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Find Out Which National Parks will Require Reservations in 2024
Just when you thought that timed entry was a thing of the past, advance bookings are making a comeback! Find out which national parks will require reservations in 2024.
Planning a trip to one of America’s national treasures? You might want to start early to secure your spot. To help reduce overcrowding and protect the parks’ natural resources, the National Park Service is implementing a reservation system for select parks.
Why a Reservation System?
Balancing visitor experience with park preservation, the 2024 National Park Reservation system manages visitation to reduce overcrowding and preserve natural environments. It’s sustainable tourism at its finest – ensuring the parks’ beauty for future generations.
With the recent surge in park visitation, a reservation system is essential to helping prevent overcrowding, protecting the environment, and maintaining the visitor experience.
How Does the Reservation System Work?
Each park’s rules are different and sometimes confusing. For example, pass requirements can vary by date and where in the park you are. Some passes are valid for one day, others for three days. Some parks release monthly blocks three months in advance but keep a reserve for the day before.
Each park uses its own reservation platform, so check park websites for more information.
Does a Reservation Cost Anything?
Reservation fees vary from park to park. Some are free and some require a nominal fee or a processing fee.
Which National Parks Will Require Reservations?
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park has the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic and boasts 4 million visitors each year. If you’re planning a 2024 visit, here’s what you need to know.
Reservations Required: May – October
Reservation Fee: $6/vehicle
Entrance Fee: $35/vehicle
Arches National Park
Arches National Park in Utah will re-introduce a pilot reservation program in April of 2024. Reservations will be released in monthly blocks three months in advance and will allow visitors to stay as long as they want.
Reservations Required: April 1 – October 31
Reservation Fee: $2/person
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle
Glacier National Park
Magnificent Glacier National Park in Montana will reinstate the reservations for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork beginning May 24, 2024. Reservations are valid for one day. However, guests wishing to explore Apgar Village amenities can do so without a vehicle reservation.
Reservations Required: May 24 – September 8 (6 am to 3 pm)
Reservation Fee: None ($2 platform processing fee)
Entrance Fee: $35/vehicle
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is home to pristine lakes, towering mountains, and an abundance of Wyoming wildlife. It’s also now requiring year-round reservations for admission.
Reservations Required: All year
Reservation Fee: $20/permit flat rate and $7/person nightly fee
Entrance Fee: $15/person
Haleakalā National Park
Haleakalā National Park in the heart of Maui is a place of exceptional beauty, ancient spirits, and a vibrant Hawaiian culture. It’s also one of the latest parks to require year-round visitor reservations.
Reservations Required: All year
Reservation Fee: $1/person
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle
Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument in California is a bit like stumbling into a fairytale and a very humbling experience. A reservation fee seems like a small price to pay to stand beneath towering, 1200-year-old redwoods rooted among crisp water and primeval ferns.
Reservations Required: All year
Reservation Fee: $9.50/vehicle or $3.75/person via shuttle
Entrance Fee: $15/person
Rocky Mountain National Park
On May 24, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado will also bring back a reservation system. It will require guests to have two different timed permits to access both the Bear Lake Road Corridor and other park areas. Visitors will enter in two-hour time blocks, but there will be no set time for departure.
Reservations Required: May 24 – October 20
Reservation Fee: $2/person
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is only 75 miles outside of Washington D.C., but it feels like another world. Here visitors can explore more than 200,000 acres of breathtaking waterfalls, explosions of wildflowers, and serene woodlands. And beginning in March, they’ll need a reservation to do it.
Reservations Required: March 1 – November 30
Reservation Fee: $1/person
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle
Yosemite National Park
The always-popular Yosemite National Park in California will enhance its reservation system in 2024 with the Peak Hours Plus program. Reservations will be required for vehicles between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekends from April 13 to June 30, every day from July 1 to Aug. 16, and on weekends from Aug. 17 to Oct. 27.
Park visitors will choose from two different types of reservations: full-day entry or entry any time after noon.
Reservations will also be required on weekends from Feb. 10 through Feb. 25 as well as on Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 19.
Reservations Required: Weekends in February, April 13 – October 27
Reservation Fee: None
Entrance Fee: $35/vehicle
Zion National Park
Zion is Utah’s first national park, but its 229 square miles of enchanting sandstone cliffs and wild canyons have been home to many for thousands of years. In 2024, Zion National Park will again require reservations to visit and hike Angels Landing. Reservations are based on a lottery system and released on a rolling basis beginning January 1st.
Reservations Required: All year
Reservation Fee: $6/group or $3/person (Angel’s Landing)
Entrance Fee: $35/vehicle
Pro Tips for Locking Down Your Reservation
For the best chances of locking down a reservation, create an account in the park’s system before your arrival. Allow text or email notifications – particularly for parks with rolling or lottery-based availability. The faster you respond, the better your odds of booking.
If possible, be flexible with your travel dates and avoid “peak” season for a better chance of securing a spot.
What if You Can’t Reserve the Dates You Want?
Flexibility is key here as well! If you don’t manage to get a reservation, consider other options like nearby state parks or other outdoor destinations.
Try visiting during non-peak hours and keep an eye on the park’s website for unclaimed reservations.
Finally, look for local tour operators who may have reserved entry passes on hand.
Go explore in 2024 – an epic adventure awaits at our national parks!
Related Reading: Keep it Wild in Cody, Wyoming
