Planning to visit these national parks? You may need to make a reservation to get in

(NEXSTAR) — The busiest months for America’s national parks are fast approaching, and while some may be disrupted by staffing shortages this summer, officials are still hoping to see you at the parks. 

Before you visit some, however, you may need to make a reservation. 

While more than 300 national parks are free to visit at any time, others utilize timed entry and reservation methods to combat crowds, preserve the natural beauty and guarantee you get a parking spot (sometimes in addition to an entrance fee).

There are two parks — Mount Rainier and Yosemite — that required timed-entry reservations in 2024 but have not released details as of late March.

A new reservation system has been approved for Yosemite, SFGate reported on Friday, citing an internal source. According to details provided to the outlet, reservations are expected to be required to enter the park from mid-June to mid-August, and on the weekends from late May to mid-June and again from mid-August through the end of the month. The park says it "anticipates sharing details about this year's reservation system in the near future."

Here’s a look at the national parks with those requirements this summer:

Rocky Mountain National Park

If you’re planning to visit the Colorado park between May 23 and mid-October, a reservation will be required to get in during certain hours. 

There are two timed-entry reservation options. The standard, required between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., gives you access to the park and the outlying areas but not Bear Lake Road. If you want to visit Bear Lake Road, you’ll want the second timed-entry reservation. This option is required between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., with re-entry to Bear Lake Road permitted after 2 p.m.

Dream Lake in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park in summer. (Grant Chesin/Getty)

The first option is needed daily between May 23 and Oct. 13, while the second is in effect from May 23 until Oct. 19. Timed-entry reservations to Rocky Mountain are sold in batches, starting on the first of each month for the following month: reservations that become available on May 1 run from May 23 through June, those up on June 1 are for the month of July, and so on through September. 

Additional reservations are made available the night before their applicable date, the park notes. Those planning to camp in Rocky Mountain automatically have timed-entry reservations but, depending on the campground, access to Bear Lake Road may not be included. You can find more details here.

Glacier National Park

Like Rocky Mountain, Glacier uses timed-entry reservations. These are in effect for the west side of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day between June 13 and Sept. 28 this year.

Reservations can be made in one of four time slots: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. While you can stay as long as you’d like on the day of your timed entry, you can only enter during your two-hour window — if you miss your slot, you’ll be prohibited from entering until after 3 p.m.

If you have already made reservations at Glacier to lodge, camp, or partake in another activity, like boat tours or horseback rides, you’ll be able to use that entry to access the aforementioned parts of the park. Additional information can be found on Glacier’s website.

Arches National Park

Also using timed entry this year is Arches in Utah. From April 1 through July 6, and then again between Aug. 28 and Oct. 31, those driving into the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a timed-entry ticket.

Those who have permits to camp, be in the backcountry, visit Fiery Furnace (which is closed as of late March 25), or for other special uses do not need a timed-entry ticket, according to Arches officials. 

FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File)

Arches releases timed-entry tickets six months before the date of the reservations. In early March, tickets for August reservations became available. If you’re looking to visit Arches in September, your entry tickets will go on sale on April 1. For October visits, reservations become available on May 1. Limited tickets are made available on the day before their designated entry date, starting at 7 a.m. MDT but park officials warn that “these are expected to sell out quickly.”

You can find more details here.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

While others limit timed entry to specific dates, Carlsbad Caverns requires reservations all year long. This helps to “ensure a more enjoyable experience and helps to protect the cave formations,” park officials say.

There are only three days without timed-entry requirements — Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, because the park is closed. Additional details can be found on Carlsbad Caverns’ website.

Acadia National Park

You don’t need to secure a timed-entry ticket to get into Acadia but the Maine park does require vehicle reservations to drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain — at least between May 21 and Oct. 26.

Reservations are available for those hoping to catch the sunrise or to visit during the daytime. Those times vary based on when you’re visiting Acadia, as does the window in which your reservation begins.

FILE - In July 31, 2018 file photo, visitors to Maine's Acadia National Park gather to watch the sunrise on top of Cadillac Mountain. The park recently unveiled a plan for a "timed-entry reservation system" to manage parking at some of the park's most popular attractions. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, files)

The park makes 30% of sunrise and daytime reservations available 90 days before their designated date, while the remaining 70% become available at 10 a.m. two days before their date.

You can find more details and restrictions on Acadia’s website.

Haleakalā National Park

Speaking of sunrises, you will also need a reservation to watch the sunrise at Haleakalā. More specifically, the reservation is required to enter the park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.

These can be booked up to 60 days ahead of time, with some reservations released two days in advance of the desired date. You are limited to one sunrise reservation per three-day period, Haleakalā officials note. 

A couple watches as the sun rises in front of the summit of Haleakala volcano in Haleakala National Park on Hawaii's island of Maui, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Sunrise viewing has long been popular at Haleakala, one of the main attractions at Haleakala National Park despite morning temperatures that often dip into the 30s. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

There are four spots ideal for viewing the sunrise but a reservation does not guarantee you a spot in any specific parking lot. Only 150 vehicles are permitted into the park for sunrise viewing. 

More information can be found here.

Muir Woods National Monument

If you want to park in Muir Woods, you will need to make a reservation before pulling up. Reservations, which park officials note frequently sell out, have 30-minute arrival windows. During that period, your spot is guaranteed. 

The reservation fee will vary based on the car you drive. You can see more details on the Muir Woods website.

Besides the Muir Woods parking reservations, the costs for timed entry or other similar reservations are typically $1 or $2, depending on the park. In most, visitors also need to pay an entrance fee or obtain a pass to get into the parks.

Permits are also required to explore certain parts of some parks. There are parks that charge for certain permits. At Zion National Park, for example, those planning to hike the popular Angels Landing will need to apply for a permit. 

Before visiting any park, the National Park Service recommends checking the property’s website for planning tips.