These National Parks Dropped Their Previous Entry Reservation Requirements

As peak seasons come to an end, some national parks are getting rid of their entry reservation requirements, making it easier for outdoor enthusiasts to plan their visit. Reservation systems and timed entries were put into place in most government natural sites after the pandemic caused a record-breaking overflow of people traveling to America's most beautiful natural areas. According to the National Park Service (NPS), 25 of the 423 national natural sites saw more than half of the 297.1 million visits, and the management steps were a result of the potential environmental harm and crowded traffic in certain sensitive areas. But now, some national parks no longer require advanced booking to enter the areas.

Some of the most popular national parks such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park, Arches National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park previously had reserved and timed entry requirements have now dropped their prior booking rules. Campgrounds, lodging, and activity permits may still be required to reserve ahead of time on recreation.gov, unless they're specified as first-come, first-serve.

However, there are some parks that do still require reservations; it would seem reservations have greatly benefited the site by managing human impact. Acadia National Park, Haleakalā National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Shenandoah National Park, Washington Monument, and Zion National Park must still be booked in advance in order to enter the park.

Specifically, Maine's Acadia requires timed-entry reservations for vehicle access on Cadillac Summit Road until October 22. Hawaii's Halaeakalā requires summit and sunrise reservations to drive up to the mountain's peak to help reduce crowding year-round. California's Muir Woods also requires vehicle reservations year-round to help reduce traffic and noise in the old-growth redwood grove. Shenandoah is still testing out an entry ticketing system for day hikers in order to reduce congestion on Old Rag Mountain. And Zion's anticipated to still require permits to hike the famous Angels Landing up until at least February 2023. But other hikers can also pay a fee to apply for an online lottery.

Although these national parks still require advance reservations, they're still budget-friendly with entrance fees under $10.

READ MORE: What NOT to Do at a National Park, and What to Do Instead