The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park

These are the best times to visit Glacier National Park in Montana for warm weather, fewer crowds, affordable prices, and more.

Glacier National Park may be one of America's most popular national parks, but you can still experience a sense of solitude within its 1,583 square miles. Home to 762 lakes and more than 700 miles of hiking trails, the vast green space provides a haven for 71 mammal species, 276 documented types of birds — and the roughly three million human visitors it draws each year.

It doesn't matter if you visit for a week or a single day, or if you prefer to hike or explore by car — there's plenty to do and see (even virtually). The park is open year-round, and its four stunning seasons can be broken down as follows.

  • High Season: May to September
  • Shoulder Seasons: March to April and October to November
  • Low Season: December to February

To help you decide when to go, we've compiled this guide on the best (and worst) times to visit Glacier National Park.

Best Times to Visit Glacier for Smaller Crowds

Most of the people who visit Glacier National Park each year choose to come in the summer, when the weather is warm and all facilities and attractions are typically open. To avoid those crowds (and enjoy a reduced entrance fee), plan to visit during the park's off-season, which stretches from October to April.

Crowds are at their very smallest in winter. The months of December, January, and February usually see fewer than 50,000 visitors combined — a far cry from the 700,000 visitors Glacier typically sees each July. You'll feel like you have the park to yourself on a winter visit, and you can enjoy unique experiences like cross-country skiing on the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. But be warned: Montana's winter weather can be fierce, and many of Glacier's services and attractions close for the off-season, so winter trips shouldn't be attempted without careful planning and preparation.

For reduced crowds in a less extreme environment, try visiting in the spring or fall. There will still be seasonal closures — certain roads prohibit vehicle traffic starting in October, and in the spring, hiking trails won't reopen until any ice has melted off of them. But these shoulder seasons offer countless charms, particularly around the park's perimeter. According to the park's website, "trails on the edges of the park tend to be snow-free quicker than toward the Continental Divide or middle of the park."

Best Times to Visit Glacier for Good Weather

Due to the park's mountainous, far-north terrain, the weather here is always unpredictable. It can go from sun to rain (and back again) in mere minutes. If you have your heart set on experiencing the park on a sunny day with warm, hike-friendly weather, try to visit between early July and late September, when nearly everything is accessible and the weather is mild.

Conditions tend to be warmer and wetter in the park's western half. West Glacier, Montana, a town on the southwest edge of the park, typically sees daytime temperatures in the 80s during July and August and the 60s and 70s in September and June. If you're traveling east of the Continental Divide or at elevations above 5,000 feet, you can expect temperatures to be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than they'd be in West Glacier.

No matter when you visit, make sure to bring layers, including a rain jacket and hat, in anticipation of the weather's frequent shifts.

Best Times to Visit Glacier for Lower Prices

During the winter (November through April), entrance passes for Glacier National Park drop in price. While a seven-day private vehicle pass typically costs $35, it drops to $25 during the winter months — and the per-person entrance fee goes from $20 to $15. The park also offers select "fee-free days" throughout the year (there were five in 2023). While these promotions can help you cut costs, be warned that they do come with above-average crowds.

If you want to save money on flights, rental cars, and hotel accommodations near the park, you may want to avoid high summer. July and August can easily log half of Glacier's visitors for the calendar year, so prices are at a premium due to stiff competition for lodging and services. To find lower rates at the area's best hotels and ideal weather, try months like June and September, which fall at the fringes of the peak season.

Best Times to Visit Glacier for Wildlife Spotting

Glacier National Park has been a refuge for wildlife since it was established in 1910. Its varied terrain is home to hundreds of animal species, including moose, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, mountain goats, wolves, bears, and mountain lions. The best time to see most of these creatures is in the fall, when the park quiets down and the animals make their winter preparations.

While seeing a wild animal is at the top of the list for many park visitors, you'll want to do it safely. Stay at least 300 feet from bears and 75 feet from all other wildlife, and be mindful when camping in the park.

Two girls enjoying the beautiful view of the turquoise lake in the mountains in Glacier National Park, Montana
Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

Best Times to Visit Glacier for Photography

It goes without saying that there are plenty of picture-perfect photo ops in Glacier National Park. For fields of wildflowers with mountain backdrops, visit between late June and mid-August, when you'll find yellow lilies, purple fleabanes, and pink monkeyflower blooms, to name a few. In general, Logan Pass is the best place to start your wildflower search. For waterfall photography, visit in the spring, when the snow above is melting and the water flow is at its peak.

Throughout the year, you can also capture wildlife (fall is ideal), glaciers, and endless sunsets and sunrises. The night sky is another stunning backdrop in this International Dark Sky Park. Photographers with good cold-weather gear and an intrepid streak may want to visit between January and March, when the northern lights are likeliest to appear.

The Best Time to Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road

The 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road is arguably Glacier's biggest attraction, connecting the park's east and west sides and cutting through the middle. If you only have one day to explore, make this your priority. You can stop off at some of the park's biggest draws — Jackson Glacier Overlook, Logan Pass, Lake McDonald — while covering serious ground.

Going-to-the-Sun Road takes you across the Continental Divide and over Logan Pass, which peaks at 6,646 feet. Because of its elevation, certain parts of the route get a lot of snow and are closed during the winter and spring. To experience the entire route (which you should), plan your trip between early July and early October, when the road is typically fully open. For maximum wildflower viewing while you drive, July and August may be your best bet.

Worst Times to Visit Glacier National Park

Though winter is the least crowded time of year in Glacier, the National Park Service shuts down all in-park lodging and most services during this season. That comes in addition to the challenges posed by the weather itself — the park is often covered in several feet of snow between December and March, rendering many roads impassable. If you really want to experience Glacier's extreme but peaceful winter, you'll need to come prepared with proper gear and, ideally, a background in snow sports.

Summer, by contrast, is an accessible time for nearly all types of visitors. The beginning and end of the season, though, are arguably better times to visit than the peak season of July and August. Massive crowds and bumper-to-bumper traffic on Going-to-the-Sun Road can put a damper on visits undertaken during those busy months.

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