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
![Cedar Tree 'Rainbow' Arch at Rattlesnake Arches Park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/04/cedar-tree-rainbow-arch-rattlesnake-700x467.jpg)
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
![a road winds through a tunnel with mountains in the background](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2023/05/arches-2-700x467.jpg)
Rocky Mountain National Park
![lake covered with lily pads at Rocky mountain national park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/05/RMNP2-700x461.jpg)
Mt. Rainier National Park
![Mount Rainier National Park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/11/Mount-Rainier-National-Park-photo-Xiaoling-Keller-700x467.jpg)
Timed Entry at Other National Parks
![Temple,Of,The,Moon,,Capital,Reef,National,Park](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/02/capitol-reef-national-park-700x462.jpg)