It’s no secret that the National Parks have seen incredible increases in visitation over the last few years. That jump in visitors has prompted the National Park Service to implement timed-entry tickets and park reservations in an effort to control the crowds and protect the parks. While this is nothing new, the National Parks that require these reservations tends to change each year. Here is the list of the National Parks that will require a reservation for 2024!

First, What are Timed Entry Tickets and How Do I Get Them?

The National Park Service (NPS) has been using Timed Entry Tickets for the past few years during peak season to minimize overcrowding in the National Parks. For 2024, peak season is April 1st - October 31st for all parks requiring a Timed Entry Ticket. The Timed Entry Ticket grants the visitor entry to the park during the time window on their reservation. Keep in mind that the Timed Entry Ticket is not a substitute for your park pass/park entrance fee, so be sure to purchase your annual pass or park entrance pass alongside your Timed Entry Ticket. Additionally, unlike your park entrance pass which is good for 7 days, a Timed Entry Ticket is valid for a single day and time slot. It is important to note that Timed Entry Tickets are not available at the National Park Entrance Gates, and must be purchased in advance from Recreation.gov. Timed Entry Tickets can be purchased up to 3 months in advance of the date of entry, so be sure not to wait until the last minute as there are a set number of allotted tickets for each day. Check out the link below for a complete run-down on information regarding the Timed Entry Ticket system.

So what National Parks require a Timed Entry Ticket for 2024? See below!

Mt. Rainier National Park

Washington’s Mt. Rainier National Park has seen a dramatic increase in crowds over the last few years, and is now requiring a Timed Entry Ticket to access two of its most popular areas: Paradise Corridor and Sunrise Corridor. A reservation for these areas is required from May 24th-September 2nd, and the Timed Entry Ticket system is enforced from 7am-3pm during those dates.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park has seen a massive increase in visitation over the last few years which has led to the use of a Timed Entry Ticket for park access. The Timed Entry Ticket for Rocky Mountain National Park runs from May 24th - October 15th and is enforced from 5am-6pm (basically sun up to sun down!). The Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Ticket comes in two forms: One ticket is for access to all areas EXCEPT Bear Lake Road, and the other ticket is for access to all areas PLUS Bear Lake Road. While it probably doesn’t need to be said, the Bear Lake Road Corridor is a very popular area of the park, and those Timed Entry Tickets will go quickly. Be sure to purchase your ticket as soon as it becomes available!

Arches National Park

There is possibly no other National Park in the system that has been affected by overcrowding as Utah’s Arches National Park. The Arches National Park Timed Entry Ticket is effective from April 1st - October 31st from 7am-4pm. Being one of the most popular parks in the National Park system, Arches National Park has been known to see extremely long entrance gate lines, partially due to visitors unaware of the Timed Entry Ticket system. Like any National Park, “the early bird gets the worm (or the spiderweb in the face)”, so be sure to look for those early time slots when picking up your Timed Entry Ticket for Arches National Park

Yosemite National Park

While California’s Yosemite National Park has certainly seen an increase in visitors over the years, they have not felt the need to implement a summer-long Timed Entry Ticket for the park, although its not quite that cut and dry. Currently, the Yosemite National Park Timed Entry Ticket is only required for visitors entering the park on Saturdays and Sundays between April 13th-June 30th and August 17th-October 27th. During the peak summer vacation season spanning from July 1st-August 16th, a Timed Entry Ticket is required for weekday and weekend visits. For all dates, the Yosemite National Park Timed Entry Ticket is in effect from 5am-4pm.

Glacier National Park

Montana’s Glacier National Park is one of the most picturesque places in America, and the increasing number of crowds support that claim! For the 2024 season, Glacier National Park is implementing a Vehicle Registration Entry Pass for all visitors traveling on the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Glacier National Park Vehicle Registration system is a little complicated, but basically it requires all visitors coming from West Glacier (Apgar Village) and traveling west along Going-to-the-Sun Road to purchase a Vehicle Registration Entry Pass between May 24th-September 8th. All visitors traveling from the Saint Mary’s Entrance and traveling east along Going-to-the-Sun Road do not require a Vehicle Registration Entry Pass. In addition to the Going-to-the-Sun Road entry pass, visitors will also need a Vehicle Registration Entry Pass to access the North Fork (May 24th-September 8th) and the Many Glacier (July 1st-September 8th) areas of the park. All Vehicle Registration Entry Pass are valid for 1 day, and are in effect from 6am-3pm.

If you’re confused by all this, simply pay the $2 fee to buy your Vehicle Registration Entry Pass, and then you will have nothing to worry about!

Acadia National Park

Maine’s stunningly beautiful Acadia National Park is truly a sight to behold…until the summer crowds roll in. Primarily situated around a single park loop road, the ever-increasing number of visitors to Acadia National Park has resulted in the implementation of the a reservation system to access the striking Cadillac Mountain summit. The first place on the East Coast to see the sunrise, Acadia National Park’s Cadillac Mountain is one of the most popular destinations in the park, and in an effort to allow all visitors to enjoy this majestic viewpoint, Acadia National Park has developed the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road Vehicle Reservation System. In effect from May 22nd-October 27th, the Vehicle Reservation system gives visitors a timed entry up the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road, and is separated into two separate reservations options: A daytime pass, and a sunrise pass. Acadia National Park offers reservations up to 90 days in advance, so plan accordingly if you want to be one of the first people in America to view the sunrise from Acadia National Park.

Trail Hikes

While these National Parks do not require Timed Entry Tickets, some of their main attractions do require permits!

Angels Landing at Zion National Park requires a permit to hike to the iconic overlook of Zion Canyon. You can always hike up to the infamous chains via Scout Lookout without a permit, though!

Old Rag at Shenandoah National Park requires a permit from March 1st-November 30th to explore the strenuous 9.4 mile trail. Keep in mind the Old Rag trailhead is one of the few trails which does not begin from Skyline Drive.

Half Dome at Yosemite National Park requires a permit from May 22nd-October 15th, but is awarded based on a lottery system beginning on March 1st. This popular, yet incredibly challenging hike fills up quickly, so be sure apply as early as possible for the best chance of hiking this iconic feature!

While it’s safe to say no one really enjoys the Timed Entry Ticket system, I think we would all agree that its a better option than overcrowded trails and parking lots. Thankfully, the added cost and effort is a small price to pay for the preservation and protection of our beloved National Parks.