Which parks need a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to visit, and when. Verified for the 2026 season as of October 14, 2026 — always confirm on the official booking site before you go.
A handful of national parks cap how many vehicles enter during their busiest hours with a timed-entry or vehicle reservation, booked ahead on Recreation.gov (Muir Woods uses GoMuirWoods.com). A reservation is not a park pass — you still pay the normal entrance fee, and the reservation carries its own small processing fee. Outside the dates and hours below, no reservation is needed.
How timed entry works
Reservations are released in batches: a block opens weeks or months ahead, then a second batch — often the slots people actually get — drops the night before or two days out, at a fixed time in the park's local zone. Set a reminder; popular days sell out in minutes.
Each reservation costs a small processing fee (about $1 at the cavern and sunrise parks, up to $6 per vehicle at Acadia) on top of the park entrance fee, which you pay separately.
A reservation only covers the specific road, area, or time window it names — the Cadillac Summit Road, the Old Rag trailhead, the sunrise hours at Haleakalā. The rest of each park stays walk-in, and so does every park not on this list.
Do I still pay the entrance fee?
Yes. A timed-entry or vehicle reservation reserves your entry slot or parking space only. You still need a valid park entrance pass (or to pay the fee at the gate), and the reservation's processing fee is charged on top of that.