Montana is so busy it is sold out for 2021!
OK, that is an exaggeration. But Montana is as busy as we have ever seen it in our 20 years in the state. Combine this demand with decreased supply due to the pandemic and you have a very tight situation for eager travelers. Consider the following, with our recommendations at the bottom for securing your Montana vacation.
Glacier National Park
- Requiring an Entry Ticket Reservation to access Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is only $2 and can be purchased 60 days in advance
- Sold out of guided hiking permits, which means we already turned away one private group interested in a Glacier Hiking Vacation this summer
- It appears most lodges in the park are sold out for the entire summer and even into the fall
- Construction on key roads in the park and reduced capacity in some services due to COVID protocols
Yellowstone National Park
- As of this writing, park lodges are entirely sold out for July and there were only three dates available in one lodge in August
- Opened lodging reservations for summer of 2022 on June 2!
- Reduced lodging capacity and restrictions on restaurants due to COVID protocols, with an uncertain date as to when this will change
Hotel and Car Rentals
- Many of the hotels we use on our tours (privately-owned hotels with character) are sold out or mostly so for the summer
- Hotels with national chains and located in cities are still available but prices are often much higher than we are used to seeing
- National car rental agencies sold off large portions of their fleets during the pandemic and are unable to replace them quickly enough, causing a national shortage
- Flights for summer trips to Montana are still readily available and reasonably priced, although our experience is costs are increasing weekly
Recommendations for Prospective Travelers
Yes, Montana will be in demand this summer but that doesn’t mean you should give up on visiting our spectacular state. Here are a few recommendations for you:
- Change your destination within Montana. Instead of visiting Glacier National Park this summer, join us on a Beartooth Mountains Hiking Vacation or our Montana Family Adventure, which are equally spectacular and much less crowded.
- Plan your trip after the Labor Day weekend when demand decreases, such as with our October 23 – 27 Yellowstone Wolf & Hiking Vacation that is open for registrations.
- Start planning now for 2022. Our public Glacier National Park Hiking Vacation is set for July 24 – 28 and we suggest you book early if you are interested in any tours that include Glacier or Yellowstone.
