US National Parks With Timed Entry Pass Requirements – 2025 Dates You Need To Know
Our regular readers will know we love nothing better than incorporating national parks into our family road trips, but certainly the humble national park trip can come with its challenges.
National parks have always been popular with US residents and international visitors alike, but in recent years, numbers have swelled at many locations to unsustainable levels.
Rather than deny entry to any of the country’s 63 national parks, the National Parks Service introduced some timed entry systems in 2020 to stem the flow of traffic throughout the day at those receiving the highest visitor numbers.
Not only can the crowds have a devastating impact on the parks that are supposed to be protected, but they can also cause overcrowding in the surrounding towns that don’t have the infrastructure to support the number of visitors.
Whilst many parks have already operated permits for camping and other activities within the park for many years, this timed entry system applies to simply entering the park or key roads, trails, or parking lots at peak times.
These timed systems will continue in 2025, with a small fee for the service booked through recreation.gov. Here’s what you need to know and which national parks will be impacted in summer 2025.
Top Tip – You can register your account with recreation.gov in advance of reservations opening to save you time when you go to make your reservation.
3 National Parks With Park-Wide Timed Entry Summer 2025
We are still awiting finalised dates and processes to be announced by some Parks, so we have retained the 2024 information as a guide.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Drawing 4.1 million visitors in 2023, the timed-entry Reservation system for Rocky Mountain National Park is entering its 6th year.
Best Months: April & May, September & October
Hours: Open 24 hours, 365 days a year (some extreme weather closures may occur)
Regular Entrance Fee: $30 single-day vehicle pass ($35 7-day pass)
Reservation Cost: $2 per vehicle
Effective Dates: May 23, 2024 – October 20, 2025
Hours Required: 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM for the Bear Lake Corridor and 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM for the rest of the park (2-hour entry window)
Tickets Released: 60% of reservations can be applied for on the 1st of the month at 8:00 AM MDT for the following month, i.e.
- May 1, 2025 for May 23 – June 30, 2025
- June 1, 2025 for July 2025
- July 1, 2025 for August 2025
- August 1, 2025 for September 2025
- September 1, 2025 for October 2025
40% of reservations will now be made available the day prior at 5:00 pm
Good to Know
Three are two different reservation tickets for this park; Option 1: Park Access + Bear Lake Road Corridor will include the entire Bear Lake Road Corridor (from the junction of Trail Ridge Road to the Bear Lake Trailhead) plus access to scenic driving routes the rest of the park.
NB Option 1 does not guarantee trailhead car parking. You may still need to park your vehicle at Rocky’s Park & Ride Parking Area and use the park’s free shuttle system to access desired trailheads.
Option 2 is ‘rest of park’ access, excluding Bear Lake Corridor. It is valid only until October 20, 2025.
If you have booked camping, guided trips, or commercial tours, you do not need to purchase the day-use reservation in addition. Campers must pay a $36 non-refundable admin fee for reservations from May 1 to October 31, 2025.
Timed entry does not apply after 6:00 PM/2:00 PM and outside the peak summer season.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Best Months: July to September
Hours: Open 24 hours, but outside of summer, there can be seasonal closures for snow
Entrance Fee: $35 (summer), $25 (winter), valid for 7 days
Timed Areas: Going-to-the-Sun Road, North Fork, (TBC access in Summer 2025 to Many Glacier Valley)
Reservation Cost: $2 per vehicle
Effective Dates: June 13, 2025 – September 18, 2025 West Entrance and North Fork
Hours Required: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Tickets Released: Some permits are available 120 days in advance on a rolling basis. Open from 8:00 AM MST:
- From February 12, 2025 for June 30, 2025
- From March 1, 2025 for July 2025
- From April 1, 2025 for August 2025
- From May 1, 2025 for September 1-8, 2025
- The remaining reservations will be released at 7:00 PM MDT for the next day
Good to Know
The reservation system was slightly altered in 2024 to cover different areas of the park that received the most vehicular traffic. Two Medicine Valley has been removed (but may have temporary restrictions enforced). Each is a unique scenic drive in Montana and will require a different reservation.
While the timed tickets are only needed for parts of the park, you essentially can’t experience the national park over the summer without them.
Your permit for the Going-to-the-Sun road is now only valid for one day (previously three consecutive days). Likewise, North Fork permits are only valid for one day. They do not guarantee the availability of trailhead parking.
Visitors staying within the park with lodging or camping reservations or those with commercial tour reservations do not need to purchase a timed entry permit.
Arches National Park, Utah
Peak Visitor Months: May, June & September
Hours: Open year-round, 24 hours a day
Regular Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
Reservation Cost: $2 per vehicle
Effective Dates: April 1, 2025, to July 6, 2025, and August 28, 202,5 to October 31, 2025
Hours Required: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily
Tickets Released: You can make reservations up to three months in advance from 8:00 AM MST/MDT. For example, on April 1, 2025, tickets will be released for all of July 2025.
A limited number will be available 1 day prior at 6:00 PM.
Good to Know
The biggest change here from previous years is that the need for a timed reservation has been removed for peak summer dates; You now only need a timed entry permit in the shoulder months.
Your timed access ticket provides access for one private vehicle to the main Scenic Drive within Arches. It is only valid for one hour, and if you arrive early or late, you may be denied entry.
Once inside the park, you can stay as long as you like for one day, meaning the morning tickets are still more valuable to make the most of your time and available parking at trailheads.
If you hold a camping permit, you do not require a timed entry ticket. Similarly, visitors arriving on a bicycle or on foot do not require a timed entry reservation.
Yosemite National Park, California
Please note that park-wide restrictions implemented during the pandemic and critical infrastructure upgrade work in 2022 are no longer required. See exceptions to this below in the area-specific permit section; they have also left summer 2025 restrictions open-ended.
8 National Parks With Area/Event Specific Reservations Required
While no park-wide entry reservation system is needed for these national parks, reservations are required to enter some of the park’s most popular areas to prevent congestion at peak times.
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
Best Months: April to July
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, all year
Regular Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 3 days
Timed Area: Haleakala Summit during sunrise only
Reservation Cost: $1 per vehicle
Effective Dates: 365 days a year
Hours Required: 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Tickets Released: 60 days in advance
Good to Know
Haleakala National Park is home to Maui’s highest peak and watching the sunrise from the summit is the park’s most popular experience.
All private vehicles must have a valid reservation to ensure all visitors can park at the four highest-elevation parking lots (Summit, Haleakala Visitor Center, Kalahaku, and Leleiwi) during sunrise hours.
Visitors should arrive at least 90 to 120 minutes before sunrise to expedite entry into the park. Those arriving closer to sunrise may find they are delayed even with a timed entry permit.
Your reservation does not guarantee parking at any particular lot; staff will guide you to available parking.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Best Months: May, June, July & September
Hours: Year-round, 24 hours a day
Regular Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
Timed Area: Cadillac Summit Road
Reservation Cost: $6 per vehicle
Effective Dates: May 22 – October 27, 2025 [open on a rolling basis from February 22, 2025 TBC]
Hours Required: All-day
Tickets Released: 30% will be available 90 days in advance, 70% will be available from 10:00 (EST/EDT) 2 days in advance
Good to Know
Cadillac Summit Road is a 3-mile scenic drive to the highest peak within Acadia National Park. It is the most popular part of the park and, therefore, draws the most traffic and congestion.
Tickets can be purchased for either the sunrise or the daytime. You can enter for up to 90 minutes after your reserved time. You can only purchase one sunrise ticket every seven days, whereas the daytime ticket can be pre-booked as often as you wish.
Timed reservations only apply to private vehicles; hikers and bicyclists do not require a permit.
NB RVs and vehicles over 21 feet are prohibited on Cadillac Summit Road.
Mount Rainier National Park
Due to a 40% increase in visitor numbers in the past 10 years, Mount Rainier first introduced timed entry reservations for summer 2024. They are yet to announce if this will continue in 2025.
Best Months: Mid-July to September
Hours: Open 365 days
Regular Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid 7 days
Timed Areas: Paradise Corridor and Sunrise Corridor
Reservation Cost: $2 per vehicle
Effective Dates: May 24 to September 2, 2024, for Paradise Corridor and from July 4 for Sunrise Corridor.
Hours Required: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Tickets Released: 60 days in advance and next day release at 7:00 pm PT
Good to Know
New in 2024, we’re awaiting news on whether there will be any refinements or changes to the timed entry system at Mount Rainier.
Two sections of the park are impacted by timed entry rules, the largest of which is Paradise Corridor, the through road to the southern section of the park.
If you wish to fully explore the park, you will need separate timed entry reservations for both Paradise Corridor and Sunrise Corridor.
Zion National Park, Utah
Best Months: May & April, September & October
Hours: Open 365 days a year, however, shuttle service is only running during daylight hours.
Regular Entrance Fee: $35, valid for 7 days
Timed Area: Angel’s Landing Trail
Reservation Cost: $6 per application (non-refundable) + an additional $3 per person if you win a permit
Effective Dates: Year-round, 4 seasonal lotteries (see below)
Hours Required: 24 hours a day
Tickets Released: Varies depending on the lottery you enter. There are two options:
- Seasonal Lottery: Determines group permits for each season, opening 1 to 3 months in advance. Entry to this lottery happens right before the beginning of each new season. Each applicant can apply for up to 6 people and choose up to 7 desired time slots in order of preference.
- Day Before Lottery: Each day before the desired hike date the lottery is open to enter between 12:01 AM and 3:00 PM. Results are advised by email at 4:00 PM.
Good to Know
This one really is a lottery; just because you apply doesn’t mean you’ll get what you want – this really is the hardest park to get into during peak times and you should manage expectations accordingly with a backup plan.
Once issued, you are given a timeframe to enter: before 9:00 AM, between 9:00 AM and noon, and after 12 noon.
You can apply for both lotteries, paying both sets of non-refundable entry fees. Note that if successful, you then pay for the permit PER PERSON.
- Spring Lottery (visits April 1 to May 31, 2025) opens January 1 to 20, 2025. Results announced January 25, 2025
- Summer Lottery (visits June 1 to August 31, 2025) opens April 1 to 20, 2025. Results announced April 25, 2025
- Fall Lottery (visits September 1 to November 30, 2025) opens July 1 to 20, 2025. Results announced July 25, 2025
- Winter Lottery (visits 1 December to 28 February, 2026) opens October 1 to 20, 2025. Results announced October 25, 2025
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Best Months: June to October
Hours: Shenandoah National Park is open 24 hours. However, portions of Skyline Drive (the only public road through the Park) can be closed during inclement weather.
Regular Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
Timed Area: Old Rag Mountain
Reservation Cost: $2 per person
Effective Dates: March 1 to November 30, 2025
Hours Required: 24 hours a day
Tickets Released: 1 month ahead – 400 tickets; 5 days in advance – 400 tickets
Good to Know
Old Rag Mountain, the most popular destination within the park, offers adventurous rock scrambles and 360-degree views.
Visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails, must obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance. Entry does not guarantee parking space at your chosen trailhead.
Yosemite National Park, California
Best Months: May to September
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, all year
Regular Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
There will be two types of special permits needed in 2025
Permit Area: Horsetail Fall
Reservation Cost: $2 per vehicle
Effective Dates: February 8-9, 15-17, & 22-23, 2025
Hours Required: Day-Use
Tickets Released: 50% at 8:00 AM PST November 2024; 50% at 8:00 AM 2 days prior
Good to Know
Horsetail Fall experiences a natural phenomenon when the falls are backlit by the sunset, making them appear to be on fire.
The unique lighting effect is anticipated for mid to late February. Given the droves of photographers and curious onlookers who wish to experience this, traffic congestion and safety concerns mean a permit is now required for these specific dates over weekends.
NB – They have not yet (as of November 2024) announced if there will be summer date restrictions for Yosemite.
Permit Area: Half Dome Permits (Half Dome Stewardship Plan)
Reservation Cost: $10 application fee per person, plus $10 if successful
Effective Dates: May 23 to October 15, 2025 (dependent on conditions)
Hours Required: Daily when cables are up
Tickets Released: By lottery, open March 1 to 31, 2025. Winners announced 11 April 2025
Good to Know
Chains are erected to assist in this hike over the summer months. A daily quota is given for 225 day hikers and 75 overnight backpackers. Applicants can apply on behalf of up to 6 hikers in their group for a fixed date or range of dates.
There will be a subsequent daily lottery, with the number available based on daily under-use/cancellation. You can apply for a slot two days before, from midnight to 4:00 PM. For example, you can apply on Thursday for a Saturday climb.
NB Overnight backpackers also need a Wilderness permit.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
You must reserve a timed slot to see inside the caverns, the park’s main feature. Other park areas, such as hiking trails and backcountry camping, do not require a reservation.
Best Months: Throughout the year, peak bat sightings are from April to October
Hours: Open 362 days (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day)
Regular Entrance Fee: $15 per person over 16, valid 3 days
Timed Entry Area: Carlsbad Cavern
Reservation Cost: $1 per person
Effective Dates: All year
Hours Required: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, last entry 2:30 pm; last elevator out 4:45 pm; last hike out 2:30 pm
Tickets Released: 1 month ahead
Good to Know
Visitors are strongly recommended to pre-book their timed entry. The reservation fee is paid online in advance, in addition to the national park entry fee per person (this can be with an annual pass; kids under 16 are free but MUST also be reserved)
You have 60 minutes from your stated entry time to enter, with slots available up to 2:30 pm.
Gateway Arch National Park
Similar to Carlsbad Caves, park entry may be free, but Gateway Arch’s main feature is the Tram Ride to The Top, which is recommended to be booked and paid for in advance (though they do hold some tickets for same-day sales).
Best Months: Year-Round
Hours: Summer 9:00 am to 8:00 pm; Winter 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (last tram 1 hr earlier)
Regular Entrance Fee: No Park Entry Fee, but there is a charge for the tram – variable by dates, $11-$15 kids/$15-$19 adults (NB $3 is the NPS fee; this fee ONLY is dropped on Free National Park Days or for annual pass holders)
Ticketed Area: Tram Ride & Theatre
Reservation Cost: Fees as above
Effective Dates: Not released yet for 2025
Tickets Released: TBC
Good to Know
One of the more curious national parks, Gateway Arch Park, is located in the city of St. Louis. It is only 92 acres and has one predominant feature: the man-made 630-foot-tall Arch, built as a ‘Gateway to the West’.
Visitors can travel inside the arch for views from the top; a visit only takes around 7-9 minutes between tram cycles.
We’ll let you argue if this should really be counted as a ‘national park’ rather than a ‘national monument’!
Will More National Parks Be Added In The Future?
Interestingly, only one of the top 10 most visited US National Park sites in 2023 is on this year’s list of National Parks requiring reservations in 2025.
Some of the country’s most popular parks, including Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and the Great Smoky Mountains, are accessible without reservation.
This does not mean they will not require reservations in the future, nor that you may see significant congestion, lack of parking spaces, and tailbacks within the parks; if parking lots are full, rangers will close particular areas within the parks.
The information is correct at the time of publication and was last updated in November 2024. Parks may put emergency measures in place or change their entry policy at any time, so always check information directly with NPS and recreation.gov before planning your national park visit to avoid disappointment.
More On Road Tripping US National Parks
If you’re looking for more family vacation planning inspiration in the great outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. You may want to read next:
- Every Amazing Alaska National Park – and how to get to them when road-tripping isn’t an option!
- Plan the Perfect West Coast National Park Trip
- How to fit all of California’s National Parks in a 3 Week Road Trip
- Lesser-known US National Parks to Beat the Crowds This Year
- Every Exciting East Coast National Park to plan around an east coast driving itinerary
- Family Travel Tips For National Parks – helping your family make the most of their time in the great outdoors
© Family Road Trip 2024
