Visitation to national parks in the United States continues to rise every year. This is no surprise, as folks from around the world seek out some of the wildest places and most stunning landscapes in the country.
However, at some parks, these crowds have led to hours-long traffic jams, crowded trails, and full parking lots from dusk until dawn. Because of this, some parks have implemented reservation systems to limit the lines at the park entrance and make the park experience more enjoyable for everyone.
While these reservation systems can be a pain and limit the spontaneity that makes road trips so much fun, they also help prevent these wild lands from being hugged to death.
So, if you’re hitting the road this summer with any of these parks on your list, make sure to check ahead to see if a permit or reservation is required for entry. The National Parks typically won’t announce the official rules until sometime in the late winter or spring.
Mount Rainier National Park
The crown jewel of Washington, Mount Rainier National Park, has exploded in popularity in recent years, which has resulted in hours-long lines for visitors hoping to enter the park. Once in the park, finding a parking spot had become equally difficult, leading to illegal roadside parking or visitors having to walk over a mile just to reach a trailhead.
In 2024, the park required timed entry reservations to enter the park between 7 AM and 3 PM. This meant that early birds or late arrivers could still sneak in unfettered (after paying the entry fee, of course), but everyone else had to snag a reservation in advance or the day before.
Yosemite National Park
There is perhaps no better example of park overcrowding than at the crown jewel of national parks, Yosemite. Hours-long traffic jams near the entrance stations had become the norm, and once inside the park, finding a parking spot was nearly impossible.
In 2024, a reservation was required to enter the park on most weekends in the spring and fall and every day during the summer months. It is hard to imagine the park ever returning to open entry, especially during the peak summer months.
Arches National Park
For years, Arches National Park struggled with massive lines waiting to enter the single road that takes visitors into this stunning park. In 2024, a timed entry permit system was in place, and reservations were made available on a rolling 1-month basis for entry between April and October.
There is a good chance this same system will remain in place, so keep your eyes out, as reservations for April will likely go live sometime in early January.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park’s proximity to the nearby metropolis of Denver meant that, on weekends, visitors were overrunning the park’s facilities, trails, and parking lots. In response, a timed entry reservation system was put in place and, in 2024, the reservation season was extended to cover mid-May through mid-October.
Expect a similar system to be in place in 2025, with a portion of the reservations released around a month in advance and the rest made available the evening prior. This allows visitors to keep an eye on the forecast and not venture out into unsafe conditions because there will be no more availability in the coming days.
Glacier National Park
One of the most epic drives in all of North America is the Going-to-the-Sun road, which passes through the Rocky Mountains in Glacier National Park. This narrow road hugs the cliffside and offers dramatic views of these rugged mountains.
Because of the park’s popularity and the road’s incredible beauty, there was far more demand than the road could safely handle. In 2024, a reservation was required to access the Going-to-the-Sun, North Fork, and Many Glacier roads between 6 AM and 3 PM.
It is very likely these same systems will remain in place into the 2025 season as well.
Haleakala National Park
One of the most epic sunrises in the world can be seen from the top of Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui. Sitting at just over 10,000 feet of elevation, it feels like the whole world is below you as the sun ascends above the horizon.
Because of this, the demand to drive up and catch a glimpse of the sunrise far exceeds the parking and road capacity at the top of the park. Reservations are required every day to access the park between 3 AM and 7 AM, although during the rest of the day, visitors are free to come and go as they please.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
While reservations aren’t required to enter Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a reservation is required to enter the caverns themselves. And let’s be real, who is coming to the park without planning on checking out the caverns?
Reservations can be made in advance or, if you’re feeling lucky, when you arrive at the park’s visitor center.
