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Do I need a reservation for the park?
Pick a national park or federal site and a day. See whether it needs a timed entry ticket or vehicle reservation, at what hours, and how to book it, from the park's own page.
Park Reservation CheckRocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park · Nov 3, 2026. No. None of Rocky Mountain National Park's reservation requirements is in effect on Nov 3, 2026.
Rocky Mountain National Park · Nov 3, 2026
No reservation neededNo. None of Rocky Mountain National Park's reservation requirements is in effect on Nov 3, 2026.
Timed entry · 2026
Bear Lake Road Corridor · 2026
Timed entry
"Beginning on Friday, May 22 to mid-October, a timed entry reservation will be required to enter and visit all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park (including outlying areas like Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Lumpy Ridge, and East Inlet Trail) during certain hours of the day."
- 2026
- May 22 to Oct 12
- Hours
- 9 AM to 2 PM
"Timed Entry reservations are needed to enter Rocky Mountain National Park between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily beginning on Friday, May 22 through Monday, October 12, 2026."
Who does not need one
"Don't have a reservation? That's ok! You can enter the park before 9 a.m. or anytime after 2 p.m. without a timed entry reservation."
"For visitors who have an overnight campground reservation at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Moraine Park or Timber Creek Campgrounds, a timed entry reservation is included with your camping reservation."
"If you have a Wilderness Overnight Backpacking permit, this will serve as your timed entry reservation."
"Visitors who enter Rocky Mountain National Park via bicycle do not need a timed entry reservation."
When to book
"Timed entry reservations are released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule: ... May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | May 22 - June 30 ... Additional timed entry reservations will be released first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov at 7 p.m. MDT on the night before a desired arrival date."
Fee
"The only cost associated with making a timed entry reservation is a non-refundable $2 Recreation.gov processing fee."
Timed entry + Bear Lake Road
Bear Lake Road Corridor"Beginning on May 22, Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road Reservations will be needed to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor of RMNP between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. MDT."
- 2026
- May 22 to Oct 18
- Hours
- 5 AM to 6 PM
"Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road Reservations are needed to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor between the hours of 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily beginning on Friday, May 22 through Sunday, October 18, 2026."
Who does not need one
"If you don't have a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road Reservation and would like to visit destinaitons on Bear Lake Road, you can enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor before 5 a.m. or after 6 p.m."
"Campers who have reservations for Aspenglen, Glacier Basin and Moriane Park Campgrounds will have access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor as well as all other areas of the park."
"If you have a Wilderness Overnight Backpacking permit, this will serve as your timed entry reservation."
"Reservation holders can enter RMNP and the Bear Lake Road Corridor up to 2-hours prior to a scheduled horseback ride."
When to book
"Timed entry reservations are released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule: ... May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | May 22 - June 30 ... Additional timed entry reservations will be released first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov at 7 p.m. MDT on the night before a desired arrival date."
Fee
"The only cost associated with making a timed entry reservation is a non-refundable $2 Recreation.gov processing fee."
More from Rocky Mountain National Park
"Only one timed entry reservation is required per vehicle, per day (not per person)."
"Timed entry reservations allow park visitors to enter RMNP within designated 2-hour windows of time. Once you enter the park, stay as long as you like."
"A valid park entrance pass is also required to enter the park."
Source: Timed Entry Permit System (Rocky Mountain National Park), National Park Service, checked November 2026.
A guide to each agency's published rules, not a booking service. Dates and hours change; the linked page and Recreation.gov are the authority.
- Each park's own page, quoted
- Any day, any arrival time
- Booking link and release times
By park
Park reservation requirements
What each park or site requires, read on its own page, with the latest dates it printed.
| Park or site | What you need | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | Vehicle reservation, Cadillac Summit Road | May 20 to Oct 25, 2026 |
| Ape Cave Interpretive Site | Timed entry | May 18 to Oct 31, every year, 9 AM to 5 PM |
| Arches National Park | None in 2026 | |
| Brainard Lake Recreation Area | Timed entry | Jun 12 to Oct 1, 2026 |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | None | |
| Canyonlands National Park | None | |
| Dog Mountain Trail System | Permit, Dog Mountain Trailhead parking lot | Apr 11 to Jun 7, 2026, on Saturdays and Sundays, plus May 25 |
| Glacier National Park | None in 2026 | |
| Grand Canyon National Park | Permit, Tuweep | Every day |
| Grand Teton National Park | None | |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve | None | |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | None | |
| Haleakalā National Park | Vehicle reservation, Summit District at sunrise | Every day, 3 AM to 7 AM |
| Joshua Tree National Park | None | |
| Lava River Cave | Timed entry | May 15 to Sep 15, 2026, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, 9 AM to 4 PM |
| Mount Rainier National Park | None in 2026 | |
| Muir Woods National Monument | Parking reservation | Every day |
| Multnomah Falls | Timed entry, I-84 Exit 31 parking lot | May 22 to Sep 7, 2026, 9 AM to 6 PM |
| Olympic National Park | None | |
| Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area | Timed entry, Scenic Drive | Oct 1 to May 31, every year, 8 AM to 5 PM |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | Timed entry; Timed entry, Bear Lake Road Corridor | May 22 to Oct 12, 2026, 9 AM to 2 PM; May 22 to Oct 18, 2026, 5 AM to 6 PM |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | None | |
| Shenandoah National Park | Ticket, Old Rag | Mar 1 to Nov 30, every year |
| Timpooneke Trailhead | Parking reservation, Timpooneke Trailhead (Mount Timpanogos) | Jul 12 to Oct 12, 2026, on Saturdays and Sundays, 12 AM to 12 PM, plus Jul 24 and Sep 7 |
| Valles Caldera National Preserve | Vehicle reservation, Backcountry vehicle route | May 15 to Nov 15, every year |
| Washington Monument | Ticket | Every day |
| Yellowstone National Park | None | |
| Yosemite National Park | None in 2026 | |
| Zion National Park | Permit, Angels Landing | Every day |
Common questions
Park reservation questions
Of the 29 parks and sites we have checked against their own pages, 16 require a timed entry ticket, vehicle reservation or similar booking for at least part of the year: Acadia National Park, Ape Cave Interpretive Site, Brainard Lake Recreation Area, Dog Mountain Trail System, Grand Canyon National Park, Haleakalā National Park, Lava River Cave, Muir Woods National Monument, Multnomah Falls, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park, Timpooneke Trailhead, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Washington Monument and Zion National Park. Pick one in the tool for its dates and hours.
Yes. For 2026, Arches National Park, Glacier National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and Yosemite National Park said in print that entry needs no reservation. The tool answers "not announced" for a later year until the park prints its plans.
Most parks print the next season's dates between January and spring. Until a park prints them, the tool says the dates are not announced and shows the last season it ran, rather than guessing.
No. A timed entry or vehicle reservation is a booking on top of the park entrance fee or pass. The tool quotes the booking fee where the park prints one.
Yes. It is free and needs no account. Bookings are made on Recreation.gov, which the tool links to.
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