Which National Parks Require a Timed Entry Pass in 2023?

Starting in 2020, the National Park Service started a Timed Entry reservation system to help control park vehicle traffic. Some of the most popular parks have just exploded in visits over the last handful of years. The timed entry system was deemed the best way to help control some of the most overcrowded areas.

If you do not see the park you plan to visit on this list, more than likely there is no timed entry requirement. This can change throughout the year (however unlikely), so it’s always good to plan ahead and check Recreation.gov for the park details beforehand.

Where Reservations are Needed for the Entire National Park

There are five National Parks that require a reservation to enter the park during their peak visitation during the 2023 season. Each park has different days and timeframes that this reservation system is in effect for.

For these five parks, that means that you’ll need to pay the normal park entrance fee, and bring your National Park Timed Pass, and a photo ID of the pass holder.

Timed Entry passes that encompass the whole park all cost $2 per vehicle. The timed entry tickets can be redeemed at any valid park entrance stations.

All timed entry permit reservations need to be purchased ahead of time from Recreation.gov. These timed entry permits cannot be bought onsite.

Arches National Park

Cost: $2 per vehicle
Dates Effective: April 1, 2023 – October 31, 2023
Hours Required: 6AM to 5PM daily
Timed Tickets Released: Tickets are released 8pm EST, every day. However, you can also purchase tickets up to three months in advance ahead of time if you happen to know exactly when you’ll be there. For example, on May 1st, 2023, tickets will release for all of August. 
Additional Details: This ticket provides access for one private vehicle to access the main Scenic Drive within Arches. If you have camping permits at some campgrounds within the park, you will not need to also purchase this pass. The timed entry ticket is only valid for the one-hour period that it is reserved for. Visitors entering the park on foot or on bicycle do not require a timed entry reservation.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Arches National Park

Glacier National Park

A vehicle reservation is required for each vehicle accessing the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Vehicle Reservation Area, which includes all points inside the West Entrance Station, Camas Entrance Station, and the Rising Sun checkpoint. This means that while the park timed entry is needed only for one specific part of the park, it is essentially needed for any visitor entering. This road is the main route through the park.

Areas: Going-to-the-Sun Road & North Fork
Cost: $2 per vehicle
Dates Effective: July 1, 2023 – September 10, 2023
Hours Required: 6AM to 4PM
Timed Tickets Released: Some permits are available 120 days in advance. A limited number of tickets also go on sale at 8am MST the day before the effective date.
Additional Details: The permit for the Going-to-the-Sun road is valid for 3 days. The North Fork permit is only valid for one day. Visitors staying within the park with lodging, camping or commercial tour reservations do not need to also purchase a timed entry permit.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Glacier National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Cost: $2 per vehicle
Dates Effective: May 26, 2023 – October 22, 2023
Hours Required: 5AM to 6PM for the Bear Lake Corridor; 9AM to 3PM for the rest of the park
Timed Tickets Released: 2 months in advance. For example, on August 1 at 10 AM MDT, reservations will be available for the month of September.
Additional Details: There are two tickets available, one for the full park, and the other for the rest of the park excluding the Bear Lake corridor. The Bear Lake Road Corridor is from the junction of Trail Ridge Road to the Bear Lake Trailhead.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail or Area-Specific Reservations Needed

The National Park System has also started to sell timed entry tickets for popular trails as well. So while you can still enter the park anytime you’d like, access to these specific trails are only accessible if you’ve prepurchased a reservation.

Costs for timed tickets that are only needed to access specific parts of a park can range from $1-$9 per person or $1-$6 per vehicle, depending on the park.

Acadia National Park

Cadillac Summit Road is a 3-mile scenic drive to the highest peak within Acadia National Park.

Timed Area: Cadillac Summit Road
Cost: $6 per vehicle
Dates Effective: May 24, 2023 – October 22, 2023
Hours Required: All day
Timed Tickets Released: Generally 2 days ahead
Additional Details: A ticket can be purchased for either the sunrise or the daytime. Vehicles may enter the reservation area up to 90 minutes after the time shown on the reservation. Permits are only needed if you plan on driving a personal vehicle to the Cadillac Summit. Hikers and bicyclists do not need permits.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Cadillac Summit Road

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Area: Carlsbad Caverns Self Guided Tour
Cost: $1 per person
Dates Effective: 365 days a year
Hours Required: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Timed Tickets Released: 30 days in advance
Additional Details: This reservation ensures you have your time to enter the self-guided tour of the main caverns.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets to enter the Caverns

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park is home to Maui’s highest peak. Watching the sunrise from the summit is the park’s most popular experience.

Area: Haleakala Summit during Sunrise
Cost: $1 per vehicle
Dates Effective: 365 days a year
Hours Required: 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Timed Tickets Released: 60 days in advance
Additional Details: This reservation ensures the park’s total parking capacity is not oversold. There are four sunrise viewing locations at the summit. The Summit Sunrise trail and it’s experience is self-guided. Those on a commercial tour also do not need a timed permit. All non-commercial (i.e. personal) vehicles parking in any of the four highest elevation parking lots (Summit, Haleakala Visitor Center, Kalahaku and Leleiwi) during sunrise hours must have a valid reservation.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Haleakala National Park Summit Sunrise

Shenandoah National Park

Old Rag Mountain has adventurous rock scrambles and 360-degree views from atop the mountain. It is the most popular destination within the Shenandoah National Park. The Old Rag Mountain Loop is a 9.5-mile trail that is challenging and typically takes about 5 hours to complete.

Timed Area: Old Rag Mountain
Cost: $1 per person
Dates Effective: March 1, 2023 – November 30, 2023
Hours Required: 24 hours a day
Tickets Released: 1 month ahead
Additional Details: A ticket includes access to the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Old Rag Mountain

Zion National Park

Angels Landing is a 1,488-foot tall rock formation in Zion National Park. The trail that made this cliff a popular hike was cut into solid rock in 1926. Angels Landing provides panoramic views of Zion Canyon and the Virgin River below. 

Timed Area: Angel’s Landing Trail
Cost: $6 per application + additional $3 if you win a permit
Dates Effective: 365 days a year
Hours Required: 24 hours a day
Tickets Released: Varies depending on the lottery you enter. There are two options:

• Seasonal Lottery: (Spring, Summer & Winter) determines group permits for each season. Entry to this lottery happens right before the beginning of each new season.
• Day Before Lottery: Each day before the desired hike date. Enter lottery between 12:01AM and 3:00 PM.

Additional Details: Just because you apply does not mean you will be awarded a permit. This is unlike all other timed-use tickets. Permits, once issued, will provide you a timeframe of when you can hike Angels Landing. It will be one of these three: before 9AM, between 9AM-12PM, and after 12PM.

Purchase Timed Entry Tickets for Angel’s Landing