National parks across the country plan to implement and bring back timed reservation systems for 2025, requiring travelers to plan ahead.
These timed reservation systems, which have become increasingly popular in the last several years, are often put in place in an effort to control crowding at some of the most popular destinations. The specific requirements vary depending on the individual park and may need to be reserved anywhere from days to months in advance.
Reservations can often be booked on Recreation.gov.
“Some national parks use a timed entry system to manage vehicle traffic. Other parks use tour reservations to manage access to a building or natural feature,” the National Park Service wrote on its website. “If you need a reservation, we recommend making it well in advance.”
These are some of the most popular national parks requiring reservations for 2025.
Arches National Park
The Utah park will re-introduce reservation requirements on April 1, 2025. Travelers will be required to obtain timed entry tickets between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, except from July 7 to Aug. 27 or if they have another camping or tour reservation or special use permit. Reservations are available through Recreation.gov and are released three months in advance in monthly blocks. Reservations are free, but visitors must pay a $2 processing fee.
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Glacier National Park
The Montana park will re-introduce a vehicle reservation system for the west side of its popular Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork from June 13 to Sept. 28, 2025. Reservations will be required from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and can be made starting Feb. 12. Vehicle reservations will be available on Recreation.gov with each area of the park requiring a separate reservation. These reservations are free, but incur a $2 processing fee.
The park will close the Swiftcurrent area of Many Glacier Valley during the summer of 2025 due to ongoing construction.
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Haleakalā National Park
The Hawaiian park, which is home to Maui’s highest peak, requires reservations to hike to the summit during sunrise. Tickets are issued per vehicle and limited to one per customer every three days. The reservation fee is $1 per ticket.
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Rocky Mountain National Park
The Colorado park will implement a timed entry reservation system starting on May 23, 2025. Like 2024, two different timed permits will be offered in 2025: one to access the entire park, including the Bear Lake Road Corridor, and one that includes access to the rest of the park but excludes the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Reservations for access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor will be required from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 20, while reservations for the rest of the park will be required from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 14. Travelers will be able to enter within two hour periods, but there will be no set time for departure. Reservations will be free, except for a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
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Yosemite National Park
The California park will require reservations to visit 24 hours per day on Saturdays and Sundays from Feb. 8 through Feb. 23, 2025. Reservations will also be required on Washington’s Birthday on Feb. 17. Further reservation details for the summer will be announced at a later date.
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Zion National Park
The Utah park will once again require reservations to visit and hike the popular Angels Landing in 2025. The park holds a lottery system to make reservations, which are released on a rolling basis. It costs $6 to apply for a permit, which covers an application for up to six people. Each permit costs $3 per person.
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