Some say the national parks are just being loved to death. As crowds line up at the gates, traffic jams inside change park visiting from a joy to torture. Several national parks have responded by creating a system where reservations are required just to get in the gate. Others require reservations for certain routes, once inside the park. But things are changing. The reservation system is closing, at least for a time, in several popular parks across the country. Here are the details.
Acadia National Park reservation system is closing
You’ll no longer need a reservation to travel Acadia’s popular Cadillac Summit Road. Look for the change October 27.
Arches National Park
Not as many folks visit this Utah jewel, but Arches’ infrastructure is best described as limited. Reservation requirements end October 31.
Glacier National Park
Going to Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road West Entrance? That, plus the North Fork and Many Glacier entrances were all under a reservation basis. WERE, in that all dropped reservation restrictions on September 8.
Mount Rainier National Park
Reservations for Mount Rainier National Park’s Paradise and Sunrise Corridors ended on September 2.
Rocky Mountain National Park
While Rocky Mountain is the park system’s fourth-most-visited location, advance reservation requirements end on October 20.
Yosemite National Park
This one isn’t as straightforward as the others we’ve commented on. No reservations are required during the week. Come October 27, Yosemite’s reservations drop off on the weekends. Mark your travel calendar, though. In February, the reservation system returns on the last three weekends of February. This change accommodates visitors who come to see Horsetail Falls become Firefall.
For more information on Yosemite’s reservation system, click here.
The dropping of reservations, at least in Glacier, is seasonal, not permanent.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 I appreciate you monitoring this sort of thing and alerting readers when things change! Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I believe all of these seasonal timed entries were announced to end back earlier this year. I dont believe this is an end to timed entries during the busy months…. I know Acadia and Arches were both seasonally scheduled to end in October.
All Parks mentioned are seasonal reservations closings. Not permanent. Always check with NPS website for additional information like construction projects that will close some area of a park. The title is deceiving.
Many Parks have been over used for generations..Yosemite…Yellowstone…for example. Too many people and too much inconsiderate greed.
We used the “timed entry” system for Arches in 2023 and it was brilliant! No hour long waits to get into one of Utah’s majestic National Parks. Too easy!
Now the Forest Service needs to do the same thing for their campgrounds. Stop reservations before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Most of the good spots are booked on weekends (Friday – Sunday) but sit empty during the week. Plus, why pay $10 to a private company to make those reservations. After all, it is your land to use.