A Reservation Fee At These National Parks Could Ruin Your National Park Trip

If you’re planning to visit some of the US’s magnificent national parks during the summer of 2026, knowing which ones require reservations is important. We’re updating this post with current information because things can change in a year, and we want you to be prepared in advance if the park(s) you plan to visit require a reservation or timed entry. Because, in certain locations, if you show up without a reservation, your plans may be ruined by being turned away and forced to move to Plan B.

So, the purpose of this guide is to let you know where you’ll need national park reservations in 2026, and how much those reservations will cost, so you’ll be well prepared. Be aware that it’s possible for some information to change, which is why it’s always a good idea to also check the website for the park you’re hoping to visit, as you plan your trip.

Why Do National Parks Require Reservations?

As you might imagine, national parks that require reservations are generally the most popular ones where large crowds are expected. Some, like Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Parks, for example, now have “timed entry” requirements during the summer months. The requirement of making reservations for national parks has increased considerably since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because there’s been a substantial increase in visitors since that time, and it’s essential to preserve the natural environment in light of the increased interest and traffic.

In many ways, this is a good thing. The need for reservations at national parks stems from the increased number of people RVing, camping, and just getting outside to take advantage of the beauty of nature. Because of the greater number of visitors, the National Park Service instituted a vehicle reservation system to help visitors have a more pleasant experience by reducing traffic jams, both vehicular and pedestrian.

Visitors pay to pre-book a time slot for arriving at particular heavily trafficked national parks so that the NPS can control the volume of vehicles and people. For the most popular parks, the permits are for entry to the park itself. When you make a reservation at a national park, you’re reserving one of a limited number of entry spots (not parking spots) allotted for the number of vehicles allowed in the park at any one time. In other instances, permits are required for access only to specific parts of the park.

In almost all cases, the permitting/reservation systems are only active during the busiest times for the park — Memorial Day through Labor Day, for example.

Important Note: Some national parks do not accept cash.

What National Parks Require Reservations?

The good news is that of the 63 national parks and preserves open as of this writing, only 6 require a reservation or a timed entry for 2026. Note that reservation fees are an additional cost in addition to the regular park entrance fee. The fees for national park reservations/vehicle entry permits may be as low as $2, but again, they’re charged on top of the entry fee. So, if we mention a fee for a reservation at a particular park, please keep in mind that this fee is in addition to the entrance fee.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following parks used to require timed-entry reservations in order to access them, but have dropped the requirement for the 2026 season. So feel free to enjoy these parks WITHOUT advanced reservations:

• Arches National Park (Utah)
• Glacier National Park (Montana)
• Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
• Yosemite National Park (California)

If interested, U.S. citizens can currently buy an annual pass to all of the national parks for $80. Annual passes can be purchased either in person at park visitor centers & entrance stations, by calling 1-888-ASK USGS (1-888-275-8747) between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Mountain time, or from the USGS store online.

Now, in alphabetical order, let’s look at the national parks that currently require timed-entry reservations (but again – always be sure to check any National Parks you’re planning to visit; reservation requirements can come and go, and new parks may have added them and, thus, not appear on our list below).

Acadia National Park – Maine

Acadia National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States, but it’s also one of the smallest.

Acadia is gorgeous, making it well worth a visit. But its popularity has created congestion in certain areas, especially along the windy road to Cadillac Mountain (it’s considered the first place to see the sunrise in the continental United States). For this reason, the National Park Service established a vehicle reservation system only for Cadillac Summit Road, the road to the peak of Cadillac Mountain.

Vehicle reservations are required to access Cadillac Summit Road from around May 22 through around October 27.

30% of the Cadillac Summit Road sunrise and daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase 90 days in advance of the desired reservation date. And 70% will be available for purchase at 10:00 am (ET) two days in advance of the desired reservation date.

Cadillac Summit Road is a 3-mile scenic drive that takes you to the top of the highest peak in Acadia National Park (parking, restrooms, and overlooks connected by a paved walk are available at the summit). No reservations are required if you’re climbing the mountain on foot, of course, or if you’re traveling by bicycle or taxi.

Note that in addition to purchasing a vehicle reservation for Cadillac Summit Road, all vehicles are required to display a park entrance pass in the windshield. Park entrance passes are available online at Recreation.gov. For information on when vehicle reservations will be available for purchase, click on the Seasons & Booking tab.

These are timed entries, so vehicles must enter the reservation area during the time period shown on the reservation. However, you’re not required to leave until 10:00 PM, which is when Cadillac Summit Road closes to all vehicles (we featured Acadia National Park in our post on Northern Lights camping). Reservations don’t permit re-entry and are per vehicle — not per person.

Important: Vehicles over 21 feet long (including bike racks and hitch attachments), RVs, and trailers are prohibited on Cadillac Summit Road.

PRO TIP: Although you can choose to print your timed entry ticket or use the provided QR code digitally, it’s recommended to print your reservation or take a screenshot of your code, as cell coverage is spotty in many areas of Acadia National Park.

Tough to print on the road? Small, lightweight, portable printers like these can come in super handy when you least expect it:

Haleakalā National Park – Hawaii

Haleakalā National Park is the location of Maui’s highest peak. (Haleakalā means “house of the sun.”)

The Summit District of Haleakalā National Park begins at 7,000 ft and reaches 10,023 ft. Due to its high elevation, lack of light & environmental pollution, and amazing weather patterns, this park is an understandably popular place to visit.

Since the late 1800s, sunrise at the summit of Haleakala has been a main attraction, and it remains so to this day. But there’s limited parking in the area, so sunrise reservations have become necessary.

Therefore, due to its increasing popularity, in the spring of 2021 Haleakala National Park began requiring reservations year-round for each vehicle entering the park before sunrise, from 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM.

You can book a reservation from 60 days to 2 days before your arrival date. Reservations can be made online through the Recreation.gov website. Tickets are per vehicle, not per person, and are limited to one per customer every three days.

The reservation fee is $1, and a reservation ensures that you’ll have a parking space at one of the four sunrise viewing locations at the summit.

Muir Woods National Monument – California

At Muir Woods National Monument you’ll walk in the splendor of the redwoods and rest beside the water of Redwood Creek. But you’ll need parking reservations no matter what time of year you visit.

Muir Woods has been federally protected as a National Monument since 1908, and the redwoods attract more visitors every year. In fact, Muir Woods has used a reservation system since 2018. This not only offers a better experience for visitors but also protects the ecosystem.

So, reservations are always required to park at Muir Woods, and you can make your reservations at GoMuirWoods.com ahead of your visit. A reservation comes with a 30-minute arrival window, and you’re guaranteed a parking spot during that period.

Note that there is NO cell phone service or WiFi in or around Muir Woods National Monument, so download your parking reservation in advance. Also, reservations frequently sell out, especially on weekends & holidays, so you’ll want to plan ahead.

There are two types of reservations available for purchase here:

• Parking Reservation
• Shuttle Reservation

A parking reservation currently costs $9.50 for a standard vehicle, $30.00 for a medium vehicle, or $45.00 large vehicle.

A shuttle reservation costs $3.75 per adult (16 years and older) for a round-trip ticket. The shuttle is free for children 15 years and younger, but you still need to reserve a spot.

Again, park entrance fees are separate from parking and shuttle reservations. (The park entrance fee is $15.00 for visitors 16 years and older and free for children 15 and under.)

Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park is a hiker’s paradise with more than 300 miles of trails and panoramic vistas as far as the eye can see.

This makes Rocky Mountain a pretty popular park, so there are some vehicle entry permits required at certain times of the year and certain times of the day.

In 2026, Rocky Mountain National Park will begin using a timed entry reservation system on May 23, 2026. The system will be similar to 2025, with two types of reservations available.

One reservation option, titled “Timed Entry+Bear Lake Road” provides day-use vehicle access to the park’s Bear Lake Road Corridor (located on the east side of the park). This option includes access to all destinations along the entire corridor, including Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Park & Ride, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake, and also provides access to all other areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Note that these reservations will be in effect between the hours of 5 am to 6 pm daily through October 20, 2026.

The second reservation option is simply known as the “Timed Entry” option, which doesn’t include access to Bear Lake Road but will provide access to all other areas of the park. These reservations will be in effect between the hours of 9 am to 2 pm daily through October 14, 2026.

Timed entry reservations allow visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of time, with no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Currently, the price for booking a reservation is a non-refundable $2 processing fee. Again, this is in addition to the regular park entrance fee. For answers to any additional questions you may have regarding timed entry permits for Rocky Mountain National Park, here’s a timed entry FAQ for the park.

Shenandoah National Park – Virginia

Shenandoah is another very popular national park with many visitors from far away, as well as people taking day trips from around Virginia and Washington, DC. Shenandoah offers lots of hiking trails (many of them strenuous, so prepare accordingly), as well as magnificent waterfalls and the very popular 105-mile Skyline Drive.

In 2026, from March 1 to November 30, you’ll be required to purchase an Old Rag Mountain day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a Park entrance pass. This includes hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails. This requirement is a continuance of the pilot program put in place in 2022 to enhance the visitor experience, address public safety concerns, and better protect the ecological gems found on Old Rag.

Day-use tickets for Old Rag Mountain for the 2026 season should become available in mid-February 2026. Tickets are valid for the day of arrival only, and do not guarantee a parking spot.

The cost of the day-use ticket is $2.00 and can be reserved up to 30 days in advance. For more information, including a video explaining the requirement, head to the Old Rag Mountain FAQ page of the National Park Service website.

Zion National Park – Utah

Zion National Park is one of our favorite places on the planet. Zion was Peter’s very first national park, and the love affair it sparked for the great outdoors was a big factor in our decision to RV in the first place. It’s still solidly in our Top 5 favorite national parks, and we’ve visited so many times (including in the middle of winter) we’ve lost count.

Zion has become overwhelmingly popular in recent years. The hikes, some of which take you through rivers surrounded by canyon walls, are pretty much indescribable.

We love hiking Angels Landing, but so do many other people, which is why Zion is on the list of national parks with areas requiring reservations.

While the park itself doesn’t require a reservation to enter, if you want to hike Angel’s Landing, you’ll need a permit.

Anyone who wants to hike from Scout Lookout to Angels Landing along the steep half-mile section of trail with chains needs to have a permit. This applies to all times of day and all times of year.

You can obtain a permit by applying to a Seasonal Lottery (available quarterly) or by applying for their Day-Before Lottery.

Hikes during the spring, March 1 to May 31, 2026 can be found on this page, as can additional permit information. (Hiking the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout doesn’t require a permit.)

Note that a permit is an opportunity but not a guarantee that conditions will allow you to hike on the date and time of your permit. Sometimes, environmental or trail conditions require the NPS to close the trail. If that happens, you won’t be able to do the hike.

Also, if you arrive when parking is full, you may have to park at a trailhead nearby, or wait until parking is available. On a related note, most private vehicles are prohibited from driving up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during the peak season. That’s where the Angels Landing hike starts.

Instead, you must ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle System. Not only is the shuttle free, but the lack of cars on the scenic drive makes any slight inconvenience well worth it. On our last visit, we rode our bikes up into the scenic canyon to go hiking every day. It’s the most awesome way to see it!

If you’re fortunate enough to get a permit, print or download it because you’ll need to bring it with you on your hike. Cell/data coverage in the park is not good at all, so be sure to do this before you arrive at Zion.

Remember – you need a permit to hike any portion of Angels Landing beyond Scout Lookout every day and at all times. For additional information, see how to apply for a permit to hike Angel’s Landing.

Thinking about summiting Angel’s Landing? Come along with us on one of our recent trips in this video:

Have You Visited a National Park that Requires Reservations?

If you’ve had to obtain a reservation or vehicle permit for any part of the national parks system, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

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