With some US national parks reaching capacity during the peak season, mandatory reservations for specific days were introduced in 2021. In 2025, eight national parks listed in the article are subject to it, and the obligation also applies to America the Beautiful pass holders. The goal is to regulate the number of people visiting the most popular national parks.
Table of Contents
- Which U.S. National Parks Require Timed-Entry Ticket?
- Why Is There a Compulsory Reservation for Entering National Parks?
- How Much Does It Cost to Book Entry to the Park?
- Do I Have to Register if I Have an America the Beautiful Pass?
- Where Can I Book an Entrance to a US National Park?
- Acadia National Park – Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservation
- Arches National Park Timed Entry
- Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations
- Haleakalā National Park Summit Sunrise Reservation
- Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permit
- Shenandoah National Park – Old Rag Day-Use Ticket
- Yosemite National Park Entrance Reservations
- Zion National Park – Angels Landing Permits
Which U.S. National Parks Require Timed-Entry Ticket?
Why Is There a Compulsory Reservation for Entering National Parks?
During the high season, some national parks are overcrowded. Visitor numbers are increasing year on year and viewing the beauty of American nature in overcrowded conditions diminishes the experience for everyone. So a system whereby a precise number of reservations are set aside for each day to keep the number of tourists in the park in check is meant to set a limit.
How Much Does It Cost to Book Entry to the Park?
Some parks charge per car and its occupants, while others charge per person. Similarly, the length of validity and the release date of reservations vary from park to park.
Do I Have to Register if I Have an America the Beautiful Pass?
Where Can I Book an Entrance to a US National Park?
You must create a user account on the site to make a successful reservation, just click on Sign Up at the top right. In some parks, demand far exceeds the number of available reservations. I recommend signing up in advance and reserving a spot as soon as it becomes available. An email from @recreation.gov usually serves as proof and will arrive promptly. It is presented together with a passport in the same name.
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Acadia National Park – Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservation
Reservations are required to enter Cadillac Summit Road between May 21 and October 26, 2025.
Reservations are not required when entering other areas of Acadia National Park. Likewise, a reservation is not required if you enter the park on foot, by bicycle, or by taxi.
The reservation fee is $6.00 per car. Reservations are sold exclusively on the Recreation.gov website and cannot be purchased in the park.
Reservations may be purchased starting February 21, 2025, with 30% of them becoming available 90 days in advance. The remaining 70% of reservations are released two days in advance at 10:00 a.m. ET.
A confirmation QR code will be scanned upon entry to the park. It is recommended to download it to your phone, as signal coverage is unreliable in the park.
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Arches National Park Timed Entry
At Arches National Park, advance reservations for Vehicle Timed Entry are required from April 1, 2025, through July 6, 2025, and from August 28, 2025, through October 31, 2025, between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm each day.
If you plan to visit the park outside of these hours, you do not need a reservation. Likewise, you do not need to pay for a reservation if you have reserved an overnight camping spot or a permit for Fiery Furnace. On the other hand, if you plan to stay in the park for multiple days, you must purchase admission for each individual day.
The cost of a reservation is $2.00 per car, and you can purchase it exclusively at Recreation.gov. There are three things to present at the Arches National Park entrance gate:
- Timed Entry Ticket
- Passport
- A park admission ticket, or an America the Beautiful pass
Reservations are released six months in advance, on the first of each month, for the entire calendar month. Thus, in January, passes are released for the entire months of April, May, and June, while on February 1, 2025, passes are released for the entire months of May, June, and July, etc. Additional entries will be released starting from March 31, 2025, with one day’s notice at 6:00 PM MT / 8:00 PM ET.
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Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations
Reservations are required from June 13, 2025, to September 28, 2025, when entering the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor (from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) and the North Fork area (from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). No permit is required to enter the Two Medicine area; however, the Many Glacier area is closed until mid-May 2026 due to road reconstruction. Conditions in each location vary slightly.
If you drive through the sites outside the listed times, you do not need a reservation. Likewise, it is not needed if you have a camping reservation for the night at the site.
You must reserve a vehicle when driving in all parts of the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor, i.e., between the West Entrance Station, Camas Entrance Station, and the Rising Sun checkpoint. Reservations are valid for three days.
The North Fort portion requires a separate reservation, which is valid for one day. The sections concerned can be found on the map.
The cost of reservations to Glacier National Park is $2.00. You can purchase them at Recreation.gov. If you have reservations for lodging at the sites, reservations may not be needed.
A portion of the reserved capacity goes on sale 120 days in advance, with the remainder always becoming available the day before at 7:00 p.m. MDT. A screenshot of the site will suffice as proof of payment for the reservation and must be presented at the gate.
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Haleakalā National Park Summit Sunrise Reservation
Reservations must be made in advance for all visitors entering the park between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM during sunrise hours. This applies year-round.
The cost of a reservation is $1.00 per vehicle, payable at Recreation.gov.
Tickets will go on sale 60 days in advance, with a smaller number becoming available two days prior to each date. An email reservation and a photo ID matching the name on the ticket must be presented at the park entrance.
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Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permit
A Timed Entry Permit Reservation is required for Rocky Mountain National Park between May 23 and October 19, 2025. You can avoid paying if you have a reservation for another service in the park (such as a night at a campground).
Reservation rates are $2.00 per car per day. Visitors can choose from two options at Recreation.gov:
- Option 1 is called “Timed Entry+Bear Lake Road” and includes access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Reservations are required between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Option 2 is called “Timed Entry” and does not include access to Bear Lake Road. Reservations are required between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and only until October 13, 2025.
Entrances are released for reservation on the first of each month at 8:00 a.m. MDT for the following month. Thus, on June 1, entries are released for the entire month of July and any unused entries in June. A total of 40% of all available reservations are always released the day before at 5:00 p.m., and they tend to be taken quickly.
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Shenandoah National Park – Old Rag Day-Use Ticket
Terms and conditions for 2025 have not yet been officially confirmed. However, it is anticipated that the same rules will apply as in 2024.
Reservations are only required to enter the trail at Old Rag Mountain between March 1 and November 30, 2025.
There are 800 tickets released for each day: 400 are available 30 days in advance, and another 400 are available 5 days in advance.
Reservations cost $1.00 per person, per calendar day, and must be made exclusively on Recreation.gov. When traveling in a group, each person must have their own reservation. One person may reserve for up to four permit holders. Parking at the visitor center is free of charge.
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Yosemite National Park Entrance Reservations
During certain times in 2025, advance reservations are required when visiting Yosemite National Park. These are peak dates when there are large numbers of people in the park. The goal is to limit the number of visitors and make their stay in the park more enjoyable.
- From February 8 through February 23, 2025, advance reservations are required on Saturdays, Sundays, and on the national holiday of February 17, 2025.
The National Park Service has not yet announced rules for the rest of 2025. When it does, this article will be updated.
Reservations cost $2.00 per day. Visitors must still present either the America the Beautiful Pass or pay the park admission fee. Detailed information, including instructions for making a reservation, is available on the park’s website.
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Zion National Park – Angels Landing Permits
A special permit is required only for visitors who wish to hike the famous Angels Landing Trail. Reservations are not required for the actual park entrance, shuttle ride or hike to The Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava.
The Angels Landing permit is issued by lottery. Each person has two chances to obtain a permit.
The seasonal lottery is always held for three consecutive calendar months, opening two months in advance. For example, on July 1, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. MT, the lottery opens for treks between September 1 and November 30, 2025. Interested parties select from predetermined days and times, and one permit covers up to six people, including the lottery winner.
On the day the permits are issued, you will receive an email with the lottery results.
The cost of a non-refundable registration is $6.00, and up to six people can be included. If successful in the lottery, each person must pay $3.00.
The last-minute lottery is held the day before the trek starts, opening at 0:01 MT and closing at 15:00 MT. At 16:00 MT, you will receive an email informing you whether you were successful or not. The fees are the same as in the first case.
The confirmation email from Recreation.gov serves as a permit. Save it on your phone or print it out, and take it with you on the hike.
US National Parks
- List of US National Parks
- America the Beautiful Annual Pass
- Timed-Entry Reservation for US National Parks
Travel Guides to USA National Parks
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