Wallace Stegner famously said, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely America, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” Anybody who’s ventured into one of America’s popular National Parks in the last few years knows that besides being our best idea, they might also be our most popular (rock and roll excluded).
Some National Parks are turning to timed entry to manage their ever-growing crowds and limited resources. So if you’re planning on hitting some parks this summer, you might want to go ahead and start lining up reservations. In fact, a few of these parks are already booked for summer and are almost into booking for September!
Here’s the breakdown. And remember, these timed entry reservations are wholly different from the entrance fee many parks also require. So, get those annual park passes renewed and National Park reservations ready!
Arches National Park
Timed entry reservations to access the park are required through Oct. 31, 2024. Per the park’s website, Arches will release tickets on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov 3 months before the entry date.
For instance, visitors planning to enter the park anytime in September can begin making reservations on June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT. That means if you plan on visiting in July, you need to head to Recreation.gov right now to see if any slots are left.
The park will also sell limited timed entry tickets for next-day visitors. Or, if you are an early bird, get into the park before 7 a.m. without a timed entry ticket. (You’ll still have to pay the entry fee.)
Glacier National Park
Timed entry vehicle reservations are required between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. for Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork from May 24 through Sept. 8, 2024. Two other entrances (Many Glacier and Two Medicine) require timed entry between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. between July 1 and Sept. 8.
Similar to Arches, Glacier releases the timed entry reservations in blocks. The park is currently accepting reservations for August 8 to September 8, 2024.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park has divided its timed entry system into two tiers. There is “Park Access” and “Park Access+,” one of which you’ll need between May 24 and mid-October. (This means there are no timed reservations required between now and when summer hours start on May 26!)
The “Park Access” entry pass covers the entire park, except the Bear Lake Road corridor, and allows entry between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The “Park Access+” option allows full access to the park, including the Bear Lake Road area, and allows entry from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those with campground reservations will not also need a timed entry reservation to enter.
On May 1, timed entry permits were released for the dates of opening on May 24 through June 30. The next release will occur on June 1 for all dates during the month of July and any remaining days not fully reserved during the prior month. This system will continue through October.
According to the park, “40 percent of all reservations will be released via Recreation.gov the night before a chosen arrival date. These timed entry permits will be available each day beginning at 7 p.m. MDT.” This means that on your planned day of visit, there may still be reservations available. But take it from us — they go very fast.
Mt. Rainier National Park
Mt. Rainier saw visitation rise by almost half a million people between 2008 and 2021, according to a National Park Service press release. So, 2024 is the first year the park is instituting a timed entry reservation system.
This summer reservations will be required for two sections of the park. Paradise Corridor, coming from the southwest (near Ashford, Wash.) or the southeast (near Packwood, Wash.) will require reservations from May 24 through September 2 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Sunrise Corridor coming from the northeast (via Enumclaw, Wash.) will require them from July 4 through September 2 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Each corridor requires its own specific reservation. Currently, reservations for the month of July are open for both. On May 1, reservations for the month of August will open up.
Timed Entry at Other National Parks
Arches, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Rainier are the only four National Parks enforcing timed entry reservations for the entire park. But many others in the system use a similar strategy for limiting visitors to specific sections or anticipated crowded attractions. For instance, Acadia National Park is using a timed entry system for Cadillac Summit Road. This year, it will be in effect from May 22 through Oct. 27.
Zion National Park’s famous Angels Landing hike requires permits year-round. Those are awarded via a lottery system. Shenandoah National Park and Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii will also require timed entry permits to access specific areas.
Yosemite National Park is one of the only parks that has ended its timed entry system. However, a reservation is still required to drive into Yosemite National Park some days between April 13 through October 27, 2024. See those specific dates on Yosemite’s NPS webpage.
So, no matter which of these parks you’re visiting, it’s a safe bet there will be some sort of reservation system in place either now or in the future.
