If a national park road trip is on your agenda this year, you may want to rethink when and where you travel. National Park Service (NPS) announcement In February it dropped timed entry to some of the country’s most popular national parks, including Arches, Glacier and more. YosemiteIn 2026.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many national parks Adopted time-entry system Limiting the number of vehicles on roads and parking lots. These programs tackled overcrowding and congestion. But some critics argue that limiting access is too harsh and, in the case of Glacier National Park, could invite more people onto the road. Dangerous twilight hours.
While some states have removed the vehicle reservation system entirely, others have updated or revised existing policies. Here’s what you need to know about national park conservation in 2026.
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite In 2026 will no longer use the reserved entry system. The NPS says the decision follows a comprehensive assessment of traffic and visitation during the 2025 season.
However, the NPS has not released specifics since its February 18 announcement UpdateIt says staff will manage parking, add extra staff at key intersections during peak periods and conduct real-time traffic monitoring to respond to congestion.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
From May 22 to mid-October, timed entry is rMust enter the park at specific times. Reservations allow entry between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., but visitors can enter the park outside of those hours.
These entries are published on a first-come, first-served basis on the first of each month for the following 30 days. Bookings require a $2 processing fee.
There are a variety of timed entry permits, including one that provides additional access to the popular Ten Mile Scenic Corridor Bear Lake Road.
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
A Vehicle reservations are required Drive to the park between 3 AM to 7 AM to see the peak sunrise – one of the most famous attractions of the park. These reservations can be booked up to 60 days in advance, with a small batch of last minute entries often released two days in advance.
Reservations are per-vehicle (not per person) and cost an additional $1 on top of the regular park admission price.
After 7 am, reservations are not required for timed entry for vehicles into the park.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Between May 20 and October 25, a Vehicle reservations are required to run Cadillac Summit RoadA scenic 3.5-mile paved road leads to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain.
There are two types of vehicle reservations: sunrise tickets, which offer earlier entry, and daytime tickets, which start between 6 AM and 8 AM depending on the time of year.
Sunrise tickets have a 90-minute entry window, while day tickets offer a 30-minute window. Visitors can exit the park anytime up to 9pm when the road is closed to traffic.
NPS releases 30 percent reservation 30 days before the date of entry and the remaining tickets are made available two days before the date of reservation.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park in Northern Montana is piloting one Ticket-only shuttle system in 2026. Those planning to spend more than three hours in the park should book a shuttle from the west or east entrance to the Alpine area on Going-to-the-Sun Road. The westbound shuttle departs from the Apgar Visitor Center and Lake McDonald, while the eastbound shuttle departs from the St. Mary Visitor Center and Rising Sun.
All tickets are first come, first served. A portion of the shuttle tickets will be made available on a rolling basis from May 2. These reservations can be made up to 60 days prior to the reservation date. From June 30, some shuttle tickets will be made available for next-day entry at 7pm.
Shuttle tickets require a $1 fee and cannot be purchased inside the park.
Drivers of private vehicles will no longer need to take a timed entry pass. From July 1, however, private cars now face a three-hour parking limit at Logan Pass, a popular viewpoint at the summit of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. NPS asked for this permission Shuttle system To work more smoothly.
Overnight parking Logan Pass is not allowed unless the driver has a backcountry permit or is staying at the Granite Park Chalet.
Arches National Park, Utah
Arch National Park Officially dropped Its time-entry reservation system in 2026. The NPS states that visitors may enter the park at any time during operating hours. To avoid congestion, NPS by recommending Entering the park before 8 am or after 3 pm
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion scrapped This is the scheduled entry system in 2025, but will Limit large vehicles Starting June 7.
Single vehicles cannot exceed 35 feet and 9 inches in length, weigh 50,000 pounds, or be taller than 11 feet, 4 inches. In addition to the preceding conditions, combined vehicles, including trailers, may not exceed 50 feet in length.
Vehicles that exceed certain size or weight limits will will not be allowed Carmel Highway between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance to drive to Mount Zion.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
There is NPS canceled It has timed entry reservation system to enter the park. The system was introduced in 2024 during the spring and summer peak periods.
Tips for Trip-Planning in Unrestricted Parks
For national parks that still restrict vehicle access, reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. In most of these parks, a portion of the reservations become available months in advance, while the rest are released the day before. Most reservations require a processing fee of roughly $2.
Vehicle reservations are generally not required if you have a backcountry permit, camping reservation, or commercial tour booking. Be sure to check the specific park page for more information.
NPS offers Following are the tips There is no longer a need to save time-entry for sites that are visiting:
- Plan an early visit, especially for weekends and holiday periods.
- Consider traveling on weekdays to reduce traffic and maximize parking availability.
- Explore hiking, sightseeing and recreation options outside the park boundaries.
- Check park-specific websites for real-time conditions, seasonal updates and other trip-planning tools.
This year there may be visitors The identity of the photo has been requested At some park entrances. Be sure to bring a photo identification and your park pass for entry.