Do you need reservations to enter national parks? These parks require them in 2025

Yahoo

28-04-2025

National park trips require planning. Period.
But some of America's most popular parks also require reservations, particularly during their busy season: summer.
Most requirements are similar to last year, with a few exceptions.
It's not yet clear whether Mount Rainier National Park, in Washington, will bring back the timed-entry system it piloted last summer. 'No decisions have been,' according to Recreation.gov, the central trip planning and reservation site for more than a dozen federal agencies, including the National Park Service.
Yosemite National Park, in California, also required vehicle reservations last summer but has not yet revealed plans for this year. The park's website says details are expected 'in the near future.'
Here are the national parks definitely requiring reservations in 2025.
Where: Maine
What: Vehicle reservations are required to drive along Cadillac Summit Road during its busiest time of year.
When: May 21 – Oct. 26
How to get them: Reservations are only available on Recreation.gov. Less than a third of them are released 90 days in advance. The bulk of reservations are released two days before intended visits. Visitors should note there are two types of vehicle reservations. Sunrise reservations have a 90-minute entry window, while daytime reservations have a 30-minute entry window.
Cost: $6 per vehicle. A separate park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
Visiting a national park after layoffs? What to know before you go
Where: Utah
What: Time-entry tickets are required for all vehicles entering Arches between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
When: April 1 - July 6, Aug 28 - Oct. 31
How to get them: Many reservations are already available on Recreation.gov. October reservations will be released on May 1. Additional tickets become available at 7 p.m. nightly for next-day visits.
Cost: $2 per vehicle. A separate park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
Exceptions: The park says timed-entry tickets are not required for visitors "with camping, backcountry, Fiery Furnace, or special use permits; nor those with concessions contracts, commercial use authorizations, or academic fee waivers; nor people from associated Tribal Nations.'
Where: Montana
What: Timed-entry reservations are required for vehicles entering Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west or North Fork from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When: June 13 - Sept. 28
How to get them: Reservations are released 120 days in advance on Recreation.gov. Additional tickets become available at 7 p.m. nightly for next-day visits.
Cost: $2 per vehicle. A separate park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
Exceptions: "Visitors with lodging, camping, or commercial activity reservations (e.g., boat tours and horseback rides) within the specified reservation areas can use proof of their reservation for entry instead of a vehicle reservation,' according to the park.
Where: Hawaii
What: Reservations are required for every vehicle entering the park for sunrise between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.
When: Year-round
How to get them: Summit-sunrise reservations are released 60 days in advance on Recreation.gov. Additional reservations are released two days ahead of intended visits.
Cost: $1 per vehicle. A separate park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
Where: Colorado
What: Timed-entry reservations are needed to access Rocky Mountain Park during the busiest times of its most popular season. There are two different types to choose from: Timed Entry (which covers most of the park) and Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road (which covers the entire park including Bear Lake Road).
When: Timed Entry reservations are required from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m between May 23 - Oct. 13 to access everything but Bear Lake Road. Visitors who also want to access Bear Lake Road will instead need Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservations, which are required from 5 a.m.- 6 p.m. between May 23 - Oct. 19.
How to get them: Both types of reservations will be available on Recreation.gov. The first batch will be released on May 1 for visits through June. July reservations will be released on June 1. August reservations will be released on July 1 and so on. Additional reservations will become available at 7 p.m. nightly for next-day visits.
Cost: $2 per vehicle. A separate park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
Where: Virginia
What: Day-use tickets are required to hike Old Rag Mountain most of the year.
When: March 1– Nov. 30
How to get them: Tickets are available on Recreation.gov. Half of them are released 30 days in advance of intended visits. The other half are released 5 days in advance.
Cost: $2 per person. A park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
Where: Utah
What: Permits are required to hike Angels Landing all year long.
When: Year-round
How to get them: Permits are available by seasonal lottery or day-before lottery on Recreation.gov. This year's spring and summer lotteries have already closed, but hopeful hikers can still enter a different lottery the day before their intended hike. Registration for the fall lottery opens on July 1.
Cost: $6 non-refundable lottery fee for up to 6 people plus a $3 permit fee per person. A separate park entrance fee or valid park pass is also required.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See which national parks require reservations