Come see why Glacier National Park is known as the “Crown of the Continent” — during the best time to visit the park, between July and September. Because of its extreme northerly latitude, the season during which Glacier National Park in Montana is accessible is quite short, with July and August offering the most reliable access to mountain roads and hiking areas, while early September means cooler weather and fewer crowds (with most parts of the park still accessible).
RV travelers in particular will want to be careful to plan around seasonal road closures (and openings) and vehicle size restrictions. Below, we’ll cover all the need-to-knows to ensure you have a well-planned RV road trip to Glacier National Park.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park?
Overall, the best time for Glacier National Park is high summer, from July through September. Again, because this national park is at an extreme latitude and parts of it are very high elevation, much of the park is snowed under all the way through spring and even into the early summer.
The best time for hiking, specifically, is July and August, because these are the months most likely to be entirely snow-free. Daytime temperatures can rise into the 80s, while nighttime temperatures drop to a crisp 50 degrees or so, making the early mornings and sunset times wonderful for hiking.
If you’d like to explore Glacier National Park with fewer crowds, September can be an excellent choice. While days can be cooler (with highs just reaching into the 60s) and nights can be below freezing, depending on the year, you may still be able to access many parts of the park before the snow sets in, and you’ll enjoy fewer crowds.
Finally, the best time for driving Going-to-the-Sun Road can shift year to year, but is typically between July and September. Going-to-the-Sun Road can open as early as late June and close as late as mid-October, but the peak summer months are your best chance for clear conditions.
Glacier National Park Weather by Season
Let’s take a closer look at Glacier National Park’s weather by season.
Spring (March–May): Snow and Limited Road Access
While Glacier National Park is technically open all year round, spring and winter access can be challenging. At this latitude, March is still deep winter, and most of the park’s roads are snowed over. Far up on Going-to-the-Sun Road, at The Big Drift, the snow often accumulates up to 80 or 90 feet deep!
However, there are still parts of the park you can access in the springtime. The first 10 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road are kept clean and plowed so visitors can access Lake McDonald Lodge, and snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and winter photography are all beautiful in this area if you can stand temperatures that barely break freezing.
While, of course, winter slowly thaws over the months, even in May many parts of the park remain snowbound and weather can be unpredictable. However, May is a popular time for cyclists to take to the parts of Going-to-the-Sun road where the snow has been packed down or plowed.
Keep in mind that springtime is the end of hibernation season for grizzly bears. You must carry bear spray and make noise when walking, hiking, or snowshoeing on the trails.
Summer (June–August): Hiking and Mountain Scenery
This is the season where Glacier really shines. Although June can still be snowy, by mid-July, most of the park is green and blooming, and hiking access even into the higher elevations has become available.
Keep in mind, though, that because Glacier National Park has such a short season, it is apt to be crowded the entire summer. We recommend starting your hiking adventures early in the day to get ahead of trail line-ups and overflowing trailhead parking lots. And remember, still, to be bear aware during all seasons.
Fall (September–November): Autumn Colors and Cooler Weather
Fall is a special, transitional time in Glacier National Park, with dynamic autumn colors, rapidly shifting weather, cooler days and fewer crowds. Snow can start as early as late August at higher elevations, and even by September some road closures can be in effect — but if you time your visit right, you can enjoy the best of the park with fewer crowds and crisp days perfect for hiking.
Autumn is also a great time to spot wildlife, who will be busy gathering as much food as they can to get ready for the long winter ahead. It’s also rut season for the white elk, which means they can be more active and visible.
Winter (December–February): Snow and Restricted Access
The heart of winter in Glacier National Park brings heavy snowfall, icy conditions, and extreme cold. Only a very small fraction of the park’s annual visitors come during these intense months, but those who do will be met with the lowest crowds, peaceful snowy vistas, and an otherworldly sense of quiet.
While the road up to Lake McDonald road remains open, keep in mind that most of the rest of the roads in the park are closed, and services are limited. Snowmobiles are prohibited in the park, so you’ll be limited to the areas you can access in your normal vehicle.
Glacier National Park Weather By Season: At a Glance
Here are Glacier National Park’s seasonal weather considerations, at a glance.
| Season | Conditions and Considerations | Best Camping Options |
| Spring | Still very wintery, often into May; road closures in effect. Wildlife coming out of hibernation may be hungry and aggressive. Few services open in early spring. | Apgar Campground and St. Mary Campground are both open year-round, though there is no running water and flush toilets are closed during the off-season |
| Summer | The time Glacier National Park shines! Summer is the season when the most hiking access is available, when you can drive the full extent of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and when park services are available to their full extent. | Apgar Campground, St. Mary Campground, Fish Creek Campground and Two Medicine Campground all allow RVs, though length restrictions (40 feet for Apgar and St. Mary; 35 for Fish Creek and Two Medicine) apply |
| Fall | Changing weather, cooling days, elk rut season and bears getting ready for hibernation. Cool days make for good hiking weather with fewer crowds, though snow (and related closures) can start early. | Apgar Campground and St. Mary Campground are your best bets |
| Winter | Intense snowfall and coverage, frigid days, quiet and peaceful vibe with opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, but very limited park access and services. | Again, Apgar Campground and St. Mary Campground |
Pro Tip: While Glacier National Park’s campgrounds are beautiful and close to its many exciting features, they do not offer utility hookups (though some offer potable water, flush toilets and a dump station). If you’re looking for Glacier National Park area camping with electricity, water and sewer hookups, surrounding communities like Whitefish have more options.
What Is the Best Month to Visit Glacier National Park?
By now you already know that the summer months are widely considered the best for a visit to Glacier National Park — but the specifics can vary a bit depending on what you most want to get out of your trip.
Best Time to Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road
As mentioned above, the best time to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road is between July and September. The road may open as early as late June and not close until mid-October, depending on the conditions that year, but these dates give you the most solid opportunity to plan out the trip in advance.
Best Time for Hiking and Wildlife Viewing
The best time for hiking in Glacier National Park is July and August, which offer the most access (but also the most crowds). You might also try out hiking in late summer or early fall (September and early October), but snowfall and road closures are likely to begin to impact your trip.
Wildlife viewing is possible in all seasons inside Glacier National Park, but spring brings animals coming out of hibernation while fall sees them getting ready for it — both even more active times.
Best Time to Visit Lake McDonald
For warm weather and beautiful foliage, July through September are the best times to visit Lake McDonald. However, the road to Lake McDonald Lodge is generally kept plowed year-round when possible, and visiting the lake in the wintertime offers an exclusive and beautiful experience.
Best Time to Avoid Summer Crowds
To avoid summer crowds while still taking advantage of most of what the park has to offer, consider visiting in early September. This way, you’re likely to still catch much of the park’s offerings before the snowfall starts in earnest, but after many families have had to return to their normal school schedule.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park in an RV?
RVing is one of the best ways to enjoy a visit to Glacier National Park, but it does have all its own considerations to keep in mind. Here’s what you need to know about getting to and navigating around Glacier National Park in an RV.
Going-to-the-Sun Road RV Restrictions
Driving the full extent of Going-to-the-Sun Road is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s well worth planning for. However, your RV must be no longer than 21 feet (whether it’s a motorhome or a tow vehicle and trailer), no more than 10 feet high, and no more than eight feet wide to drive the entire length of the road. (You can still travel the lower-elevation portions of it in a larger RV.)
This does mean that if you wish to explore the eastern side of the park, you’ll have to use Highway 2 to navigate around the park rather than traveling straight through, which can actually be a quicker (though less scenic) trip.
Here are the full NPS vehicle restrictions for Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Glacier National Park does also offer a shuttle service that can help RVers and other travelers get around the park, and there are a variety of guided tours that may include transportation.
Seasonal Road Conditions Around Glacier
As the NPS puts it, getting Going-to-the-Sun road plowed and ready for vehicle traffic is a “monumental challenge” each year. Because of the unpredictable nature of the area’s winter weather and the intensive required effort, the road opening dates can be hard to pin down ahead of time.
This is especially important for RVers who (rightly) want to plan ahead of time and book their Glacier National Park campsites well in advance. If you’re planning on visiting during shoulder season, be aware that plans may have to change depending on weather.
Best RV Campgrounds Near Glacier National Park
As mentioned above, many Glacier National Park campgrounds allow RVs — up to 40 feet at Apgar and St. Mary and up to 35 feet at Fish Creek and Two Medicine. However, sites can book up fast, and there are no hookups inside the park (though flush toilets, dump stations, and potable water are often available during the summer months).
You might also consider privately owned campgrounds in the greater Glacier National Park area.
RV Travel Tips for Glacier
Keep in mind that Glacier National Park is big. The west side is maybe the most famous, but the east side is well worth exploring on its own right — and since most RVs won’t be able to traverse Going-to-the-Sun Road through the park, it’s a good idea to choose a campground on the side of the park you most want to explore.
Additionally, on your way to the park and within it, be sure you keep yourself fueled up (services can be limited and you don’t want to run out!) and budget extra driving time for traffic during the high summer travel season.
How Many Days Should You Spend at Glacier National Park?
Serious backcountry campers and explorers could spend months getting to know every square inch of Glacier National Park. However, for most first-time visitors, four to six days is a good introduction. Budget yourself less time if you’re just wanting to get a taste of a few main features, and more time if you want to thoroughly explore both sides of the park.
Plan Your Glacier National Park RV Trip With RVshare
RVing is easily one of the most comfortable ways to get to know seriously out-there landscapes like Glacier, and RVshare’s network of peer-owned rigs makes it easy to find the perfect vehicle for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a rugged little travel trailer or camper van that can take the scenic route or a large, luxurious RV to call a cozy home base, we’ve got you covered. Explore Glacier National Park RV rentals and find the right fit for your Montana adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Glacier
It depends on the year, but often, June is still snowy in many parts of Glacier National Park, and Going-to-the-Sun Road may still not be plowed all the way. July and August bring the best and most reliable park access and snow-free conditions.
September in Glacier National Park means cooler days, shifting weather, and, yes, sometimes, snow. However, if you’re willing to deal with some unpredictability in your planning and possible early snow closures, you may be able to enjoy fewer crowds and crisp hiking days.
Going-to-the-Sun Road can sometimes open as early as mid-June, but is most reliably open by July. It changes each year, so check with the NPS before you plan your trip.
Yes, RVs can drive on Going-to-the-Sun Road, but large RVs cannot drive it all the way through the park and across the Continental Divide. Specifically, the area between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun is prohibited for vehicles longer than 21 feet (whether a single vehicle or combined), and vehicles with more than 10 feet of clearance may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass to the Loop, due to rock overhangs. If you’re in a larger RV, you can take Highway 2 around the park to visit both the West and East sides.
The least crowded calendar month at Glacier National Park is February, which is the heart of winter. However, September is the least crowded summer month when you can still see many of the park’s attractions (with some unpredictability in the weather).
