National park reservation systems, 2026
Grouped by what the requirement actually is. Everything here is generated from the same rule records the park pages use, so this page cannot disagree with them.
Timed entry4 parks · 5 requirements
A dated permit to enter the park or an area of it, usually bounded to certain hours. Separate from the entrance fee, and never covered by an America the Beautiful pass.
- Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Cavern timed entry reservation - required to enter the cave
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Fee
- $1
- Opens
- Rolling window · 7 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Glacier
Logan Pass three-hour timed parking permit (free, from a kiosk on arrival)
- Dates
- Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Haleakalā
Haleakala sunrise reservation — required to enter the Summit District between 3:00 am and 7:00 am
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 3 a.m. – 7 a.m.
- Fee
- $1
- Opens
- Rolling window · 7 a.m. Hawaii Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Rocky Mountain
Timed Entry permit (rest of park, does NOT include Bear Lake Road)
- Dates
- May 22, 2026 – Oct 12, 2026
- Hours
- 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Fee
- $2
- Opens
- May 1, 2026 · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Covers some bookings
- Rocky Mountain
Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road permit (Bear Lake Road corridor plus everywhere else)
- Dates
- May 22, 2026 – Oct 18, 2026
- Hours
- 5 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Fee
- $2
- Opens
- May 1, 2026 · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Covers some bookings
Vehicle reservations2 parks
Booked per vehicle rather than per person. Common on a single road or summit rather than park-wide.
- Acadia
Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation
- Dates
- May 20, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026
- Hours
- 4 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Fee
- $6
- Opens
- Rolling window · 10 a.m. Eastern Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Redwood National and State Parks
Fern Canyon / Gold Bluffs Beach vehicle reservation - required May 15 to September 15
- Dates
- May 15, 2026 – Sep 15, 2026
- Hours
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Fee
- NPS does not publish a reservation fee for this permit.
- Opens
- Rolling window · 9 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Covers some bookings
Road and corridor permits7 parks · 8 requirements
Tied to a named road. Some of these are permits; others are access restrictions with no booking at all.
- Canyonlands
Day-use permit for 4WD, motorcycle and bicycle travel on named backcountry roads
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $6
- Opens
- Rolling window · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Glacier
Going-to-the-Sun Road bicycle time restrictions (Apgar to Logan Pass)
- Dates
- Jun 13, 2026 – Sep 28, 2026
- Hours
- 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Rocky Mountain
Old Fall River Road: one-way uphill, vehicle size limits
- Dates
- Jul 4, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Sequoia
Generals Highway vehicle length limits - 22 feet advised, 40 feet prohibited
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Yellowstone
Winter: interior roads are open only to guided snowcoach/snowmobile oversnow travel, December 15, 2026 - March 15, 2027
- Dates
- Dec 15, 2026 – Mar 15, 2027
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Tour prices are set by concessioners and are not published by NPS.
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Yosemite
Hetch Hetchy Road daylight-only access
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Zion
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive closed to private vehicles during shuttle season
- Dates
- Mar 7, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
- Zion
Scenic Drive closed to private vehicles again during holiday shuttle service
- Dates
- Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- No advance booking
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
Parking tags1 park
Not an entrance fee and not a reservation: a paid tag to leave a vehicle parked. Great Smoky Mountains is the case that catches people out.
- Great Smoky Mountains
Park It Forward parking tag — required to park longer than 15 minutes (this is NOT an entrance fee and NOT a reservation)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $5
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
Shuttles7 parks · 8 requirements
Sometimes mandatory, sometimes optional, sometimes ticketed, sometimes free. Those are four different answers and this page keeps them apart.
- Channel Islands
Concessionaire boat (Island Packers) is the only public way to reach the islands
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Denali
Transit bus ticket - the only way for most visitors to travel past Mile 15
- Dates
- May 20, 2026 – Sep 17, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $33.50
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
- Dry Tortugas
Yankee Freedom ferry - the main public way to reach the park, books out months ahead
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- The ferry fare is set by the commercial operator, not NPS, and is not published on nps.gov.
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
- Glacier
Logan Pass Shuttle - ticket required for every rider (new for 2026)
- Dates
- Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026
- Hours
- 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Fee
- $1
- Opens
- Rolling window · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Isle Royale
You can only reach the island by ferry, seaplane or private boat — booked separately from the park
- Dates
- Apr 16, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Yosemite
Mariposa Grove free shuttle (effectively mandatory when running)
- Dates
- May 3, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026
- Hours
- 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Zion
Zion Canyon shuttle - free, no ticket, but mandatory in season
- Dates
- Mar 7, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
- Zion
Holiday shuttle service December 26 - January 2, with the Scenic Drive again closed to private vehicles
- Dates
- Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
- Hours
- 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
Activity permits36 parks · 49 requirements
Headline permits a first-time visitor might confuse with entry — summit hikes, cave tours, cliff-dwelling tours. Never included in the entrance fee.
- Arches
Fiery Furnace permit - self-guided permit or ranger-led hike
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Big Bend
Backcountry use permit (all overnight backcountry and primitive roadside camping)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Big Bend
Rio Grande river use permit (required for day floats too)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Inner canyon wilderness use permit - South Rim routes (day and overnight)
- Dates
- May 1, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Apr 1, 2026 · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Inner canyon wilderness use permit - North Rim routes (day of only, no reservations)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Bryce Canyon
Backcountry permit for overnight stays (Under-the-Rim and Riggs Spring Loop)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Canyonlands
Overnight backcountry permit (seasonal four-month release windows)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Fixed date · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Canyonlands
River permit for the Green and Colorado rivers (day trips too)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Capitol Reef
Free backpacking permit for overnight backcountry trips
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- No advance booking
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Capitol Reef
Canyoneering and rock climbing permits are now required (free)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- No advance booking
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Congaree
Free backcountry camping permit, requested by email at least 72 hours ahead
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Everglades
Wilderness permit required for all overnight backcountry camping
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $21
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Glacier Bay
Free private vessel permit to bring your own boat into Glacier Bay
- Dates
- Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Glacier
Backcountry permit (also the only way to park overnight at Logan Pass)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Partly covers it
- Grand Canyon
Below-the-rim backcountry camping permit — monthly early-access lottery then general access
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- Lottery · 8 a.m. Arizona time (no DST)
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Grand Teton
Boat permit and mandatory aquatic invasive species inspection
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $75
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Great Basin
Lehman Caves ranger-guided tour ticket — required to enter the cave, separate from park entry
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $15
- Opens
- Rolling window · 7 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Great Basin
2026 cave tour offerings are reduced during construction — short lantern tours only
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Great Smoky Mountains
Elkmont synchronous firefly viewing — lottery vehicle reservation (May 20-27, 2026; event already past)
- Dates
- May 20, 2026 – May 27, 2026
- Hours
- 12 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
- Fee
- $29
- Opens
- Lottery · 10 a.m. Eastern Time
- Campground booking
- Covers some bookings
- Great Smoky Mountains
Backcountry camping permit (does NOT exempt you from the parking tag)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $8
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Isle Royale
Small-party permit (1-6 people) for any overnight stay — free, issued on arrival, no advance application
- Dates
- Apr 16, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Katmai
Mandatory bear safety orientation on arrival at Brooks Camp (free, no advance booking)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Katmai
Brooks River Corridor permit (June 15 - October 31, $6 booking fee on Recreation.gov)
- Dates
- Jun 15, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $6
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Kings Canyon
Wilderness permit for overnight backcountry trips — quota and fee May 22 - September 26, 2026; free self-issue outside that window
- Dates
- May 22, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $15
- Opens
- Rolling window · 7 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Lassen Volcanic
Wilderness permit for backcountry camping (not needed for day hikes or drive-in campgrounds)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $5
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Mammoth Cave
Cave tour ticket — required to go into the cave, and reservations are strongly recommended
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Price varies by tour, so no single number applies.
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Mesa Verde
Ranger-guided cliff dwelling tour ticket — required to enter any cliff dwelling
- Dates
- May 4, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $8
- Opens
- Rolling window · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Mount Rainier
Wilderness (backcountry camping) permit and climbing registration
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- North Cascades
Wilderness (backcountry) camping permit with an early access lottery
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- Lottery · 7 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- North Cascades
Lake Chelan NRA dock permit, May 1 - October 31
- Dates
- May 1, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Olympic
Olympic wilderness (backpacking) camping permit - required year-round, quotas on Ozette Coast and Hoh River Trail
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $8
- Opens
- Apr 15, 2026 · 7 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Petrified Forest
Free wilderness backpacking permit - the only way to stay overnight in the park
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Redwood National and State Parks
Tall Trees Grove trailhead reservation - free, required year-round
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 8 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Rolling window · 8 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Redwood National and State Parks
Free backcountry camping permit - required for all designated backcountry camps
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Rocky Mountain
Wilderness overnight backpacking permit (serves as your timed entry)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Not published
- Campground booking
- Covers it
- Saguaro
Backcountry camping permit - required for any overnight stay
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Sequoia
Crystal Cave guided tour ticket - the only way to visit the cave
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- On sale now
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Sequoia
Wilderness permit - quota and fee May 22 to September 26, 2026; free self-issue outside that window
- Dates
- May 22, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $15
- Opens
- Rolling window · 7 a.m. Pacific Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Shenandoah
Old Rag Mountain day-use ticket - required in addition to the entrance fee
- Dates
- Mar 1, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026
- Hours
- 12 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
- Fee
- $2
- Opens
- Rolling window · 10 a.m. Eastern Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Virgin Islands
Overnight mooring or anchoring fee for boaters - $26.00 per night
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- 5 p.m. – 7 a.m.
- Fee
- $26
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Voyageurs
Houseboat / sailboat / cabin cruiser overnight permit, May 1 - October 31
- Dates
- May 1, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $15
- Opens
- Fixed date · 9 a.m. Central Time
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Wind Cave
Ranger-guided cave tour ticket - the only way to get inside Wind Cave
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Ticket prices vary by tour, from $6 to $45 per adult.
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Wind Cave
Candlelight and Wild Cave tours - phone reservation only, offered June 7 - September 7, 2026
- Dates
- Jun 7, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- The two tours are priced differently: Candlelight Tour $16 per person (ages 8 and up); Wild Cave Tour $45 per person (ages 16 and up, signed parental/guardian release for 17 and under).
- Opens
- Rolling window
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Wind Cave
Free backcountry camping permit (northern part of the park)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- None
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Wrangell–St. Elias
Off-road vehicle (ORV/ATV) permit for backcountry trails off the Nabesna Road
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- Not published
- Opens
- Booked with operators directly
- Campground booking
- Not relevant
- Yellowstone
Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program permit (lottery)
- Dates
- Dec 15, 2026 – Mar 15, 2027
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $40
- Opens
- Lottery
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Yellowstone
Backcountry (wilderness) camping permit — early-access lottery then general on-sale
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $5
- Opens
- Lottery
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Yosemite
Half Dome cables day-hike permit (lottery)
- Dates
- May 22, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $10
- Opens
- Lottery
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
- Zion
Angels Landing permit (two-track lottery: seasonal and day-before)
- Dates
- Jan 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
- Hours
- All day
- Fee
- $6
- Opens
- Lottery · 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Campground booking
- Does not cover it
Fixed release dates, 20266 published
Requirements whose bookings open on a single published date. Everything else releases on a rolling window or has no advance booking — see each park page for the mechanics.
- Isle RoyaleGroup camping reservation — opens January 2, 2026
- KatmaiBrooks Camp Campground reservation — opens January 7, 2026 at 8 a.m. Alaska Time
- Black Canyon of the GunnisonInner canyon wilderness use permit — opens April 1, 2026 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- OlympicOlympic wilderness permit — opens April 15, 2026 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time
- Rocky MountainTimed Entry permit — opens May 1, 2026 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time
- Rocky MountainTimed Entry + Bear Lake Road permit — opens May 1, 2026 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time
Programs that are not running in 20264 recorded
These parks ran a reservation program in a previous season and have published that it does not apply now. This is the most common way people get the wrong answer: assuming last year’s rule still holds.
- ArchesTimed-entry ticket - LIFTED for 2026, no reservation required
- GlacierVehicle reservations - DISCONTINUED for 2026, none required anywhere in the park
- Mount RainierTimed entry reservations are NOT required at Mount Rainier in 2026 (program discontinued for this season)
- YosemitePeak-hours entrance reservation - DISCONTINUED for 2026, none required
Seasons not yet published0 parks
Where a park has not announced its rules, we say so rather than carrying forward the previous season.
Every park in the cohort has published rules covering the 2026 season.