Plan ahead: 6 popular national parks now require reservations

Travelers will need to plan ahead in 2025, as national parks across the country are now requiring reservations.

Timed visits are becoming more applicable as popular destinations are experiencing overcrowding amid “selfie tourism”.

“Some national parks use a timed entry system to manage vehicle traffic. Other parks use tourist reservations to manage access to a building or natural feature,” the National Park Service wrote on its website. “If you have need a reservation, we recommend you make it well in advance.”

Here are some of the most popular national parks that will require a reservation in 2025, which can be reserved at Recreation.gov.

Zion National Park

The Utah national park will require reservations to visit and hike Angel’s Landing in 2025. Reservations will be issued on a rolling basis through a lottery system. It costs $6 to apply for a permit, and the fee covers one application for up to six people.

If accepted, you will be charged $3 for each person registered on the permit.

Yosemite National Park

The Yosemite National Park drive is without reservations until February. 7, 2025. But starting in February. 8 to February. 23, a reservation is required for the California park 24 hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays, and on Washington’s birthday, Monday, February. 17.

The National Park Service will announce further details on plans for summer 2025 visitor access at a later date.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Beginning May 23, 2025, the Colorado national park will implement a timed entry reservation system “that protects resources while creating opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences.” There will be two types of reservations available: one that provides access to the entire park, including the Bear Lake Road Corridor, and one that has access to the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road Corridor.

The booking period for the whole park will be from 5am to 6pm until October. 20, and the “park break” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October. 14. There will be a two-hour window during which visitors may enter the park without a set departure time. Reservations will be free, except for a $2 processing fee.

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park, home to Maui’s highest peak, will begin taking reservations to hike to the summit during sunrise. As noted on its website, “Sunrise atop Haleakala has been a visitor attraction since the late 1800s.”

Any vehicle entering the park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. will need a reservation, which has a $1 fee. Tickets are issued per vehicle and are limited to one per customer every three days.

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park in Montana is set to reintroduce a vehicle reservation system in 2025, from June 13-Sept. 28, for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork.

Reservations, which can be made starting from February. 12, will be required from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., although visitors can still enter those areas without a reservation before or after the designated reservation time. The only cost is a $2 processing fee.

Arches National Park

Utah’s Arches National Park will implement a different timed entry vehicle reservation system beginning April 1, 2025. Tickets will be required daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, the park will not require reservations from July 7 through August. 27 – after the 4th of July weekend until before Labor Day weekend – when visits “traditionally slow down.”

Reservations, which are free except for a $2 processing fee, will be released three months in advance in monthly blocks.