These 6 US National Parks Will Require Reservations in 2024
If you’re visiting any of the US national parks this year, you should be aware of which of these national parks require reservations in 2024! Without a reservation, you may not even be able to enter the park.
I’ve visited 26 national parks and I’ve acquired reservations to a few of them (like Glacier) when they first implemented their reservation systems.
And I can attest to the fact that having reservations does help with the congestion and busyness within the parks!
A few of these parks have required reservations in the past, but some of the rules and important things to know have changed. So keep reading to find out what you need to know.
Quick look at which parks are requiring reservations this year:
- Glacier National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Arches National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Zion National Park
- Haleakalā National Park
National Parks That Require Reservations in 2024
These 3 national parks will require permits/reservations to get into either the entire park or the most popular parts of the park. Below is everything you’ll need to know about securing a reservation and visiting the park this year.
Glacier National Park
In 2024, Glacier National Park will require reservations for visitors traveling the Going-to-the-Sun-Road, Many Glacier, and North Fork.
If you know anything about Glacier, you’ll know that these are the areas that the most popular things to see and do are in. So chances are, you’re going to want to snag a reservation before visiting!
A few things have changed since last year, so here are the important changes that you’ll need to be aware of for your trip.
- Reservations will be required for Going-to-the-Sun-Road and North Fork May 24-September 8th from 6 am to 3 pm. Outside of these hours, you can enter without one.
- Reservations will be required for Many Glacier July 1-September 8 from 6 am to 3 pm. Outside of these hours, you can enter without one.
- You will not need a reservation to enter Going-to-the-Sun-Road from the St. Mary entrance on the eastern side of the park.
- You will need a reservation to enter Going-to-the-Sun-Road from the West Glacier entrance on the western side of the park.
- You will need both a park entrance pass, such as an America the Beautiful pass, and your vehicle reservation.
- If you have booked lodging, tours, camping, etc. within the area that requires a reservation, you can use proof of purchase instead, and will not need a vehicle reservation.
How to Get a Reservation and Important Dates
To snag a reservation for Glacier National Park in 2024, you’ll need to visit Recreation.gov, which is the only place where vehicle reservations are sold.
Reservations will start being required from May 24-September 8 and you’ll have to show proof to the ranger at the entrance station.
Reservations will begin to be released on January 25th, 2024 on a daily rolling basis, which is different from years past, starting at 8 am MST.
I really struggled to get one of these tickets, even being on the site right away that morning, so if you miss out like I did, here’s your next step.
Reservations for next-day entry will begin to be released starting on May 23rd at 7 pm MDT. This means that if you missed out on the initial reservations and want to enter on May 24th, you’ll need to try to get a reservation on May 23rd.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Another popular park requiring reservations this year is Rocky Mountain National Park, which is no different from previous years. When I visited back in 2021, they were already requiring reservations!
There are two different types of reservations, one for the Bear Lake Road Corridor and the rest of the park, and one for the rest of the park excluding the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
The reservations at this park will start on May 24th and go through October 15th for the entire park, and through October 20th for the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
Here are some important things to know about these reservations.
- The first type of reservation includes access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor and the rest of the park. This is in place from May 24th-October 20th from 5 am to 6 pm.
- The second type of reservation includes access to the entire park except the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This is in place from May 24th-October 15th from 9 am to 2 pm.
- If possible, I would recommend getting a permit for the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This is where all of the best things are, including the beautiful alpine lakes.
- Your permit will provide you with a 2-hour window to enter the park, and you can exit whenever you want.
- You will need both a park entrance pass, such as an America the Beautiful pass, and your vehicle reservation.
How to Get a Reservation and Important Dates
Again, the only place that you can get a reservation for this park is Recreation.gov, which will release the reservations beginning on May 1st at 8 am MT.
Reservations will start being required from May 24-October 20 and you’ll have to show proof to the ranger at the entrance station.
Reservations for this park will be released on a monthly rolling basis on the 1st of the month. On this date, reservations for the following month (May for June, June for July, etc.) as well as any remaining dates for the current month will be available.
Arches National Park
Just like in previous years, Arches National Park will also require a reservation this year. The reservation period will run from April 1st to October 31.
Timed entry tickets for Arches National Park are required to visit the entire park, so you won’t be able to enter anywhere inside of reservation hours.
If you don’t have a timed entry permit, you can enter the park anytime before 7 am or anytime after 4 pm without.
When I got my reservations for Arches, I remember them selling out in minutes, and I was barely able to get one. My cart actually froze due to limited service and I thought that I missed my opportunity. But somehow I got one!
Here are some things to know about Arches National Park reservations in 2024.
- Reservations will be required for the entire park, since the only entrance is found in Moab.
- If you have a special use permit such as a backcountry pass to stay at the Devil’s Garden Campground, you won’t need a timed-entry permit.
- Your permit provides you with a one-hour entry period from the time scheduled on your ticket.
- You will need both a park entrance pass, such as an America the Beautiful pass, and your vehicle reservation.
How to Get a Reservation and Important Dates
As always, reservations can be found on Recreation.gov, and here are the important dates that you’ll want to keep in mind for a visit to Arches National Park.
All reservations will be released 3 months in advance from the month that you’re looking at visiting. For example, April reservations begin on January 2nd, and May reservations on February 1st.
Next-day entry reservations will be released the day prior at 7 pm MDT. But these sell out very quickly (take it from someone that had to join the battle to get them the day before!), so try to get them early!
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park if the last park to require regular reservations for areas of the park, rather than just a specific location.
There are two periods of reservation to understand. One is in February from February 10th to 25th which will take place during the popular Yosemite Firefall.
The other is from April 13th to October 27th during the busy season to prevent overcrowding. I’ll let you know a bit more about this below including times that reservations will be required.
Here are the most important things to know about Yosemite reservations.
- Yosemite Firefall reservations are required only on weekends during the February timeframe.
- Peak season reservations are required varying days between April 13th and October 27th from 5 am to 4 pm. Here are the dates to know.
- April 13th to June 30th is required on weekends and holidays.
- July 1st to August 16th is required every day.
- August 17th to October 27th is required on weekends and holidays.
- Yosemite Firefall reservations are valid for 7 consecutive days following the day that the reservation is made for.
- Peak season reservations are valid for 3 consecutive days following the day that the reservation is made for.
- You will need both a park entrance pass, such as an America the Beautiful pass, and your vehicle reservation.
How to Get a Reservation and Important Dates
Again, reservations can be made on Recreation.gov, which will each be available to get at a different time a few months in advance.
For February reservations, half of the tickets were made available on December 1st, and the other half will be available two days prior to the day you want to visit.
These reservations are required on weekends all day long.
For the rest of the reservations between April and October, they will be available starting January 5th at 8 am PST. The rest will be available 7 days before the day you wish to visit.
These reservations are required on varying days between 5 am and 4 pm. You can enter the park before or after without a reservation. Read above to see the exact days you’ll need a reservation.
Other Reservations Required
These national parks require reservations in 2024 for specific activities, rather than for the entire park. Below is the information that you’ll need to know before arriving if you want to do these popular activities.
Zion National Park
While you can still visit almost all of Zion National Park without a reservation, the most popular spot in the park does require one.
Angels Landing required a lottery permit to climb to the top past Walters Wiggles and Scouts Landing, and I must say, that I do think this is a very needed permit. It was way too busy for comfort when I visited last.
Here’s what you need to know about this permit.
- A permit is required year-round to hike Angels Landing and there are a few options for getting one.
- You can hike the Angels Landing Trail up to the end of Walters Wiggles, otherwise known as Scouts Lookout, without a permit, but from there on, you will need one.
- This is a lottery permit, and there are two lotteries; the seasonal and the daily.
- The seasonal lotteries are opened quarterly for hikes happening 3 months from then.
- When applying for a seasonal lottery, you can choose 7 dates that might work for you, and you’ll have the chance to hike on one of these dates.
- Daily lotteries open the day before at midnight and is open until 3 pm. You’ll find out if you received one or not by 4 pm.
- With a lottery, there is no guarantee that you will get a ticket. It’s all luck of the draw!
- You will need both a park entrance pass, such as an America the Beautiful pass, and your vehicle reservation.
How to Get a Reservation and Important Dates
There are two lotteries that you can enter to have the opportunity of snagging a ticket for hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park.
I would personally recommend entering the seasonal lottery to give yourself two chances. That way, if you don’t get the seasonal lottery, you’ll still have the chance to enter the daily lottery.
Seasonal lotteries open up in January for hikes happening from March to May, in April for hikes from June to August, in July for hikes from September to November, and in October for hikes from December to February.
After applying for the lottery, you’ll find out if you were selected 5 days after the end of the application process.
Haleakalā National Park
As for Haleakala National Park in Hawaii, you’ll need a reservation to go watch the sunrise from the summit, which is the highest point on Maui.
This spot is perfect for watching sunrise because of the high elevation and lack of light. It’s become very popular over the years, and has become crowded, hence the reason for the reservation requirements.
Here are the important things to know.
- Every car that enters the park before sunrise, from 3 am to 7 am is required to have a reservation that can be booked in advance.
- You are able to visit the rest of the park without a reservation.
- Tickets for this reservation are per vehicle.
- Having a summit reservation does not guarantee any sort of parking spot in the parking lot.
- You will need both a park entrance pass, such as an America the Beautiful pass, and your vehicle reservation.
How to Get a Reservation and Important Dates
You can make reservations for Haleakala National Park on Recreation.gov 60 days in advance of the day that you want to visit.
If you don’t get one of those tickets, some are also released 2 days in advance, but these are very limited so I would recommend trying your best to get one further in advance.
Reservations are required between 3 am and 7 am to drive to the summit.
Wrap-Up: 2024 National Park Reservations
So if you’re planning to visit any of these national parks in 2024, be sure to snag yourself a national park reservation to avoid the trouble of being turned away.
From firsthand experience, getting a reservation can be hard, so try your best, and if you just can’t get one, enter the park early in the morning before the reservation timeframe begins. It might suck to get up that early, but the park will be so worth it!
