Where You’ll Need a National Park Reservation This Summer (and How to Get There Without One)
The US National Park Service reports nearly 300 million recreational visits to its parks in 2021. In an effort to plan for a similarly high attendance figure this summer, many national parks have implemented a reservation system to prevent overcrowding and traffic problems, and to ensure sufficient staffing. so if you are planning to visit the national park this summer, make sure you plan ahead. Here are details on some of the most popular national parks that will require bookings in 2022.
Glacier National Park
Advance booking is required to enter Glacier National Park before September 11, 2022. There are two different booking options, one for the Sunward Corridor (06:00 to 16:00) and one for the North Fork (06:00 to 18:00).
Reservations are available at Recreation.gov . If the dates you hope to visit are already sold out, please return 24 hours before your desired arrival . Additional bookings for the next day are unlocked at 08:00 Moscow time.
How to enter the park without a reservation: You can still enter the park without a reservation if you have booked a service reservation (including accommodation, camping, commercial tours) in areas located inside their western entrance, Camas entrance and St. Mary’s. Entrance.
Yosemite National Park
Advance booking is required to enter Yosemite National Park before September 30, 2022 if visiting during peak hours, 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Reservations are available at Recreation.gov ; if tickets for the date you hope to visit are already sold out, please check in seven days in advance . Additional bookings are posted a week later at 8:00 AM PT.
How to get there without a reservation: You can still arrive in your car without a reservation; you just need to arrive at the entry station before 6am or after 4pm. In addition, you can drive through the Hatch -Hetchy Park at any time without prior reservation.
Arches National Park
To enter the Arches National Park before October 3, 2022, a ticket reservation will be required for those who enter the park between 6:00 and 17:00. The park issues tickets on a first-come, first-served basis at Recreation.gov for three months. in advance, in monthly blocks (i.e. July reserves were withdrawn on April 1 at 08:00 Moscow time). If tickets for the date you hope to visit are already sold out, stop by the night before. Additional bookings are posted the day before at 6:00 PM PT.
How to get inside without a reservation: To drive a car into the park without a reservation, there is one workaround: you need to sign up for the Rangers-led Fiery Furnace Tour ($16 per person).
Rocky Mountain National Park
Reservations will be required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park before October 10, 2022. There are two booking options (which they call “temporary entry permits”): first is the Bear Lake Road Corridor option, which caters to those interested in visiting Bear Lake, Moraine Park, and Glacier Gorge. There is also the option of the Non-Bear Lake Road Corridor, which is for those who hike the Wild Basin, visit the Sheep Lakes, and drive the Trail Ridge Road.
To order, go to Recreation.gov . Reservations become available on the first day of the previous month (i.e. August reservations end at 10:00 AM PT on July 1st). An additional 25% of bookings are held and available for purchase the day before at 5:00 PM PT.
How to enter without a reservation: You can still drive your car into the park without a reservation received in the above way, but you will need a reservation for services (for camping, excursions, etc.).
Acadia National Park
A reservation is required to travel on Cadillac Summit Road in Acadia National Park in Yosemite National Park through October 22, 2022. Visitors must have a park entry pass in order to enter the park and must also reserve a car. Reservations are available on Recreation.Gov and are available at both dawn and daytime. If tickets for the date you hope to attend are already sold out, check in two days before at 10:00 AM ET; that’s when 70% of the passes are released.
How to get there without prior reservation: For other areas of the park, reservation of vehicles is not required.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a little different in that you need to reserve a spot to walk around a certain part of the park, not to get there by car.
Hiking to the Angel Landing Area in Zion National Park will require a booking for the foreseeable future. In order to get permission, you need to take part in the seasonal lottery on their website. When you enter, you will be given a rank of seven days and times or windows of days and times that you wish to hike. You will be notified of your results in any case. If you lose, you can still enter the “On the Eve” lottery , which opens at 00:01 Moscow time.
How to get inside without an appointment: No permits or appointments are required to visit other parts of Zion National Park. In fact, you can even use the free Zion Canyon Shuttle System to get there.
Shenandoah National Park
Reservations will be required to hike the Old Rag Mountain section of Shenandoah National Park through November 30, 2022. To order, go to Recreation.gov . Four hundred tickets are issued per month, and another 400 will be issued five days prior to your date of visit.
How to get inside without booking in advance: If you can’t book a place to hike Old Rag Mountain, don’t worry; Reservations are not required for the other 14 sections of the park .