The National Parks That Now Require Reservations

National park reservation systems have expanded well beyond a handful of marquee destinations, and no two parks run them the same way. Some meter general entry during peak hours, while others leave the gates open and control only a single road or summit. Glacier limits parking at Logan Pass but dropped its park-wide vehicle reservation for 2026. Acadia gates the road to Cadillac summit and nothing else. Haleakalā requires a booked slot for anyone driving up before dawn. Knowing which type of system a park uses, and when it applies, is the difference between a smooth arrival and a turned-around afternoon.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park ran a vehicle reservation system for five straight summers. That program is over. No vehicle reservation is required anywhere in the park in 2026, and that includes Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and the North Fork. Rangers may still turn traffic away from an entrance once an area reaches capacity. Visitors holding lodging, camping, boat tour, or backcountry reservations keep their access during those temporary restrictions, though they may wait.

Instead, you'll find limitations at Logan Pass, where the lot has historically filled before dawn and stayed full. Private vehicles parked at the pass are held to three hours between July 1 and September 7, and the limit is enforced around the clock. Drivers find a space first, then collect a free timestamped permit from a kiosk and place it on the dashboard. Overnight parking at the pass is limited to permitted backcountry users and registered guests of the Granite Park Chalet. The Logan Pass shuttle now runs on a ticket-only basis through Recreation.gov, with a $1 processing fee per rider, and each ticket is tied to one date and one boarding time. A share of tickets opened 60 days ahead, beginning May 2, and the rest are released at 7 p.m. MDT the night before travel. Anyone planning the Highline Trail or another long day from the pass needs one of those tickets, because three hours of parking will not cover the hike.

Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

Sunrise at Haleakalā National Park has drawn crowds since the 1800s, and the park has metered the pre-dawn hours since 2017. Every vehicle entering the Summit District between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. needs a sunrise reservation for that specific date. The reservation covers the vehicle rather than each passenger, costs $1, and is added to the park entrance fee. The person named on it has to show photo identification at the entrance station. After 7 a.m., the requirement lifts entirely, and the summit road is open to anyone who has paid to enter.

Reservations post on Recreation.gov 60 days out at 7 a.m. Hawaii time, and popular dates have sold out within 15 minutes. A second batch goes out 48 hours ahead at the same hour. One reservation per visitor per three-day period keeps a single party from booking a week of mornings. Four overlooks serve sunrise, topping out at the 10,023-foot (3,055-meter) Red Hill summit and stepping down through the visitor center, Kalahaku, and Leleiwi. No reservation guarantees a spot in a particular lot, since each one closes when it fills. The wide basin below those overlooks looks like a volcanic crater but was carved by erosion.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

You'll find two different tickets at Rocky Mountain National Park, and the dividing line is Bear Lake Road. A standard timed-entry reservation covers the rest of the park, including Trail Ridge Road, the Alpine Visitor Center, and outlying spots such as Lily Lake and Longs Peak. It applies between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and runs May 22 through October 12, 2026. The Timed Entry plus Bear Lake Road permit adds the corridor itself, applies over a much longer window of 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and stays in force through October 18.

Both tickets incur a $2 processing fee on Recreation.gov, and neither replaces the park entrance fee, which is still paid at the gate. The park releases reservations one month at a time at 8 a.m. MDT on the first of the preceding month, so October dates opened on September 1. A smaller batch goes out at 7 p.m. MDT the night before each date, which rewards last-minute planners who can watch the clock. Outside the posted hours, the park requires no reservation at all, and early mornings under the standard permit schedule remain the easiest way in.

Acadia National Park, Maine

One road in Acadia National Park requires a reservation, and the rest of the park requires none. Vehicle reservations are required for the three-mile Cadillac Summit Road between May 20 and October 25, 2026, at $6 per vehicle, with an entrance pass displayed in the windshield. Park studies found that roughly three-quarters of Acadia visitors reach the Cadillac summit at some point during their stay, resulting in illegal parking, trampled alpine soil, and gridlock severe enough to block emergency vehicles. The Park Loop Road, the carriage roads, and Jordan Pond stayed open without any booking.

Visitors choose between a sunrise reservation with a 90-minute entry window and a daytime reservation with a 30-minute window. The ticket controls entry rather than length of stay, so a vehicle can remain on the mountain until the road closes at 10 p.m., but re-entry is not allowed. About 30 percent of each date opens 90 days in advance, and the remaining 70 percent go on sale at 10 a.m. ET two days ahead. Walking, biking, and taxi trips to the summit need no reservation, while vehicles longer than 21 feet, RVs, and trailers are barred from the road entirely.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park does not require reservations for general entry, but Old Rag has a separate day-use ticket system from March 1 through November 30. Every visitor entering the Old Rag area by the Saddle, Ridge, or Ridge Access trails must obtain a $2 dated ticket in advance, in addition to a park entrance pass. Half of the 800 daily tickets are released 30 days in advance, while the remainder become available 5 days in advance at 10 a.m. ET. The main parking lot is closed during the 2026 construction, but overflow parking remains available, and the ticket requirement continues.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

General admission to Mesa Verde National Park does not require a reservation, but entry to every cliff dwelling except Step House requires a reservation for a ranger-led tour. The 2026 tour season runs from May 4 through October 21, with Wetherill Mesa opening May 22. Reservations open at 8 a.m. MDT 14 days in advance, and canceled tickets can return to sale until two hours before a tour. Visitors should print or save their digital confirmation before arriving, as cell service is limited and anyone without it will be denied entry.

Zion National Park, Utah

Although Zion records roughly 4 million to 5 million recreation visits annually, it does not require reservations for general park entry or the park shuttle. However, permits are required for activities with limited capacity or that involve additional safety considerations. Hikers wishing to continue beyond Scout Lookout on Angels Landing must obtain a permit through a lottery system, while canyoneering routes and overnight wilderness trips also require permits. Campgrounds and lodging inside the park must be secured in advance to help manage high demand and protect Zion's most heavily used habitats.

Before You Go

Reservation systems have become an integral part of managing some of the nation's most visited parks, but they are not applied the same way everywhere. While some parks require timed entry during peak seasons, others only use reservations for popular roads, summit access, or specialized activities. Before planning a trip, it is worth checking the current reservation and permit requirements for your location, as they can change from year to year. A little advanced planning can help you avoid unexpected delays and make the most of your time in the park.