The national parks are becoming increasingly popular every year. While this means that more and more people are interested in the outdoors, it can lead to hours-long entrance lines, extremely limited parking, and overuse damage to the natural landscape. In response, many parks have started implementing a permitting system. While these programs are polarizing, the National Park Service reported a record-high 331.9 million visitors in 2024, making advanced reservations unlikely to disappear anytime soon. So, to help you stay on top of everything, here’s a list of 10 national parks that require reservations to enter or access popular areas and hikes.
Glacier National Park
Two sections of Glacier National Park will require reservations from 7 AM to 3 PM MT between June 13 and September 28, 2025: Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west and North Fork. Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is usually only open in the summer, is the one route that traverses the park and takes visitors to many popular trailheads and viewpoints. North Fork is more remote and requires a four-wheel drive car to visit.
How to Get Glacier NP Timed Entry Reservations
You can get Glacier National Park timed entry reservations on recreation.gov at two separate times. Reservations first become available 120 days in advance at 8 AM on a daily rolling basis. For example, permits for August 1, 2025, become available on April 3, 2025, or 120 days prior. Alternatively, next-day reservations become available starting at 7 PM the night before. Make sure to plan ahead, as they will quickly sell out.
Your reservation includes a two-hour entry window. Otherwise, you can freely access these areas before 7 AM or after 3 PM (though you’ll still need to pay the entrance fee).
Arches National Park
If you plan on visiting Arches National Park between 7 AM and 4 PM MT on April 1-July 6, 2025, or August 28-October 31, 2025, you’ll need advance reservations. The park has seen a massive spike in visitors in recent years, and the timed-entry system helps regulate the flow of traffic and keeps the park from becoming overcrowded during peak seasons and times.
How to Get Arches NP Timed Entry Reservations
If you’re an early planner, you’re in luck. Arches National Park timed entry reservations are released on recreation.gov in one-month blocks, six months in advance at 8 AM. For example, reservations for September 1-30, 2025 are released on April 1. The exception is that April, May, and June reservations were released on January 2. Alternatively, the park also releases a batch of next-day permits starting at 7 PM the night before.
Each reservation allows you to choose a one-hour period in which you’re allowed to enter the park. Morning time slots tend to book up fast, so make sure to plan accordingly. You also can visit the park without an advanced reservation outside of the designated dates and times.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Unlike some other national parks, Rocky Mountain’s reservation system has two tiers. The one labeled “Timed Entry (does not include access to Bear Lake Road)” allows you to access the entire park, excluding—you guessed it—the Bear Lake Road Corridor. These are required between 9 AM and 2 PM MT from May 23 through October 13, 2025.
The other option, “Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road”, gets you into all areas of the park including the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This reservation is needed between 5 AM and 6 PM from May 23 through October 19, 2025. Not surprisingly, the Bear Lake area is home to many of the park’s most visited sites, hence the more stringent entry requirements.
How to Get Rocky Mountain NP Timed Entry Reservations
Timed entry reservations for Rocky Mountain National Park are released on recreation.gov in two phases on a first-come, first-served basis. The first release happens in one-month blocks at 8 AM on the first day of the previous month. For example, reservations for August 1–31 become available on July 1. The only exception is the first block—permits for May 23–June 30 are released on May 1. Otherwise, reservations are released the night before at 7 PM. Note that these sell out quickly, especially on weekends and during holidays.
Your reservation comes with a two-hour time window in which you can access the park. After you enter, you can exit at any time. Note that if you hold a “Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road” permit and leave the Bear Lake Corridor, you must wait until after 2 PM to re-enter.
Mount Rainier National Park
In 2024, Mount Rainier National Park first implemented its timed entry reservations pilot program. Visitors hoping to access the Paradise Corridor were required to have a timed entry permit between 7 AM and 3 PM PT from May 24 to September 2, while those accessing the Sunrise Corridor needed reservations from July 4 to September 2. Though there’s no news on whether this plan will continue in 2025, I’ll update this article as soon as more information is available.
How to Get Mount Rainier NP Timed Entry Reservations
In 2024, Mount Rainier National Park timed entry reservations were released on recreation.gov in one-month blocks 90 days before the start of the month. Also, a limited number of permits were released at 7 PM for the next day on a rolling schedule.
Yosemite National Park
After months of uncertainty, Yosemite National Park recently announced its 2025 advanced reservations schedule. A timed entry permit will be required for all entrances except Hetch Hetchy between 6 AM and 3 PM PT on weekends between May 24 and June 15, 2025, and August 16 and August 31, 2025. Additionally, reservations will be required daily between June 16 and August 15, 2025.
How to Get Yosemite NP Timed Entry Reservations
Timed-entry reservations will be released via recreation.gov on April 17. Reservations allow visitors to enter the park for three consecutive days.
Those looking to reach the summit of Half Dome also need advanced reservations. To learn more about how to obtain a Half Dome permit, as well as what to expect for the hike itself, check out the article below.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Reservations are required to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park year-round because of the delicate nature of this underground world. Visitors can choose between making a self-guided tour reservation or opting for a ranger-guided tour (note these are suspended until further notice). Those choosing the self-guided tour can either hike down the 1.25-mile path to the cave floor or take an elevator.
How to Get Carlsbad Caverns NP Timed Entry Reservations
Visitors can head to recreation.gov to snag Carlsbad Caverns National Park reservations. They first become available starting 30 days in advance at 8 AM MT and up until 5 AM the day of arrival. Note that during holidays and in the summer these permits will sell out, so plan accordingly. All reservations come with a 60-minute entry window starting with the time you selected on your permit. For example, a 9:30 AM permit allows entry between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
Haleakala National Park
While visitors are freely able to visit Haleakala National Park, those hoping to experience sunrise atop its 10,032-foot volcano need an advanced reservation. Due to its prominence and lack of light pollution, it’s a stunning place to view the sky. However, due to increasing popularity and limited parking, you’ll need a permit to visit between 3 AM and 7 AM HST daily.
How to Get a Haleakala Sunrise Permit
Visitors can head to recreation.gov to get Haleakala sunrise permits. The first group is released 60 days in advance at 7 AM. A second round of permits becomes available starting two days in advance at 7 AM. Visitors are allowed one sunrise permit per three days.
Shenandoah National Park
There are no restrictions to visiting Shenandoah National Park, but those hoping to visit the popular Old Rag Mountain will need advanced reservations. This area features several gorgeous hikes with stunning 360-degree views, making it the most popular area in the park. To help with visitor safety and minimize impact, 800 permits are available per day between March 1 and November 30.
How to Get an Old Rag Mountain Day-Use Permit
Old Rag Mountain day-use permits are available at recreation.gov on a first-come, first-served basis. The first half is released 30 days in advance at 10 AM ET. The second half becomes available five days in advance at 10 AM. Any remaining permits are available on the day of. However, they can sell out during weekends and in the summer so plan accordingly.
Zion National Park
Most of Zion National Park is free to explore without a reservation. However, if you want to hike up to Angels Landing, you’ll need a permit. Towering 1,500 feet above the canyon floor, hikers are required to navigate a series of metal cables to reach its picturesque summit. Due to overcrowding and safety concerns, the park implemented a lottery system.
How to Get an Angels Landing Permit
Permits are available on recreation.gov and are required year-round to hike Angels Landing. They are distributed via a lottery, and there are two different ones you can enter. Those who want to plan can enter a seasonal quarterly lottery. Winners are notified on the 25th of the month they entered. Otherwise, you can apply for the daily lottery. Applications are accepted between 12:01 AM and 3 PM MT the day before you want to hike. Lottery results are announced at 4 PM.
You may add up to six people to an application. The number of permits awarded per day depends on a variety of factors, including trail conditions and shuttle schedules.
Acadia National Park
While reservations aren’t required to visit the park, you will need a special permit to drive up Cadillac Summit Road. The three-mile road takes you not only to the highest point in the park but also allows you to see one of the first sunrises in the United States. For these reasons, those hoping to drive up to the top of Cadillac Mountain need an advanced reservation from May 21-October 26, 2025.
How to Get a Cadillac Summit Road Permit
Cadillac Summit Road permits are available on recreation.gov and are divided into Sunrise and Daytime reservations. 30 percent are released 90 days in advance at 10 AM ET, starting on April 15, 2025. The other 70 percent become available starting at 10 AM two days before the reservation date.
Sunrise reservations allow you to enter during a 90-minute window, while Daytime reservations give you a 30-minute window. There’s no departure time, except at 9 PM when the road closes. There also is no re-entry. Note that you are allowed only one Sunrise reservation every seven days. Daytime reservations are allowed daily.
I hope that our national park reservations guide helps you feel more prepared for your upcoming trip! If you’re looking for help planning your next national park adventure, please reach out! We at GoForth are here to help make it happen, and we’d love to give you back hours in your day and curate an unforgettable trip. Click on the button below to learn more about our offerings, and contact us if you’re ready to take the first step toward a life outdoors!
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