National Park Reservations: Which Parks Require Booking in 2024

Spontaneity used to be the hallmark of the American road trip. You could pack a bag, drive to a national park, and pay at the gate. However, surging visitor numbers have changed the rules. To protect natural resources and manage traffic, several of the most popular US National Parks now require advance reservations for entry or specific activities. If you show up without one, rangers will turn you away at the gate.

The Big Changes for 2024 and Beyond

The National Park Service (NPS) adjusts these requirements annually based on visitor data. For 2024, some parks introduced pilot programs while others tweaked existing systems. The most significant addition this year was Mount Rainier National Park, which implemented a timed-entry system for the first time.

Almost all reservations must be made through Recreation.gov. You will usually pay a nominal non-refundable reservation fee (typically $2.00) on top of the standard park entrance pass.

Parks Requiring General Timed Entry

These parks require a reservation just to drive your vehicle past the entrance station during peak hours.

Arches National Park (Utah)

Arches has one of the strictest systems because the park has only one entrance and limited parking.

  • Requirement: Timed Entry Ticket.
  • Dates: April 1 through October 31.
  • Hours: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
  • Details: Tickets are released three months in advance in monthly blocks. A limited number of tickets are released one day prior at 7:00 PM MDT. If you have a camping reservation at Devils Garden Campground, that serves as your entry ticket.

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

Rocky Mountain utilizes a split system to manage traffic flow toward the popular Bear Lake Road corridor. You must choose between two different permits.

  • Option 1 (Park Access +): Includes access to Bear Lake Road and the rest of the park. Required from late May through late October, typically 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
  • Option 2 (Park Access): Excludes Bear Lake Road but allows access to the rest of the park (like Trail Ridge Road). Required late May through mid-October, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
  • Release Schedule: 60% of permits become available roughly one month in advance. The remaining 40% are held back for release at 5:00 PM MDT the day before arrival.

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

This was the major new addition for 2024. The park faced massive congestion at the Nisqually and White River entrances.

  • Requirement: Timed entry reservation for the Paradise Corridor and Sunrise Corridor.
  • Dates: Late May through early September.
  • Hours: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
  • Specifics: You need separate reservations for the Paradise corridor (south side) and the Sunrise corridor (northeast side).

Yosemite National Park (California)

Yosemiteā€™s rules fluctuate more than any other park. For 2024, the ā€œPeak Hours Plusā€ system was in effect for most dates between April and October.

  • Requirement: Reservation required to drive into or through the park.
  • Dates: Weekends in early spring/late fall; daily from July 1 through mid-August.
  • Hours: 5:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
  • Note: If you enter before 5:00 AM, you generally do not need a reservation, but you must stay in the park or pay to re-enter if you leave during peak hours.

Glacier National Park (Montana)

Glacier divides its massive area into specific vehicle reservation zones. A ticket for one zone does not get you into another.

  • Going-to-the-Sun Road (West Side): Required late May through early September.
  • North Fork: Required late May through early September.
  • Many Glacier: Required July 1 through early September.
  • Hours: Generally 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
  • Change for 2024: The park moved the reservation checkpoint for the Going-to-the-Sun Road past the Apgar Visitor Center, allowing visitors access to Apgar Village without a reservation.

Parks Requiring Reservations for Specific Activities

Some parks allow you to enter freely but gatekeep their most popular hikes or drives behind a permit system.

Zion National Park (Utah)

You do not need a reservation to enter Zion or ride the park shuttle. However, the parkā€™s most famous hike requires a lottery win.

  • Activity: Hiking Angels Landing.
  • System: The Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program.
  • How to Book: You can apply for the Seasonal Lottery (months in advance) or the Day-before Lottery (applies for a hike the next day). The application fee is $6, and if you win, you pay an additional $3 per person.

Acadia National Park (Maine)

Entry to the park is open, but the summit of Cadillac Mountain is strictly regulated due to parking limitations.

  • Activity: Driving Cadillac Summit Road.
  • Dates: Late May through late October.
  • Cost: $6.00 per vehicle.
  • Tip: 30% of reservations are sold 90 days ahead. The remaining 70% are released two days in advance at 10:00 AM ET. These sell out in minutes.

Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)

Watching the sunrise from the summit is a bucket-list item, but parking is minimal at the crater rim.

  • Activity: Summit Sunrise viewing.
  • Hours: 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM.
  • Cost: $1.00 per vehicle reservation.
  • Booking: Tickets are released 60 days in advance. A small batch is released two days prior at 7:00 AM HST.

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

While the park and Skyline Drive remain open, the popular Old Rag Mountain hike is ticketed to reduce trail erosion and overcrowding.

  • Activity: Old Rag Mountain Hike.
  • Dates: March through November.
  • Cost: $1.00 reservation fee.
  • Availability: 800 tickets per day. Half are released 30 days prior; half are released 5 days prior.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

You cannot simply walk into the cavern anymore. The underground trail has a strict capacity limit.

  • Activity: Entrance into the Cavern.
  • Requirement: Timed entry reservation.
  • Note: This is separate from the entrance fee. It simply holds your spot in line to enter the cave mouth or take the elevator down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need a reservation if I have an America the Beautiful Pass? Yes. The annual ā€œAmerica the Beautifulā€ pass covers your entrance fee (usually $30-$35 per vehicle). It does not serve as a reservation. You must still book a timed entry slot on Recreation.gov and pay the $2 processing fee.

What happens if I donā€™t get a reservation? If you miss out on a reservation, you have a few options:

  1. Enter early or late: Most parks lift reservation requirements before 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM and after 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM.
  2. Commercial Tours: Often, booking a guided bus tour, horseback ride, or boat rental includes entry to the park.
  3. Transit: In some parks like Zion or Bryce Canyon (which does not require reservations), using the shuttle is mandatory or highly recommended, but usually does not require a separate booking.

Can I buy a reservation at the park entrance? No. Park rangers at the entry booths cannot sell reservation slots. You must book online through Recreation.gov or call their reservation line before you arrive at the gate. Cell service is often non-existent at park entrances, so handle this before you leave your hotel.

Are these systems permanent? The National Park Service considers many of these ā€œpilot programs.ā€ They review the data annually. While specific dates and hours might shift for 2025, the trend suggests that reservations for major parks like Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, and Glacier are here to stay.