Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve — Visitor Info

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Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve protects a dramatic fjord landscape of tidewater glaciers, mountains, and marine wildlife in Southeast Alaska. There are no roads into the park — most visitors experience it from a cruise ship or tour boat, with a smaller number flying into nearby Gustavus to explore Bartlett Cove on foot, by kayak, or by private boat.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: There is no road connecting Glacier Bay to the rest of Alaska's highway system — access is only by boat or small plane to Gustavus. If you're planning to camp or bring a private vessel into the bay, you'll need a free permit and (for campers) an in-person orientation. Always check the official Glacier Bay Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Southeast Alaska, near Gustavus
Entrance Fee
None
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No entry pass; free permit required for private vessels and camping
Permit Needed For
Private vessel entry, backcountry/kayak camping (both free)
Lodging
Free walk-in campground at Bartlett Cove; Glacier Bay Lodge
Managed By
National Park Service

Getting There

There is no road into Glacier Bay. Most independent visitors fly commercially into Gustavus, a small town adjoining the park, then walk, bike, or take a short shuttle to Bartlett Cove — home to the park's visitor center, lodge, and campground. From Bartlett Cove, a concession-run day boat tour is the main way to see the glaciers and wildlife deeper in the bay without your own vessel. Many other visitors see Glacier Bay only as a stop on an Inside Passage cruise ship, which enters the bay under a separate permit system.

Visitor Centers

Glacier Bay Visitor Information Station (Bartlett Cove)
At the Bartlett Cove dock — the hub for permits, camper orientations, and trip planning. Seasonal hours.
Glacier Bay Lodge Visitor Center
Inside the lodge at Bartlett Cove — exhibits and a second trip-planning stop, also seasonal.

Confirm current hours on the official NPS hours & visitor centers page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Glacier Bay has no entrance fee and requires no pass. If you experience the park through a cruise ship, tour boat, lodge, or other commercial operator, arrange any needed reservations directly with them.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

Since Glacier Bay doesn't charge an entrance fee, the Every Kid Outdoors pass isn't needed here, but it's good for free entry at fee-charging parks elsewhere in the system.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit simply to visit Bartlett Cove on foot. Two free permits apply to specific activities:

Private Vessel Permit

Bringing your own boat into Glacier Bay requires a free permit, arranged in advance through the park.

Backcountry & Kayak Camping Permit

Free permits (May 1–September 30) are required for both the Bartlett Cove Campground and backcountry/kayak camping elsewhere in the bay. Campers must attend a roughly 30-minute in-person orientation at the Visitor Information Station, where they also receive a bear-resistant food container.

Campgrounds & RV Options

There is no vehicle or RV camping anywhere in Glacier Bay — no roads reach the campground, and gear must be carried in.

Bartlett Cove Campground
Free, first-come, first-served walk-in tent camping about a quarter mile from the Bartlett Cove dock/parking area — wheelbarrows are provided to haul gear in. 36 individual sites plus 3 group sites, no picnic tables or fire rings at individual sites, but a shared fire pit and warming shelter (firewood provided) and bear-proof food caches are on site. Requires the free permit and orientation described above.

Good to Know

  • Tidewater glaciers calving into the bay are the park's signature sight — best seen from the concession day boat tour or a longer kayak trip.
  • Whales, sea otters, and seabirds are commonly spotted on the boat tour and from shore at Bartlett Cove.
  • Weather and boat schedules can change fast — build flexibility into any trip built around a specific tour departure.
  • Gustavus has limited services compared to a typical gateway town — book lodging, flights, and any gear rentals well in advance.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees and regulations change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Bartlett Cove Campground · NPS – Alerts & Conditions