How to Book a National Park Visit for Next Summer

Trail Ridge Road climbs above 12,000 feet where elk herds wander through meadows like they own the place (they do), and alpine lakes sit at the end of trails that make you earn the view. To see any of it between late May and mid-October, you'll need a timed entry permit. (2026 dates not yet announced—check nps.gov/romo in spring.)

There are two types: Timed Entry gets you into most of the park, while Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road (the most popular) because everyone wants to hike to Emerald Lake and feel like they discovered it. Based on the 2025 pattern, expect May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the initial release covering late May through June, then the 1st of each month after that. If you miss your window, a smaller batch drops at 7 p.m. the night before for a Hail Mary option. Permits run $2 per vehicle plus the $30 entrance fee.

The granite walls are so tall that they make you dizzy looking up. The waterfalls peak in late spring, and Half Dome looms over the valley like a geological dare. Yosemite hasn't announced 2026 reservation requirements yet, so check nps.gov/yose for updates. If recent years are any guide, expect to need one for peak hours (6 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from late May through mid-August, with reservations releasing in early May.

Camping is its own blood sport. Valley campsites release five months ahead on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific, and they're gone in seconds. Not minutes, seconds. Have your Recreation.gov account loaded, payment method saved, and be refreshing before 7 a.m. The $2 vehicle reservation and $35 entrance fee are the easy parts.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is 50 miles of white-knuckle beauty carved into mountainsides, threading past glaciers and delivering views that justify every anxious moment behind the wheel. (2026 reservation dates not yet announced—check nps.gov/glac in early 2026.)

Based on recent years, reservations are required to enter from the west (West Glacier) or North Fork between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., typically mid-June through late September. Bookings open 120 days in advance, mid-February for mid-June dates, with a smaller batch releasing at 7 p.m. the night before. Reservations cost $2 plus the $35 entrance fee.

Here's a tip worth knowing: the east entrance at St. Mary doesn't require a reservation. You can drive the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road from that side, no permit needed. Parking fills by mid-morning, but if you strike out on reservations or want to skip the system entirely, it's a legitimate option.

There are over 2,000 natural stone arches here, including Delicate Arch – the one on Utah's license plate that you've seen in roughly 40% of all Southwest Instagram posts. The park hasn't announced 2026 reservation dates yet, but based on 2025, expect them April through October, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., releasing in monthly blocks three months ahead. January 2nd for April; February 1st for May, and so on.

In 2025, Arches suspended reservations during peak summer heat (July 7th – August 27th) because even crowds have limits at 110°F. It’s unclear if that continues. Either way, arriving before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. means free entry, which is why sunrise at Delicate Arch now has its own crowd. Reservations cost $2 plus the $30 entrance.

With rocky coastlines, lobster rolls nearby, and the first sunrise in America for part of the year, Acadia packs a lot into a relatively compact footprint. And here's a win: only Cadillac Summit Road requires reservations (from May 20th through October 25th). The rest of the park is yours without advance planning.

Sunrise slots sell out immediately at the 90-day mark, but 70% of reservations release just two days before at 10 a.m. ET. This is a legitimate second chance if you're flexible. The $6 fee is the most expensive day-use reservation on this list, and still a bargain for watching the sun come up from 1,530 feet.

That massive, glacier-capped volcano visible from Seattle on clear days is even more impressive up close, especially when the wildflower meadows peak in July and August. Mount Rainier's reservation requirements have been in flux. 2025 only covered Sunrise Corridor due to construction at Paradise. (2026 requirements not yet announced—check nps.gov/mora in spring.)

When required, the pattern is 90-day advance bookings with additional releases at 7 p.m. the night before. Meanwhile, Ohanapecosh, Carbon River, and Mowich Lake don't typically require reservations and never get the love they deserve. Permits are $2 plus $30 entrance when required.

Grand Canyon, Zion, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Bryce Canyon, and Canyonlands currently require no day-use reservations. This won't last forever, but for summer 2026, you can still be spontaneous.

January 2: Arches April reservations (expected based on 2025)

Mid-February: Glacier 120-day window opens (expected)

February 15: Yosemite Valley camping for July 15 – August 14 (confirmed)

March 1-31: Half Dome lottery (confirmed)

May 1: Rocky Mountain permits for late May – June (expected)

Starting January 2026, non-U.S. residents pay a $100 per-person surcharge at the busiest parks: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and seven others. Fee-free days now apply only to U.S. citizens and residents.

The parks themselves haven't changed. Still spectacular, still capable of making you feel appropriately small. The access just requires a bit more forethought. A few calendar reminders now, and you get to spend summer enjoying the views instead of refreshing a website.