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Do you need a reservation for Rocky Mountain National Park?
Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry and reservation rules, quoted from its own page, with the dates, hours and how to book. Pick a day to check it.
What Rocky Mountain National Park requires
Rocky Mountain National Park requires a timed entry reservation from 9 AM to 2 PM, May 22 to Oct 12, 2026; and a timed entry reservation for Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5 AM to 6 PM, May 22 to Oct 18, 2026.
Timed Entry Permit System (Rocky Mountain National Park), National Park Service, checked November 2026.
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
Going with a guide in Colorado
20 tour operators listed in Colorado.
Other parks
Reservation rules at other parks
- Acadia National Park
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- Dog Mountain Trail System
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
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- Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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- Lava River Cave
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Multnomah Falls
- Olympic National Park
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- Shenandoah National Park
- Timpooneke Trailhead
- Valles Caldera National Preserve
- Washington Monument
- Yellowstone National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Zion National Park
Common questions
Park reservation questions
Rocky Mountain National Park requires a timed entry reservation from 9 AM to 2 PM, May 22 to Oct 12, 2026; and a timed entry reservation for Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5 AM to 6 PM, May 22 to Oct 18, 2026. Source: Timed Entry Permit System (Rocky Mountain National Park).
May 22 to Oct 12, 2026, from 9 AM to 2 PM. The park's page says: "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."
The park's page says: "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."
May 22 to Oct 18, 2026, from 5 AM to 6 PM. The park's page says: "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."
The park's page says: "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."
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