7 US National Parks That Require Reservations in 2022

7 US National Parks That Require Reservations in 2022

America's outdoor spaces are becoming increasingly crowded, so reservations will be required for more U.S. national parks in 2022

In 1872, the United States established Yellowstone National Park, the country's first nature reserve and only the second in the world after Bogd Khan Uul in Mongolia. Yellowstone soon became the international standard for preserving biodiversity and cultural history; a standard that has since been replicated worldwide.

In 2021, Yellowstone recorded a staggering 4,860,537 recreational visits, up 28% from 2020 (3,806,306 visits), making it the busiest year on record as pandemic-weary Americans headed to the country's outdoor areas. May, June, July, August and September last year were the busiest months on record. Additionally, July was the busiest month in Yellowstone's history, and for the first time visitor numbers exceeded one million visits in a single calendar month. The surge in visitors has led to reports of overcrowding, parks closing their gates and local towns overrun with tourists. While Yellowstone has not yet begun a formal process, park managers have not ruled out implementing management strategies such as timed entry systems or reservations in the future to address the unsustainable increase in visitor numbers.

In 2022, numbers across the National Park System (NPS) are expected to rise even further as international visitors are expected to return en masse.

For this reason, several parks have implemented systems, including day reservations and timed entry tickets, aimed at reducing crowds and preserving the fragile landscapes, wildlife and ecosystems that the parks were created to protect.

US national parks that require reservations

Four parks have implemented ticketing procedures for the first time, while several others have already renewed systems. Below, we take a look at the U.S. national parks that require reservations in 2022, along with details on when, where, and how to arrange permits.

1. Acadia National Park

Location: MaineWhat: Timed car entry on Cadillac Summit RoadWhen: May 25 - October 22, 2022More information: entertainment.gov

Richard Nieves/ShutterstockSunrise on Cadillac Mountain

After launching a successful pilot in 2021, Acadia National Park has renewed its vehicle reservations for the popular Cadillac Summit Road. Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. East Coast, is a popular destination for visitors to Acadia, especially sunrise hikers.

Therefore, the NPS requires vehicle reservations for Cadillac Summit Road users from mid-May to mid-October. Thirty percent of passes are available 90 days in advance, the remainder two days in advance. Visitors have two types of tickets to choose from: sunrise or daytime.

2. Arches National Park

Location: UtahWhat: Timed entry for all visitorsWhen: April 3 - October 3, 2022More information: entertainment.gov

DreamtimeArches National Park is home to over 2,000 sandstone arches

Last year, Arches National Park made headlines when it was regularly forced to close its gates at 8 a.m. as parking lots and trails reached capacity. Some days the gates remained closed for five hours before reopening.

It is therefore hardly surprising that the NPS is implementing a site-wide timed entry system for all visitors to Arches. There is a $2 reservation fee as well as park entry fees (starting at $15 per person). Some last minute tickets are also available a day in advance.

3. Glacier National Park

Location: MontanaWhat: Day visitor admission ticket to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road and Polebridge Ranger StationWhen: May 27 - September 11, 2022More information: recreation.gov and nps.gov

alt=“The Going-to-the-Sun Road”>Sean Xu/ShutterstockThe Going-to-the-Sun Street

Last spring, Glacier National Park introduced a ticketing system for its famous 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, the scenic road that traverses the park and is designed to blend in with the mountain scenery. Not surprisingly, the NPS has renewed and expanded the system for the 2022 peak season.

Tickets are $2 plus general admission starting at $15 per person. A limited number of reservations are also possible from two days in advance.

4. Haleakalā National Park

Location: HawaiiWhat: Reservations for cars to arrive between 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. to catch the sunrise from Maui's highest peakWhen: OngoingMore information: entertainment.gov

Allen.G/ShutterstockSunrise on Mount Haleakalā

In 2017, Haleakalā National Park introduced a reservation system and fee for sunrise viewing at the 3,055 m (10,023 ft) summit of Mount Haleakalā to combat over-tourism in the area.

The fee is $1 and reservations are available up to 60 days in advance, with an allotment of last-minute tickets available two days in advance.

5. Rocky Mountain National Park

Location: ColoradoWhat: Timed entry system with either full park access or without the Bear Lake Road CorridorWhen: May 27 - October 10, 2022More information: entertainment.gov

Sean Xu/ShutterstockBear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Similar to last year's timed entry system, Rocky Mountain National Park requires all vehicles to carry a special pass to enter the park. These passes allow riders to enter the park in two-hour windows to reduce crowding and shift traffic.

Most tickets will be available from May 2, 2022, with an additional 25-30% of tickets reserved for last minute guests and released the day before at 5:00 p.m. throughout the season.

6. Shenandoah National Park

Location: VirginiaWhat: Old Rag Mountain day hike ticketsWhen: March 1 - November 30, 2022More information: nps.gov

Jonathan A. Mauer/ShutterstockThe rocky peak of Old Rag Mountain in Virginia

Old Rag Mountain's rocky peak and surrounding trails are repeatedly cited as one of the best hikes in the United States. It's no wonder that the popular hiking destination is forced to introduce a pilot project to relieve some of the strain on the trails.

All visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge and Ridge Access trails, are required to purchase an Old Rag Mountain day pass in advance in addition to a park entry pass. Advance tickets will be available on entertainment.gov beginning February 1, 2022.

7. Zion National Park

Location: UtahWhat: Permission to visit Angels Landing via “online lotteries”When: Beginning April 1, 2022More information:recreation.gov

Calin Tatu/ShutterstockAngels Landing in Zion National Park, Utah

One of America's most popular hikes, Angels Landing has long drawn hordes of crowds desperate for that "classic" photo. Therefore, Zion National Park will test a ticket system in 2022.

Throughout the year, all Angels Landing hikers are required to enter a permit lottery for one of three time frames: before 9 a.m., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or after 12 p.m. Permits cost $3 per person plus a non-refundable application fee of $6. There are either seasonal or previous day lotteries.

Cover photo: DREAMSTIME

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