National Parks Ticketing Systems and Entry Requirements
With outdoor adventures surging in popularity in the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many national parks are experiencing a boom in visitation numbers.
Consequently, several parks are implementing ticketed entry systems for day visitors to facilitate social distancing and prevent overcrowding. Visitors should bear in mind that most tickets must be purchased in advance. Here are the details of the requirements from some of the country’s popular parks.
Acadia National Park
The popularity of Acadia National Park in New England means it is one of the most frequented sites in the country. Visitors can enjoy watching the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain, which provides stunning views over the Atlantic. Vehicle reservations are required for access from May 26 through October 19. There are two options: a two-hour “sunrise” reservation, with the timeframe changing from 3:30 am to 5:30 am as daybreak times alter.
In addition, there is a daytime reservation with a 30-minute entry window. Thirty percent of entry slots are released 90 days in advance, while the remainder is available two days prior to each date. Reservations cost $6 and do not include park entry fees. Tickets are available online here.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and is located in the Rocky Mountains. A ticketed vehicle entry system will be implemented from May 28 to September 6 for its historic Going-to-the-Sun Road, a scenic 50-mile route that allows drivers to access the most spectacular sights in the Rockies.
A $2 entry reservation ticket must be purchased in advance for day visitors entering by car or motorcycle via Camas Road, St Mary, or West Glacier between 6 am and 5 pm, in addition to park entry fees. The tickets are valid for seven days, and 75% of the reservations will be available 60 days in advance from April 29, while the remaining 25% will be released here two days in advance.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, located in California, is famous for its awe-inspiring waterfalls and massive granite rock formations, particularly El Capitan and Half Dome. A ticketed system for day visitors entering by private vehicle is in effect from May 21 through September 30.
Each $2 permit is valid for three days between the hours of 5 am and 11 pm and does not include park entrance fees. Initial ticket sales open on April 21 here, with a limited number of reservations available seven days before the desired entry date.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The crown jewel of Colorado’s national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park, is immensely popular. To avoid overcrowding, it is implementing a two-tiered permit system from May 28 to October 11. Regular day reservations allow entry between 9 am and 3 pm but exclude access to the busy Bear Lake Road.
Permits for the Bear Lake Road Corridor allow entry between 5 am and 6 pm. The $2 day entry permits will go on sale on May 1, with 75% of permits sold in advance and the remainder available at 5 pm the day before entry.
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park is celebrated for the towering red-and-white cliffs of Zion Canyon, one of southern Utah’s most remarkable natural wonders. Adventurous travelers can explore the Narrows gorge or brave the ascent to Angels Landing with its stunning 1500-foot cliffs.
Some areas of Zion require reservations this summer. The upper Zion Canyon and Scenic Drive are closed to cars, and visitors must reserve a seat on the park’s $1 shuttle service to access these sights. Tickets are released on the 16th and the last day of each month, with some available online at 5 pm one day in advance. Once aboard at the main visitor center, guests can hop-on and hop-off throughout the day. A limited number of shuttle tickets are also available at the visitor center between 2 pm and 4 pm daily.
Further information can be found on Recreation.gov’s website here.
This article was first published on April 23, 2021, and updated on April 29, 2021.
