The U.S. National Park Service has started announcing which parks will continue to use the timed entry reservations program in 2025.
Other parks may announce using timed entry reservations, but here’s what we know so far.
Also, most parks that use this system will start by running a one- or two-year pilot to determine its effectiveness, but we’re not yet aware of any new pilots in 2025. One caveat is that Arches National Park and Glacier National Park are both doing a second pilot starting in 2025.
Note that we are focused on parks that require a timed entry reservation to enter the park. Several other parks require reservations for certain roads or features within the park.
This is vitally important for some parks, such as Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico or Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. You cannot enter the main features of those parks without a reservation.
We also found that you cannot enter Fern Canyon without a timed entry reservation at Redwood National Park in California. There is plenty to see and do there without visiting the canyon, but we highly recommend finding a way to do so.
Confirmed time entry reservations
The national parks confirmed to have timed entry reservation systems in 2025 are listed below. Note that there is no consistency among parks. Each park determines what seems to be working for them, so you need to verify each location while making plans to visit.
On the other hand, do not let the timed entry reservation system deter you from visiting if you do not have the opportunity to make plans in advance. We visited Arches National Park in 2023 when we weren’t planning to. That means we showed up without any reservations or permits and had no problem. It just means you must be more flexible with your time to make the most of your visit.
Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park will implement an updated pilot reservation system using timed entry beginning April 1, 2025. The difference from 2024 is that the system will not be used for the entire summer. The park will not require reservations from July 7 to August 27. Timed entry reservations will allow visitors to enter during a specified one-hour window between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visitors may enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. without a timed entry reservation.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park will once again implement a timed entry reservation system for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork from June 13 to September 28, 2025. Reservations will be required from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be available in two- and three-hour time blocks. Visitors may enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a timed entry reservation. Note that timed entry reservations are not required on the east entrances to the park in 2025 the way they were in 2024.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park will implement its 2025 timed entry reservation system beginning May 23, 2025. The system will be similar to 2024, with two types of reservations available. One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor and access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability, with no set time for departure. Visitors may enter the park outside the timed entry reservation windows even without a reservation. We did that when we followed one of our tenets of travel: when you travel in an RV everything is on the way!
Rocky Mountain National Park without a timed entry reservation.
Possible timed entry
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Mount Rainier ran a timed entry reservation system pilot in 2024. Timed entry permits have not been required since Sept. 2, 2024. The park is evaluating the pilot program. Park officials have said no decisions will be made for timed entry reservations in future years until the evaluation is complete. They did not, however, provide a timeline for that completion.
Yosemite National Park
It’s unclear whether Yosemite will continue the timed entry reservations they used in 2024. That program is currently suspended. Park officials have said they will announce 2025 plans by the end of 2024. Stay tuned!