National Park Timed‑Entry & Permits: 2025–26 List

National Park Timed-Entry & Permits (2025–26): Master List & Gateways

TL;DR:

• Many popular U.S. national parks now require advance reservations during peak seasons including Arches, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Yosemite, and more. This master list details which parks need timed-entry or special permits in 2025–26.
• Most reservations open months ahead on Recreation.gov (typically $2–$6 fees) and cover one vehicle’s entry for a specific day/hour. Having a park pass or paying the entrance fee does not exempt you the timed ticket is separate.
• If you can’t reserve a slot, there are workarounds: enter outside the peak hours (early morning or late afternoon) when no permit is required, or show proof of an on-site booking (campground, tour, etc.) to be exempt in some parks. Below, find every park’s requirements and best fly-and-drive gateway airports.

Stat: In 2025, at least 10 U.S. national parks have implemented timed-entry or permit systems to manage crowding a dramatic change from just a few years ago.

What This Covers & Who It Helps

Planning a national park road trip in 2025 or 2026? This guide is for you. It covers which parks require reservations, when and how to book them, and tips for making the most of your visit. Whether you’re a family flying in for a summer vacation, a photographer chasing peak foliage, or a group traveling by van, use this as your one-stop reference. It will help you avoid the disappointment of showing up to a “reservation only” park gate unprepared. We also highlight the best gateway airports for each park perfect for fly-and-drive itineraries (e.g. landing in Denver for Rocky Mountain, or Salt Lake City for Arches and Zion). By knowing these rules and gateways in advance, you’ll save time, avoid headaches, and ensure your trip goes smoothly.

Quick Reference: Parks Requiring Reservations (2025–26)

Quick Reference: Parks Requiring Reservations (2025–26)

Acadia National Park (Maine)

• Reservation Period: May 21 – Oct 26 2025
• Permit: Cadillac Summit Road vehicle pass (sunrise & day slots; required sunrise–sunset)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (opens 90 days prior; $6 fee)
• Best Gateway: Bangor (BGR 1 hr) or Boston (4.5 hr)

Arches National Park (Utah)

• Reservation Period: Apr 1 – Oct 31 2025 (7 a.m.–4 p.m., except Jul 7–Aug 27)
• Permit: Timed-entry ticket for all park entries (peak hours)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (opens 3 months prior; $2 fee)
• Best Gateway: Salt Lake City (SLC, ~4 hr drive)

Glacier National Park (Montana)

• Reservation Period: Jun 13 – Sep 28 2025 (7 a.m.–3 p.m.)
• Permit: Vehicle reservation for Going-to-the-Sun Road (West) & North Fork areas
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (opens 120 days prior; $2 fee)
• Best Gateway: Kalispell (FCA 30 min) or Spokane (4 hr)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

• Reservation Period: May 23 – Oct 13 2025 (varies by zone)
• Permit: Timed-entry permit — Bear Lake Road (5 a.m.–6 p.m.) vs. rest of park (9 a.m.–2 p.m.)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (opens 1 month prior; $2 fee)
• Best Gateway: Denver (DEN, ~1.5 hr drive)

Yosemite National Park (California)

• Reservation Period: Select weekends Apr–Oct 2025 (TBA); Feb 10–25 2025 weekends (Firefall event)
• Permit: Peak-hours entry permit (e.g. 5 a.m.–4 p.m. during affected dates)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (typically 2 months prior; $2 fee)
• Best Gateway: San Francisco (SFO, ~4 hr) or Fresno (3 hr)

Zion – Angels Landing (Utah)

• Reservation Period: Year-round (permits required daily)
• Permit: Angels Landing hike permit via lotteries (all year)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov lottery (seasonal & next-day; $6 + $3 per person)
• Best Gateway: Las Vegas (LAS, ~2.5 hr drive)

Shenandoah – Old Rag (Virginia)

• Reservation Period: Mar 1 – Nov 30 2025
• Permit: Old Rag day-use hiking ticket (daily quota 800)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (30 days prior; $2 per hiker)
• Best Gateway: Washington Dulles (IAD, ~1.5 hr)

Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)

• Reservation Period: Year-round (3 a.m.–7 a.m. daily)
• Permit: Summit sunrise vehicle reservation (for 3 a.m.–7 a.m. entry)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (60 days prior; $1 fee)
• Best Gateway: Kahului, Maui (OGG, 30 min drive)

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

• Reservation Period: Jul 11 – Sep 1 2025 (Sunrise area) — Paradise pilot on hold
• Permit: Timed-entry permit for Sunrise corridor (7 a.m.–5 p.m.); Paradise not requiring reservations in 2025
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov (opens May/June; $2 fee)
• Best Gateway: Seattle (SEA, ~2 hr drive)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN/NC)

• Reservation Period: Year-round
• Permit: Parking tag required for any parking > 15 minutes (not timed entry)
• How to Reserve: Recreation.gov or on-site ($5 daily / $15 weekly)
• Best Gateway: Knoxville (TYS, ~1 hr)

Notes: All listed parks also require a regular park entry pass or entrance fee in addition to the timed reservation. The reservation only secures your entry window or activity permit it’s not a substitute for the park ticket. Most reservations are per vehicle (covering all passengers in one car), except certain hiking permits (Old Rag, Angels Landing) which are per person.

Why 2025–26? We’ve compiled the latest info for 2025 and a look ahead to 2026. Some programs are pilots still under evaluation (e.g. Rainier), while others are confirmed through 2025 and likely to continue or expand. Always double-check NPS announcements each year, as policies may adjust with new studies, construction projects, or crowd levels.

Why Are Parks Doing Timed Entry Reservations?

In short: crowds. National park visitation has exploded in the past decade. For example, Arches National Park saw a 73% jump in visitors from 2011 to 2021, leading to traffic jams and temporary gate closures when parking lots overflowed. Acadia NP now draws over 4 million visits a year a 60% surge in ten years causing severe congestion at popular spots. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the “outdoors rush” in 2020–2021, with parks like Yellowstone and Zion breaking all-time records. Park infrastructure and fragile ecosystems were never designed for such crowds, and visitor experience suffers when you’re stuck in a 3-hour line of cars.

To tackle this, the National Park Service (NPS) and individual parks have experimented with reservation systems. By capping entries per hour or per day, they can spread out visitation, reduce traffic backups, and protect natural areas from being trampled all at once. Timed-entry also improves safety and staffing: rangers can manage flows at entrance stations more predictably, and search-and-rescue incidents on overcrowded trails may be fewer. In some cases, these systems started as temporary pilot programs (e.g. Arches in 2022, Glacier in 2021) and, seeing success, the parks brought them back for subsequent seasons. A few highly popular hikes (like Zion’s Angels Landing) moved to permit lotteries to prevent dangerous bottlenecks on the trails.

For travelers, this trend means a bit more planning is required. But the payoff can be a less crowded, more enjoyable experience inside the park imagine actually finding a parking spot at the trailhead and not feeling like a sardine on the trails. It’s a trade-off of spontaneity for sustainability and safety. Below we detail each park’s system so you know what to expect.

Parks Requiring Reservations in 2025–26 (Master List)

We now dive into each park’s requirements, organized by type of reservation. For each park, we list what kind of permit is needed, the 2025 schedule (and any known 2026 info), how to book, and tips like gateway airports. Keep in mind these systems mostly apply during peak season you generally won’t need reservations in winter or off-peak times (except for year-round special cases noted). Let’s start with parks that limit general entry by car, then move to special sites.

Arches National Park (Utah) Timed Entry Tickets

What: Timed-entry reservations are required to enter Arches National Park by vehicle between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm daily in high season. This applies to all visitors, not just certain areas Arches implemented a park-wide reservation pilot to combat heavy congestion. In 2025, the system will run from April 1 through October 31 (covering the popular spring, summer, and fall months). No reservations are needed from July 7 to August 27, 2025, as a mid-summer exception. (This pause in late July/August is when visitation dips slightly due to extreme heat, so the park is trialing open access during that period.)

How to Reserve: Timed entry tickets for Arches release in monthly blocks 3 months in advance. For example, April 2025 dates opened January 2; May dates on Feb 1; June on Mar 1, etc. All reservations are made on Recreation.gov at 8:00 am Mountain Time on the release day. There is a $2 processing fee. If you miss the advance window, a limited number of next-day tickets become available at 7:00 pm MT each evening during the season. You’ll need to create a Recreation.gov account and be ready at the sale time, as these slots can go in minutes.

When you book, you’ll choose a one-hour window of arrival (e.g. enter between 9–10 am). Print or download the QR code permit and also carry your normal park entry pass or pay the fee on arrival. Rangers at Arches will scan your timed-entry ticket at the gate. Once inside, you can stay all day the permit only restricts the entry time, not your exit.

Exemptions & Tips: If you have other reservations inside the park, you don’t need a separate entry ticket. For example, campers with a campground reservation, people with guided tour bookings, backcountry permits, or special use permits are exempt from the timed-entry requirement. Also, anyone can enter before 7:00 am or after 4:00 pm without a reservation. Early morning and late afternoon are great times to visit Arches anyway cooler temperatures and gorgeous light for photography. If you strike out on getting a ticket, you could visit Canyonlands National Park (no timed entry) as an alternative, which is just 30 miles away.

Gateway Airport:Salt Lake City (SLC) is the major hub about a 4-hour drive from Arches. Many visitors fly into SLC, rent a vehicle (like a 12-passenger van for group trips), and drive down to Moab. For a closer regional option, Grand Junction, CO (GJT) is about 2 hours from the park. Keep in mind Arches is in a remote area having a rental vehicle is essential, and securing a van rental in Salt Lake City in advance is wise during peak season.

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado) Two-Zone Entry Permits

What: Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) uses a slightly complex, two-tier timed-entry system to manage its busiest areas. From May 23 through mid-October 2025, visitors need a reservation to enter during certain hours, with two types of permits: one for the Bear Lake Road Corridor and one for “the rest of the park” excluding Bear Lake. This has been in place for a few years and will continue in 2025, as it’s been effective at spreading out crowds.

• “Rest of Park” Permit: Required to enter any part of RMNP (except Bear Lake Road) between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm, from May 23 to October 13, 2025. These covers driving over Trail Ridge Road, Wild Basin, Moraine Park (outside Bear Lake Rd), etc. Basically, if you plan to arrive mid-day, you need this reservation (unless you have the other one below). No permit needed after 2 pm or before 9 am.
• “Bear Lake Road + Park” Permit: Required for access to Bear Lake Road (the super popular corridor to Bear Lake, Moraine Park, Glacier Gorge trailhead, etc.) between 5:00 am and 6:00 pm, from May 23 to October 19, 2025. This permit also allows access to the rest of the park, so it’s the more comprehensive one. Bear Lake area gets extremely crowded at sunrise and throughout the day, hence the longer hours of restriction (5 am–6 pm).

In practice: if you have a Bear Lake permit, you can go anywhere in RMNP. If you have the “rest of park” permit, you just can’t drive into the Bear Lake Road section until after 2 pm. Visitors have found this confusing in the past, but the park provides charts and maps to clarify which permit covers which areas.

How to Reserve: Rocky releases reservations one month at a time. For example, June 2025 slots (plus last week of May) became available May 1 at 8 am MDT; July slots on June 1; and so on. All done via Recreation.gov ($2 fee). Importantly, RMNP holds back about 40% of permits for a “next-day” release each evening at 5 pm or 7 pm (the exact time may vary by year; in 2024 it was 5 pm MT). So if you fail to get a reservation in advance, try logging on the night before your planned visit to snag one of the short-notice openings.

When reserving, you’ll choose a two-hour entry window (e.g. 7–9 am, or 10 am–12 pm). You must enter during that window; if you miss it, your reservation is void and you’ll be turned back until entry opens to all at 2 pm. Once in, you can stay all day. As with other parks, the only cost is the $2 booking fee no additional charge beyond your regular park entry fee.

Exemptions & Tips: If you enter before 5 am (for Bear Lake) or before 9 am (for other areas), you don’t need a permit. Early starts are doable for motivated hikers aiming for Longs Peak or sunrise at an alpine lake. Also, if you have reservations for things like the park shuttle from Estes Park, a guided climb, or camping/lodging inside the park, you may enter without a timed-entry pass (proof required). The park also notes that driving the famous Trail Ridge Road (which traverses the park) is a highlight you can do in the evening if you don’t have a permit for mid-day after 2 pm, entry is open, and summer daylight lasts until 8-9 pm, enough time to enjoy the drive.

If you don’t get a Bear Lake Road permit, you can still hike there by entering super early. For example, to hike to Chasm Lake or Dream Lake, enter before 5 am (yes, that’s pre-dawn) and you’ll avoid the restriction just be prepared with headlamps! Alternatively, enjoy other areas: Wild Basin and Lawn Lake are less crowded and require only the later 9 am permit, or none if you go before 9.

Gateway Airport:Denver International Airport (DEN) is the primary gateway for RMNP, about a 1.5–2 hour drive to Estes Park (the main entrance town). Flying into Denver and renting a van or SUV is the convenient way to go you’ll have the flexibility to reach trailheads scattered across this large park. (If you’re coming with a big family or group, check out options for a 15-passenger van rental in Denver to keep everyone together on the drive up.) An alternate airport is Denver–Loveland (FNL) or Colorado Springs (COS), but DEN has far more flight options.

Glacier National Park (Montana) Going-to-the-Sun Road Reservations

What: Glacier National Park requires vehicle reservations for its most popular roads during peak summer. In 2025, any vehicle entering the West Entrance (Apgar) of Going-to-the-Sun Road or the separate North Fork area must have a timed-entry ticket from June 13 through September 28, between 7 am and 3 pm daily. This system started in 2021 for Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTTSR) and continues to help control traffic on that scenic 50-mile alpine route. Note: as of 2025, East-side entrances (St. Mary, Two Medicine, Many Glacier) do not require reservations, except that GTTSR eastbound from St. Mary may restrict entry if the road is full.

How to Reserve: Reservations open on Recreation.gov on a rolling basis 120 days (approximately 4 months) in advance of your visit date, starting February 12, 2025 (for June 13 opening). They are released at 8 am Mountain Time. After the initial batch, any remaining or canceled slots become available daily at 7 pm MDT the evening before. The cost is $2. You must specify which road you’re reserving (GTTSR or North Fork) and which entrance day. The ticket is valid for three days of access for GTTSR, or just one day for North Fork (in past years confirm current details on NPS site).

At park checkpoints (like West Glacier entrance), rangers will check for your GTTSR reservation during the restricted hours. If you don’t have one, they’ll turn you away to wait until after 3 pm, when it’s free entry (though by then parking at Logan Pass will surely be full). As always, you also need to show a park pass or pay the entry fee.

Exemptions & Tips: If you have proof of lodging, camping, or tour reservations inside Glacier, you can enter without a separate GTTSR reservation for that area. For example, folks staying at Lake McDonald Lodge or with a boat tour booking on St. Mary Lake can get in the idea is that your presence is already accounted for. Additionally, entering before 7:00 am or after 3:00 pm requires no ticket. Ambitious visitors often drive in pre-dawn to snag a sunrise at Logan Pass or start hiking early. Bear in mind that the Going-to-the-Sun Road is only fully open after snowmelt typically late June through mid-October so early June might be moot if the alpine section is closed due to snow.

If you don’t get a reservation and it’s after 7 am, you have a few options: one is to drive to the east side of Glacier (via Highway 2 around the park) and enter at St. Mary currently no reservation needed there (though park rangers might cap entry if crowds get too crazy). From St. Mary, you can drive GTTSR westward as far as you want. Another idea is to explore Two Medicine or Many Glacier areas, which are gorgeous and not subject to the ticketed entry (just arrive early to get parking). Or consider less-known trails outside the park’s main corridor.

Gateway Airport: The closest airport is Glacier Park International (FCA) in Kalispell, MT just 30 minutes from the west entrance. It’s a small airport with limited flights. A larger regional option is Spokane International (GEG) in Washington, about 4.5 hours drive to Glacier but with more flight choices. Some visitors also fly into Calgary, Canada (for the Banff + Glacier combo trip), but if sticking to the U.S. side, we recommend flying into Kalispell or possibly Missoula (MSO). From the airport, you’ll definitely need a vehicle; many travelers opt for an SUV or passenger van rental to accommodate camping gear and group members on the scenic drives.

Yosemite National Park (California) Peak-Hour Reservations (Occasional)

What: Yosemite has been an on-and-off case for timed entry. In 2024, the park re-introduced a “Peak Hours Plus” reservation system on spring and summer weekends (requiring entry permits roughly 5 am–4 pm on those days), after having no reservations in 2023. For 2025, as of this writing Yosemite has not announced full summer dates yet. However, it is expected that some form of peak-hour reservation will return for busy periods between April and October 2025. We’ll update this once Yosemite confirms the exact weekends or date ranges for 2025.

One confirmed event: the “Firefall” in February 2025 Yosemite will require entry reservations on weekends around Feb 10–25, 2025, when thousands flock to see Horsetail Fall light up at sunset. This has already been announced: any visitor entering the park on those February weekend days (even if you don’t plan to see the waterfall) needs a permit, due to the extreme crowding in Yosemite Valley during the Firefall phenomenon.

In previous years (2020–2022), Yosemite used a peak-hours system in summer due to COVID and then infrastructure repairs. After dropping it in 2023, congestion returned with a vengeance, so the park signaled it would modify and reinstate reservations on some busy days.

How to Reserve: If/when peak-hour reservations are implemented, Yosemite typically uses Recreation.gov with a $2 fee. In the Firefall example, half of those February 2025 weekend reservations were released months ahead (Nov 2024) and the other half will be released 2 days in advance of each date at 8 am PT. We can expect a similar pattern for any summer 2025 permits: a portion available far ahead, and a portion last-minute. For instance, in 2022 the park required reservations all summer; in 2024 they only did some weekends. So watch the official Yosemite NPS page for announcements. Assume any holiday weekends (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day) will likely need one.

Exemptions & Tips: When in effect, Yosemite’s entry reservation is per vehicle and covers all occupants. Entering before or after the restricted hours (often before 6 am or after 4 pm) bypasses the need for a permit not easy for everyone, but an option for early birds or those just coming for sunsets. Also, campground or hotel reservations inside Yosemite Valley typically serve as your entry permit (the confirmation acts as a waiver) since those guests are already counted in the capacity. If you manage to snag a campsite in Yosemite, you won’t need a separate entry reservation. However, lodging is hard to get as well.

If you absolutely cannot get an entry ticket for a particular busy weekend, consider exploring nearby attractions: Yosemite’s High Country outside the valley (Tuolumne Meadows side, when open) might not have checkpoints, or visit other Sierra parks like Sequoia & Kings Canyon (no timed entry there as of 2025). But honestly, if Yosemite imposes a reservation on a day, it’s because the park would be miserably crowded otherwise. The permit at least guarantees those inside will have a better experience. Plan ahead, set alerts for when reservations open, and be quick on the keyboard!

Gateway Airport:San Francisco International (SFO) is a common gateway, roughly a 4-hour drive to Yosemite Valley. Sacramento (SMF) and Oakland (OAK) are other major airports in Northern California with slightly shorter drives (3–3.5 hours). If you’re focusing just on Yosemite and nearby parks, Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) is the closest big airport (about 2.5–3 hours to the valley) and often less crowded. For a classic Yosemite trip, many travelers will fly into SFO, spend a night in the Bay Area, then pick up a rental van and drive out to the park. Note: Yosemite has vehicle size restrictions on some roads (especially Glacier Point Road and Wawona Tunnel have height/length limits), so if you rent a 15-passenger van or RV, ensure it’s within park limits.

Zion National Park (Utah) Angels Landing Permits

What: Unlike the others above, Zion National Park does not require a reservation to enter the park itself. You can drive or shuttle in freely (though parking is limited). However, Zion instituted a permit system for one specific iconic hike: Angels Landing. As of 2022, all hikers who want to ascend Angels Landing must have a permit obtained via an online lottery. This is in effect year-round. Angels Landing is the famous narrow ridge hike with chains, and it was getting so overcrowded that it became dangerous hence the lottery to cap the number of people on the trail each day.

How to Reserve: The Angels Landing Lottery is run on Recreation.gov. There are two types: Seasonal Lotteries (apply months ahead for a block of future dates) and Day-Before Lotteries (a last-minute chance). For the seasonal lottery, you enter up to 7 preferred dates within a range (e.g. apply in January for a permit to hike in March-May). It costs $6 to apply, non-refundable. If you “win” a slot (notifications are sent on the 25th of the month prior to the season), you then pay $3 per person listed to secure the permit. The permit will specify a date and either a morning or afternoon time window for starting the hike.

If you missed that, the Alternate (Next-Day) Lottery opens at 12:01 am MT the day before you want to hike and closes at 3 pm MT that same day. You apply online, and if you win (random draw at 4 pm), you’ll get an email that afternoon with your permit for the next day. This daily lottery also costs $6 to enter, and $3 per person if you win.

Exemptions & Tips: There is no other way to hike Angels Landing legally. Rangers check permits at Scouts Lookout (where the chained section begins). If you don’t have one, you can only go as far as Scouts Lookout which, to be fair, still offers a great view into Zion Canyon and does not require a permit. Hiking any portion of West Rim Trail or other trails in Zion does not require a permit, just Angels Landing beyond Scouts. So a “backup plan” is simply to enjoy the views from Scouts or choose another trail like Observation Point or Hidden Canyon. Also, no permit is needed for The Narrows hike (as of 2025) except if doing the top-down overnight route. So plenty of other adventures in Zion remain first-come, first-serve.

If you do get an Angels Landing permit, note the times: a morning permit lets you start between 6:30 and 12:00, an afternoon permit 12:00 to 5:00 (varies slightly by season). Plan to catch the Zion Canyon Shuttle early if you have a morning slot, as lines can form. Bring the email (digital or print) as your permit that’s your ticket to ascend the final section.

Gateway Airport:Las Vegas (LAS) is the nearest major airport, about 2.5 hours drive to Springdale, UT (the gateway town for Zion). This is a popular fly-drive: land in Vegas, perhaps enjoy a night there, then pick up a rental car or van and head to Zion. Another option is Salt Lake City (SLC) (~4.5 hours drive) which sometimes has cheaper flights from eastern US. But Vegas is usually the top choice. If you plan to also visit Bryce Canyon or Grand Canyon North Rim on the same trip, Las Vegas positions you nicely for a loop. Renting a passenger van in Las Vegas can be a good idea for groups, especially because Zion’s shuttle system means you can park the van and ride the shuttles within the park.

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia) Old Rag Mountain Permits

What: Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park generally has open entry (no timed tickets to drive Skyline Drive). However, to hike Old Rag Mountain, you must obtain a day-use permit during the busy season. Old Rag is Shenandoah’s most famous hike, known for its rock scramble and panoramic summit, and its popularity led the park to pilot a ticket system in 2022. This was made permanent after a successful trial. For March 1 through November 30 each year, each person hiking Old Rag needs to carry a permit (outside that timeframe, no permit needed).

How to Reserve: Permits are obtained via Recreation.gov (search “Old Rag day-use ticket”). They cost $1 or $2 (in 2024 it was $1, 2025 might be $2) per person, and are issued per individual, not per group. When booking, you can get up to 4-5 permits in one transaction for your group. There’s a daily cap of 800 hikers on Old Rag, split into two release windows: half of the permits (400) release 30 days in advance on a rolling basis, and the remaining half release 5 days in advance. So for example, an October 1 hike opens Aug 31 for booking (for the first half of slots), and also on Sept 26 for the last half. All tickets are for a specific date and are valid all day (no hourly entry time you just need the dated ticket).

You’ll need to either print the permit or save it on your phone (cell service at Old Rag trailhead is scarce). Rangers at the trailhead or on the mountain will check for permits. Also note, you still owe the park entry fee or pass at Shenandoah’s entrance station, separate from the Old Rag ticket.

Exemptions & Tips: Only Old Rag requires this permit. No other trails in Shenandoah do. So if you don’t get a ticket or prefer not to hassle, you can hike any other peak (like Hawksbill, Stony Man, Mary’s Rock) freely. Mary’s Rock is often suggested as an alternative it has a similarly beautiful 360° view and no permit needed. Also, in winter (Dec, Jan, Feb), Old Rag is open without permits; just be prepared for icy conditions.

For those set on Old Rag: plan ahead for weekends especially, as those 800 spots can fill, particularly in fall foliage season. Weekdays might not sell out as fast. If you miss the 30-day window, mark your calendar for the 5-day-before release as a second chance.

Gateway Airport:Washington Dulles (IAD) is about 1.5 hours drive to Shenandoah’s Thornton Gap entrance convenient for the north/central section where Old Rag is (via Nethers or Weakley Hollow trailheads outside the park boundary). Reagan National (DCA) is another option ~2 hours away but involves more city driving. Many visitors combine Shenandoah with a trip to Washington D.C., picking up a rental car after the city portion. For groups, a van rental at Dulles Airport can make the scenic Skyline Drive comfortable for everyone to enjoy together.

Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii Maui) Sunrise Reservations

What: On the island of Maui, Haleakalā National Park requires a reservation to drive to the summit for sunrise viewing. This has been in place since 2017. The sunrise at Haleakalā’s 10,023-ft volcano summit is so popular (and parking so limited) that the park caps vehicles each morning. If you want to enter the park between 3:00 am and 7:00 am, you must have a sunrise reservation for that day. No reservation is needed for sunset or any other time of day.

How to Reserve: Reservations open 60 days in advance on Recreation.gov, released at 7:00 am HST each day for the date 2 months out. They cost $1. Only one reservation per vehicle is needed (it covers everyone in your car). The system tends to see reservations get snapped up quickly often within minutes especially for summer and holiday dates\. If you miss the advance window, a small batch of ~50 last-minute permits are released 48 hours in advance of each date (also at 7:00 am HST). These go even faster. Essentially, plan to be online exactly 60 days before your target date.

After reserving, you’ll get a confirmation email. At the park entrance in those pre-dawn hours, rangers will check your name off a list or scan your reservation. Make sure to also have the park entry pass or pay the entry fee at the self-pay station (there may not be a ranger at that hour). The reservation is only for entering during the 3–7 am window; if you arrive after 7, it’s not needed (but you’ll have missed sunrise anyway).

Exemptions & Tips:Campers at Hosmer Grove campground (inside the park) get a bit of a loophole if you camp there the night before, your camping receipt allows you to drive up for sunrise without a separate reservation. That campground is first-come, first-serve though, and often full. Another way around it is to book a sunrise guided tour or astronomy tour that includes entry these tours have commercial permits that cover their clients. Otherwise, no reservation = no entry before 7 am, no exceptions.

If you don’t score a permit, consider going for sunset. Many report that sunset from Haleakalā is nearly as breathtaking, and you can arrive in late afternoon with no reservation needed. Another perk: you won’t have to wake up at 2 am and drive up curvy mountain roads in the dark. Also, star gazing from Haleakalā is fantastic on a clear night you could go up for sunset and stay for stars.

Keep in mind the weather: It’s cold up there! Dress in layers (it can be near freezing at sunrise) and be prepared for wind. Even with a reservation, arrive early at least by 4:30-5:00 am to park and find a good viewing spot among the crowds.

Gateway Airport: You’re already on Maui, so the gateway is simply Kahului Airport (OGG), where most flights arrive. From the resort areas of Maui (Wailea or Ka’anapali) it’s a 1.5 to 2 hour drive to the summit, so plan accordingly for that pre-dawn journey. Renting a car or van at Kahului is necessary, as there’s no public transport up Haleakalā. Make sure your vehicle has enough fuel for the round trip (no gas in the park). If traveling with a larger group or mobility considerations, a passenger van can be rented in Maui but book early, as rental fleets can sell out in peak seasons.

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington) Pilot Timed Entry (Sunrise Area)

What: Mount Rainier initiated a new timed-entry pilot program in 2024, targeting its two busiest road corridors: Paradise and Sunrise. In summer 2024, reservations were required daily 7 am–3 pm from late May to early Sept for Paradise, and July to early Sept for Sunrise. For 2025, Rainier is continuing timed-entry for the Sunrise area but pausing it for Paradise due to a major construction project limiting access to Paradise already. So, in 2025 you will need a reservation to drive to Sunrise (White River entrance) during peak hours, but Paradise (Nisqually entrance) can be visited without one (expect congestion, however). The park will evaluate the pilot’s success and may extend or adjust it for 2026.

2025 Details (Sunrise Corridor):Reservations will be required to enter the Sunrise road from July 11 through September 1, 2025, between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm daily. Additionally, the pilot may include weekends/holidays in September up to mid-October (if the Sunrise area stays open that late) requiring permits on those days as well. Paradise will have no timed entry in 2025 (the construction effectively reduces visitation there anyway, with long delays, so the park didn’t stack a reservation on top of that).

How to Reserve: The system in 2024 was via Recreation.gov with a $2 fee, and likely the same for 2025. Rainier’s reservations opened in two batches: one batch about 2 months ahead of each period (e.g. May release for July dates, June release for August dates), and then a rolling daily release at 7 pm PT for next-day spots. For 2025, the schedule published is: tickets for July 11–31 released on May 16, 2025; tickets for August 1–Sep 1 released on June 6, 2025. After that, from September 2 onward (if applicable), they’ll only do day-before releases each evening at 7 pm.

Each reservation is good for a 2-hour entry window. As usual, once you’re in, you can stay all day. Be aware that if you have a Sunrise permit, it’s only for the Sunrise road; if you later leave that area and want to re-enter during restricted hours, you might not be allowed back in until after 5 pm (though you could still access Paradise side freely in 2025). Conversely, if you go to Paradise first (no reservation needed) and later want to drive to Sunrise on the same day during peak hours, you would need a Sunrise permit in hand.

Exemptions & Tips: Similar to other parks, if you have a camping or lodging reservation at Sunrise (e.g. Sunrise backcountry camp) or other official business, you may enter without a separate permit. Also, you can always enter before 7 am or after 5 pm without a reservation. Many photographers head up in the dark to catch sunrise at Sunrise (confusing name, yes) ironically you don’t need a reservation if you go before 7 am for actual sunrise, only for arriving later in the morning! The early bird truly gets the worm (and the best light on Mount Rainier).

If you’re visiting Rainier in 2025, our advice is to go to Paradise area on weekdays if you can (to avoid the worst crowds since no reservation system there), and save Sunrise (which has the permit system) for a weekend if needed since the permit will moderate the crowding. The Paradise construction may cause one-lane delays; check the park site for updates.

Looking ahead, the Paradise timed-entry may return in 2026 once construction is done. So if you’re reading this for 2026 travel, double-check if both corridors require permits.

Gateway Airport:Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is the major gateway, around a 2 to 2.5-hour drive to Mount Rainier’s entrances. There are multiple ways to approach the park (Nisqually entrance on SW for Paradise, White River on NE for Sunrise, etc.), but all are a few hours from Seattle. Renting a car or van at SEA airport is recommended consider a larger van if you have a group and camping gear, as Rainier’s campgrounds and picnic areas are perfect for group outings. Another airport option is Portland (PDX) about 3 hours to the south side of Rainier, if you plan a broader Pacific Northwest trip including Oregon. But Seattle is closer overall.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina) Parking Tags (New in 2023)

What: The Great Smoky Mountains is the nation’s most visited national park, yet it does not have timed entry reservations. You can enter the Smokies any time, any day no ticket required at all (the park has no entrance fee either). However, in March 2023 the Smokies introduced a new requirement: any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes inside the park must display a valid parking tag. This is essentially a parking permit system designed to generate revenue for park upkeep and manage parking turnover at popular spots. It’s not “timed entry” in the same sense, but since it’s a new permit requirement, we include it here so you’re aware.

How it Works: You can purchase parking tags online via Recreation.gov or on-site at visitor centers and kiosks. There are three types: Daily ($5), Weekly ($15), or Annual ($40). A tag is basically a hangtag or sticker for your car; it’s not tied to a specific parking spot, just your vehicle. No reservations or caps tags are always available (not limited in number). But you must have one if you park anywhere in the park (trailheads, overlooks, etc.) for more than 15 minutes. Enforcement is by rangers checking windshields for tags, so don’t skip it the fines can exceed the cost of the tag.

If you’re just driving through or stopping very briefly (less than 15 min), no tag is needed. But realistically, any hike or viewpoint stop means you’ll need one. Visitors can buy a bunch of daily tags for successive days or just get the weekly if staying around. This system is year-round.

Why It’s Different: The Smokies parking tag isn’t about crowd reduction (the park has so many entry points it’d be hard to implement timed entry). Instead, it’s partly a funding mechanism since Great Smoky Mountains NP historically didn’t charge entry fees due to its founding legislation. Now with this tag, they can collect some funds and also perhaps dissuade a bit of the casual congestion at popular lots by adding a small hurdle.

Travel Tips: If you’re road-tripping through the Smokies, plan to purchase a tag as soon as you arrive you can do it online on your phone and print it out, or buy at a visitor center. Note that a parking tag does not guarantee you a parking space at crowded sites like Laurel Falls or Clingmans Dome; it’s still first-come, first-served for spots. Go early in the day for those trailheads to secure parking.

Gateway Airport: Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Tennessee is about 1 hour from the main park gateways (Gatlinburg or Townsend). It’s a convenient choice for the Smokies. Atlanta (ATL) is a much larger airport about 3.5 hours south, sometimes chosen by visitors combining a trip with other destinations. Charlotte (CLT) is also about 3 hours east. But Knoxville is closest. Renting a car or passenger van in Knoxville is easy and puts you on the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains in no time. A van is great if you’re coming with extended family just be prepared for winding mountain roads like Newfound Gap; drive cautiously with a larger vehicle.

Tips for Securing Reservations (and What to Do If You Don’t)

Getting these coveted reservations can feel like a competitive sport. Here are some pro tips to improve your chances and alternatives if you aren’t successful:

• Mark the Opening Dates: Jot down when each park releases its slots. Some are 4-6 months ahead (Glacier, Arches), others 1-2 months (Rocky, Rainier), and hikes like Angels Landing have seasonal lotteries. Being online right when reservations open (typically 8 AM local park time) is crucial. Set calendar reminders in multiple time zones if needed!
• Prepare Your Recreation.gov Account: Create an account and log in beforehand. Save your payment info. For popular releases, you want to check out in seconds, not fumble with credit cards. Also familiarize yourself with the booking process (some sites have a “queue” system at launch).
• Try Multiple Devices or Teamwork: Have the site open on a computer and the Recreation.gov app on your phone simultaneously when the clock strikes release time. If one lags, the other might get through. If traveling with friends, have each person attempt to snag the reservation (and cancel duplicates later) just don’t book more than you need.
• Leverage Next-Day Releases: Many parks hold back a percentage of reservations for last-minute availability. For example, Arches and Rocky release some permits the evening before, Glacier does at 7 pm the night prior, and Rainier does for weekends after Sept. If you didn’t get an advance reservation, set an alarm for the day-before drop. People often have success with these if they act fast at the release minute.
• Enter Early or Late: As mentioned throughout, arriving before the cutoff time in the morning (often before 6 or 7 am) or after the restriction in late afternoon is a universal workaround that does not require a reservation in most parks. Early birds can watch sunrise and beat crowds; late entrants can stay for sunset. Just make sure the park is open 24 hours (most are, though check specific sites like Mount Desert Island sections of Acadia which close at night except to tag holders).
• Book a Campsite or Tour: If you secure a campground reservation, lodge room, or guided tour inside the park, that often doubles as your entry permit. For instance, a hotel booking in Yosemite Valley or a trail ride in Rocky gives you entry access. This isn’t foolproof for all parks (always verify the specific exemption), but it’s a smart strategy if you plan to stay inside the park anyway.
• Alternate Entrances & Parks: Some parks have multiple entrances, and not all may be controlled by the reservation system (e.g., Glacier’s east side, or entering Rocky from Grand Lake side early). Research if an alternative route avoids the checkpoint but be cautious, as parks will adjust if people abuse a loophole. Alternatively, have a backup destination: Plan B could be a nearby national forest or less-visited park. Example: If Arches is full, head to Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point State Park that day. If Yosemite is off-limits, visit Sequoia or explore the Eastern Sierra and come back on a non-reservation weekday.
• Don’t Bother the Scalpers:Reselling of reservations is against the rules and often a scam. Recreation.gov nominally prevents transferring permits. Don’t buy a “ticket” off Craigslist it might be void. Stick to official channels.
• Stay Informed for Changes: These systems evolve. Parks sometimes tweak rules year-to-year (like Rainier did). Before your trip, double-check the park’s website for “Permits & Reservations” info. Sign up for alerts or follow park social media they often post reminders of permit releases or any sudden changes (for instance, if a pilot program is suspended or expanded).
• Finally, Be Flexible and Kind: Even with a reservation, arrive with some flexibility. Entrance lines can still be long at your allotted time be patient. If you don’t get the permit you wanted, consider adjusting your schedule (maybe that sunrise hike can be swapped to a sunset hike). The whole goal of these systems is to make the park enjoyable for everyone; a little flexibility on your part goes a long way to having a great trip regardless.

Sources & Last Updated

• National Park Service Official pages for reservation systems: Arches Timed Entry Pilot; Rocky Mountain NP Timed Entry FAQs; Acadia Cadillac Summit Road info; etc.
• Recent updates from travel sites and park blogs: Outside Online (Nov 2024), Atlas & Boots (Jan 2025), Earth Trekkers (2025) summarizing which parks require reservations.
• Recreation.gov and NPS press releases for specific details on lotteries and reservation windows (e.g. Angels Landing lottery dates, Rainier pilot announcement).
• Visitation statistics and rationale from NPS: 73% visitation increase at Arches (NPS via Outside); 60% surge at Acadia in a decade.

Last updated: October 2025. This guide reflects policies announced for the 2025 season and known pilots/extensions into 2026. Always check the latest from NPS before your trip, as rules can change. Safe travels and happy trails!