Is there an entrance fee at Glacier Bay National Park?

NPS lists the park as fee-free, so there is no entrance fee. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official park page.

When is the best time to visit Glacier Bay?

NPS names late May through early September as the main visitor season, with July as the peak. In 2025, July had 164,111 recreation visits.

Are dogs allowed at Glacier Bay National Park?

Where pets are allowed they must be on a leash no longer than six feet or crated, and they are not allowed in public buildings. NPS lists pets as permitted on 1 of its 6 things to do, Explore Gustavus.

Is Glacier Bay open year round?

NPS says there are no entrance gates, so the park is technically open 24 hours a day, but services may be very limited. Both visitor facilities list winter closures.

All parks › Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): July^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 740,044^[3]
Campgrounds: 1^[4]

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is a unit of the National Park System in Alaska^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS says the park has no entrance gates, so it is technically open around the clock, though services can be very limited depending on when you go^[6]. The main visitor season runs from late May through early September, and NPS names July as the peak^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 164,111 recreation visits^[2]. February was the quietest month with 223 visits^[2]. The Glacier Bay Visitor Center in Bartlett Cove has a listed winter closure from 2026-09-06 to 2027-05-22^[7]. The Visitor Information Station lists a winter closure from 2026-10-01 to 2027-04-30^[8]. NPS describes summer temperatures averaging 50 to 60 degrees F and says rain is the norm^[9].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, July, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	285
February	223
March	248
April	24,275
May	115,226
June	150,019
July	164,111
August	143,307
September	113,781
October	28,121
November	224
December	224

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	89,768
2022^[3]	545,758
2023^[3]	703,659
2024^[3]	736,282
2025^[3]	740,044

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list 1 campground here, Bartlett Cove Campground, with 33 sites^[4]. The Visitor Information Station handles boating and camping permits and offers orientation sessions for backcountry visitors^[8]. Check the official park page for current booking details.

Bartlett Cove Campground, 33 sites^[4]

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet^[10]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted^[10]. NPS lists Explore Gustavus as the one of its 6 things to do where pets are permitted^[11]. A park can close more areas to pets^[10].

Before you go

There is no entrance fee listed by NPS, but confirm on the official park page before your trip^[1].
Pack waterproof boots, rain gear, a hat, gloves and warm layers, as NPS suggests^[9].
Check the visitor center and information station hours before you arrive, since both list winter closures^[7]^[8].
NPS describes April, May and June as the driest months, with rain more common in September and October^[9].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Glacier Bay National Park?: NPS lists the park as fee-free, so there is no entrance fee^[1]. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official park page.
When is the best time to visit Glacier Bay?: NPS names late May through early September as the main visitor season, with July as the peak^[6]. In 2025, July had 164,111 recreation visits^[2].
Are dogs allowed at Glacier Bay National Park?: Where pets are allowed they must be on a leash no longer than six feet or crated, and they are not allowed in public buildings^[10]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 1 of its 6 things to do, Explore Gustavus^[11].
Is Glacier Bay open year round?: NPS says there are no entrance gates, so the park is technically open 24 hours a day, but services may be very limited^[6]. Both visitor facilities list winter closures^[7]^[8].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 89,768, 2022: 545,758, 2023: 703,659, 2024: 736,282, 2025: 740,044. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Campgrounds in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (list on this page). National Park Service
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park & Preserve) in Alaska. National Park Service
Operating hours, Glacier Bay Operating Hours and Seasons: There are no entrance gates at Glacier Bay National Park, so we are technically open 24-hours a day; however, services may be extremely limited depending on the time of your visit. The main visitor... National Park Service
Operating hours, Glacier Bay Visitor Center Desk Hours: Located on the second floor of Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove, 10 miles from Gustavus. Staffed daily in summer with park rangers. Stop by for exhibits, park information, trip planning, bookstore,... National Park Service
Operating hours, Visitor Information Station (VIS) Hours: Located near the head of the public-use dock in Bartlett Cove, 10 miles from Gustavus. The "VIS" provides trip planning information, boating and camping permits, and offers boater/camper orientation... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
NPS lists 6 things to do at Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: Experience the Huna Tribal House, Kayak the Beardslees, Hike the Trails at Bartlett Cove, Camp at Bartlett Cove, Explore Gustavus, Stop by the Glacier Bay Visitor Center. Pets permitted on 1... National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.