars | May | The plowed high section often opens to cyclists only |
| Golden larch | Mid-October | The larch turns yellow in mid-October, as the road closes |
| Skiing and snowshoeing | January and February | Snow on the ground most of both months, and a ski route beyond Lake McDonald Lodge |
| Avoid for Logan Pass | November to mid-June | The high section is closed to cars |
Glacier month by month
| Month | Park high (west side) | Wet days | Snow on the ground | Visits vs average | Going-to-the-Sun Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.0 °C (32 °F) | 11 | 30 days | Low (0.07) | Lower road only |
| February | −0.6 °C (31 °F) | 12 | 26 days | Low (0.06) | Lower road only |
| March | 6.3 °C (43 °F) | 12 | 19 days | Low (0.10) | Lower road only |
| April | 12.0 °C (54 °F) | 12 | 5 days | Low (0.19) | Lower road; plowing starts |
| May | 18.0 °C (64 °F) | 9 | 0 days | Shoulder (0.91) | Bikes on plowed sections |
| June | 22.1 °C (72 °F) | 10 | 0 days | Peak (2.21) | Full road from mid to late June |
| July | 27.3 °C (81 °F) | 3 | 0 days | Peak (2.93) | Open |
| August | 27.4 °C (81 °F) | 3 | 0 days | Peak (2.75) | Open |
| September | 20.4 °C (69 °F) | 6 | 1 day | Peak (2.11) | Open |
| October | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | 10 | 3 days | Low (0.49) | Open to the third Monday |
| November | 4.3 °C (40 °F) | 13 | 14 days | Low (0.11) | Lower road only |
| December | −0.7 °C (31 °F) | 13 | 21 days | Low (0.08) | Lower road only |
Park figures are for the west side near Lake McDonald. Logan Pass is generally 5.6–8.3 °C (10–15 °F) cooler. Snow can fall in the park in any month. The visit ratio compares each month's 2025 recreation visits with an average month.
Plan the trip
The 5-day Glacier National Park itinerary lays out a full trip. Yellowstone, the next big park south, has its own best time to visit page, and the US national parks guides cover the rest.
The free packing list generator adds what your month's weather calls for.
Plan your Glacier National Park trip →Plan a Glacier trip for your month and side of the park, and each stop in the MonkeyEatingMango plan carries its weather.
Last updated November 2026.
Common questions
What is the best month to visit Glacier National Park?
September is the best month to visit Glacier National Park. Going-to-the-Sun Road is open over Logan Pass, the high trails are clear of snow, and highs on the park's west side average 20.4 °C (69 °F). September 2025 drew about 213,000 fewer visits than July.
When does Going-to-the-Sun Road open?
Going-to-the-Sun Road has no set opening date over Logan Pass. The park expects it to open between mid-June and early July, once crews have plowed it. The road opened fully on June 13 in 2023, June 22 in 2024, June 16 in 2025 and June 22 in 2026.
When does Going-to-the-Sun Road close?
The alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically open until the third Monday of October, and in 2026 it closed on October 19. Snow can close it sooner. The road from West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge stays open all year, weather permitting.
Do I need a reservation for Glacier National Park in 2027?
Glacier National Park has not announced its 2027 rules as of November 2026. In 2026 no vehicle reservation was required anywhere in the park. Instead, Logan Pass had a three-hour parking limit and a ticketed shuttle with a $1 fee, from July 1 to September 7.
What is the best time to visit Glacier National Park to avoid crowds?
Early October is the least crowded time with Going-to-the-Sun Road still open: October as a whole drew a sixth of July's visits. With most lodges and the high trails open, go in the week after Labor Day: in 2026 the Logan Pass shuttle and parking limit ended on September 7.
Is September a good time to visit Glacier National Park?
September is the best time to visit Glacier National Park for most trips. The road over Logan Pass is typically open until the third Monday of October, and highs average 20.4 °C (69 °F). Lodges start closing in mid-September, and snow can fall at low elevations from then on.
Is Glacier National Park open in winter?
Glacier National Park is open all winter: the road from West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge is plowed, but no lodging is open inside the park. You can ski or snowshoe the unplowed Going-to-the-Sun Road, and rangers lead snowshoe walks on winter weekends. The vehicle fee drops to $25 from November 1 to April 30.
When are the wildflowers best in Glacier National Park?
Glacier's wildflowers bloom at Logan Pass from mid-June to mid-August, so the second half of July is the best time to see them with the road open. Beargrass and glacier lilies cover the subalpine meadows, and purple asters follow on the east side in late summer.
When do the larches turn yellow in Glacier National Park?
Glacier's western larches turn yellow in mid-October, the last of the park's fall color. Other trees start turning by mid-September. Highway 2, along the park's southern edge, is sometimes the best road for the larch.
Is Glacier National Park open in May?
Glacier National Park is open in May, but Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to cars over Logan Pass while crews plow it. You can often cycle or hike the plowed sections. Lake McDonald Lodge opened on May 15 in 2026, and highs on the west side average 18.0 °C (64 °F).
How much does it cost to get into Glacier National Park?
Glacier's entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle from May to October and $25 from November 1 to April 30, each valid for seven days. A Glacier annual pass costs $70, and non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an added $100 each unless they hold an annual pass.
Written by Shobhit Shrivastava · Founder
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