In 2024, America’s national parks welcomed more than 331 million visitors, a record high. While it’s easy to see why so many travel to visit these outstanding natural preserves, this surge in popularity can also cause headaches for sites where visitor numbers are exceptionally high or environments are extraordinarily fragile. It’s no surprise, therefore, that some of the most popular attractions in select national parks now require reservations. Find out which national attractions you’ll need to book in advance.
Acadia National Park – Maine
Acadia’s pine forests, rocky beaches, and breathtaking coastal overlooks make this a delightful destination for a drive. However, reservations are now required for those wishing to drive up Cadillac Summit Road in a vehicle between May 21 and October 26. Visitors need to book a timed slot, which costs an additional $6 on top of the regular Acadia entrance fee. Early booking is recommended, especially for those wishing to view the sunrise. It’s worth getting up early, given that Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the country to welcome the new day during this time of year.
Arches National Park – Utah
In this Utah gem, sandstone rock has been sculpted into the gravity-defying arches that give the park its name. Visitor numbers have spiked over the last decade, and reservations are now required for anyone planning a trip in peak season. To ease congestion, 2,700 vehicles will be allowed entry into the park during each hour-long slot from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The heat of summer means there’s a natural easing of demand in July and August, but you’ll need a timed reservation if your Arches visit falls between April 1 and July 6 or August 28 and October 31, which you can book up to six months in advance.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park – New Mexico
At least 119 caves have been discovered in New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns, and part of what makes them so unusual is that they were hollowed out from the bottom up. To see them, you’ll need a timed-entry reservation. Though it costs just $1 per person, tickets are limited, and in peak periods it’s wise to book early. There are five time slots each day, released 30 days in advance; each has a capacity of 310 people for a self-guided tour.
Glacier National Park – Montana
Glacier National Park received more than 3.2 million visitors in 2024, and many summer tourists drove the park’s famous Going-to-the-Sun Road during their vacation. For 50 glorious miles, it winds through some of Montana’s most breathtaking mountain scenery.
To ease congestion, timed-entry vehicle reservations are required for trips between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day between June 13 and September 28. Since demand is high, booking well in advance is recommended, though a limited number of additional slots are released at 7 p.m. nightly for the next day. Travelers with lodging, camping, or proof of a booking for an activity such as a boat trip or horseback ride are exempt. In addition, you’ll also need a reservation if you wish to tackle the dirt road leading to remote North Fork between mid-June and the end of September, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
Haleakalā National Park – Hawaii
The Hawaiian volcano Haleakalā dominates the island of Maui, towering 10,023 feet above sea level. The place where demigod Maui is said to have lassoed the sun is a huge draw for tourists, particularly at dawn. However, be aware that watching the sun peek above the clouds at the start of a new day requires some advance planning.
You’ll need a valid reservation in addition to your park pass to enter the park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. each day. You can apply up to 60 days in advance, pay a $1 reservation fee, and choose your slot. A limited number of spaces are released two days in advance. Note that if the weather isn’t what you hoped, you won’t be able to change your booking.
Mount Rainier National Park – Washington
Washington state’s mountainous vistas are nothing short of breathtaking. At 6,400 feet above sea level, Sunrise is the highest point reachable by car in Mount Rainier National Park. It boasts extraordinary panoramic views of Mount Rainier, Emmons Glacier, and the surrounding valleys and wildflower meadows.
Because this is one of the busiest places in the park, a trial permit system was introduced in 2024. It will be continued into the 2025 summer season, so if you’re keen to get behind the wheel when the road’s open, make sure you have a $2 ticket if traveling any day between July 11 and September 1, or on weekends during September and October.
Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
Glacial lakes, craggy peaks, and wildflower-strewn alpine meadows lure huge crowds of summer visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. To visit in peak season, you’ll need to secure a timed reservation at a cost of $2. Reservations are required from May 23 through October 13 for anyone arriving in the park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. There’s a two-hour window for you to arrive at the park entrance; once inside the park, you can stay as long as you wish. If you haven’t been able to secure a permit, then simply come outside those hours.
Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
If you’re not content to simply amble along leafy Skyline Drive in your car, you might be considering an adventurous scramble up one of the trails leading to the peak of Old Rag, located 3,284 feet above sea level. Following a two-year pilot program, a ticketing system to visit this Shenandoah National Park highlight is now permanent. When the trail reopens following repairs necessitated by storm damage, you’ll need a reservation to be able to access the mountain summit from March through November. There are 800 spots available each day, released 30 days in advance.
Yosemite National Park – California
More than 4 million tourists spent time in Yosemite National Park in California in 2024, making it the sixth-most-visited park in the country. In order to manage traffic and improve the visitor experience, advance reservations will be required for certain dates throughout peak season.
One of Yosemite’s most iconic landforms is Half Dome. Visitors can reach the summit of this extraordinary rock formation thanks to the seasonal installation of cables, which are typically in place between May and October. To complete this challenging hike takes a full day, and you’ll need a reservation to do so. During the annual preseason lottery, 225 permits per day are awarded, but it’s sometimes possible to take advantage of last-minute cancellations. If you’re traveling in February and keen to witness Horsetail Fall when it’s spectacularly backlit at sunset, you’ll also need a reservation for that.
Zion National Park – Utah
Utah’s Zion National Park is the second-most-visited national park in the U.S. after Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. Almost 5 million travelers visited Zion in 2024, and as soon as you set eyes on its magnificent landscapes, you’ll understand why. Towering sandstone cliffs colored in shades of orange, red, or pink line the park’s roads and flank narrow slot canyons.
Unsurprisingly, in peak season, bottlenecks often occur. While you won’t need a permit to ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle or to hike along the Virgin River and pass through the Narrows, you will need a reservation if you plan to tackle the famous (and strenuous) hike to Angel’s Landing, so plan accordingly.
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