As we enter 2024, some problems are leaking over from 2023, including overcrowding in the US National Parks. For this reason, certain parks are demanding timed-entry reservations this year. Read on to find out more and parks require the option.

Which national parks require timed-entry reservations this year?

Since travel came back with a vengeance, many destinations in the world are grappling with the challenge of overcrowding. However, the problem is also affecting Americans back home as the National Park Service fights to avoid having huge crowds of visitors. One of the best ways to handle overcrowding is to insist on timed-entry reservations during 2024.

As the year starts, many travelers are planning getaways in the parks and it is important to know which parks will require timed-entry reservations right now. The following is a list of the parks as reported by Outside Online.

Arches National Park, Utah

Between 2011 and 2021, visitation at Arches National Park grew by some 73 percent, leading to a pilot reservation program to continue this year. Between April 1 and October 31, 2024, timed-entry reservations are required and can already be made on recreation.gov.

These reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis and this year, reservation blocks will be released three-monthly, in advance of visits. However, there will also be last-minute, next-day reservations available starting on March 31 on a daily rolling basis.

Glacier National Park, Montana

From May 24 through September 8, vehicle reservations are required for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork between the hours of 6 am and 3 pm. On top of that, when visiting Many Glacier, vehicles will need a reservation from July 1 through September 8 from 6 am to 3 pm.

Moreover, those visiting on motorcycles will require a vehicle reservation or a service reservation, a park entrance fee, or a valid park pass.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

One of America’s favorite national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park will continue its pilot reservation system in 2024, starting from May 24. Similar to last year visitors will have two types of reservations available. One is the permit for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which gives access to the entire corridor as the rest of the park. This type of reservation will be available from 5 am to 6 pm.

The second type of permit to reserve gives access to “the rest of the park,” without the Bear Lake Road corridor. Meanwhile, this reservation period runs from 9 am to 2 pm. These permits from the reservation system allow park visitors to enter the park within a two-hour window of availability, but with no set time for departure.

The Bear Lake Road Corridor timed-entry reservation system will run through Sunday, October 20. Meanwhile, the rest of the park reservation system will run through Tuesday, October 15.

Yosemite National Park, California

Vehicle reservations are required to drive into Yosemite during two particular periods for the summer of 2024. One will be from January 1 through February 9. Following that date, the reservation system gets complicated as follows:

February 10 through 25:

Reservation is required 24 hours per day on Saturdays, Sundays, and on Washington’s Birthday (Monday, February 19).

February 26 through April 12:

No reservation is required to drive into Yosemite.

April 13 through June 30:

Reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (May 27 and June 19).

July 1 through August 16:

Reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day.

August 17 through October 27:

Reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (September 2 and October 14).

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion will also continue its permit program this year, including the pilot lottery permit program for Angels Landing. This five-mile hike takes visitors to a steep viewpoint and the lottery will open two months ahead of available days.

The national park will also run a lottery for next-day permits for the Angels Landing hike from 12:01 am through 3 pm MT daily. Those winning the lottery will be notified by email by 4 pm MT. Meanwhile, no reservations are required to ride the park’s shuttle or to enter Zion National Park.

Readers can find more information about the parks and reservation requirements on Outside Online’s website and on recreation.gov.