This news story about 2024 vehicle reservations in Arches, Rocky Mountain, and Glacier National Parks is based on November 9, 2023, National Park press releases. You can read the original releases here, here, and here.
On Thursday afternoon, November 9, the National Park Service released plans to implement vehicle reservation systems once again in a few popular national parks.
The three parks are Arches National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Glacier National Park respectively, all of which already had timed-entry systems in place in the past couple of years.
Vehicle Reservations Returning to Popular National Parks in 2024
Below, you’ll find detailed information about the 2024 timed-entry reservation systems in each of those national parks.
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Arches National Park Vehicle Reservations 2024
Arches National Park will implement another pilot vehicle reservation system using timed entry in 2024, beginning April 1.
“We received many positive comments from people who enjoyed the guaranteed arrival time and reduced congestion they experienced during the 2023 vehicle reservation pilot,” said Arches National Park Acting Superintendent Brendan Bray.
“A repeat pilot program in 2024 will help us learn more about how such systems can provide visitors with the opportunity for enjoyable experiences while protecting the extraordinary landscapes they come to see.”
Program parameters will be the same as the 2023 pilot. Visitors can book reservations on a first-come first-served basis through Recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MST on January 2, 2024.
Reservations will be released three months in advance in monthly blocks. For example, on January 2, reservations will open for the month of April. On February 1, reservations will open for the month of May and unreserved times in April will remain open.
Additional months will continue the same pattern according to the following schedule:
- April reservations (April 1–30) open January 2 at 8 a.m. MST.
- May reservations (May 1–31) open February 1 at 8 a.m. MST.
- June reservations (June 1–30) open March 1 at 8 a.m. MST.
- July reservations (July 1–31) open April 1 at 8 a.m. MDT.
- August reservations (August 1–31) open May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT.
- September reservations (September 1–30) open June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT.
- October reservations (October 1–31) open July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT.
After booking a reservation, visitors will receive a timed entry ticket. Timed entry tickets will allow visitors to enter during a one-hour specified window of availability between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
After entering, visitors may stay in the park for the remainder of the day. Ticket holders may exit and re-enter the park on the same day with a correctly validated ticket. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
For those without early reservations, a limited number of additional tickets will be released at 7 p.m. MDT each day for park visits the following day.
Tickets must be booked online or by calling Recreation.gov before entering the park and will not be available at the park entrance. Tickets book up quickly, especially for morning arrival times, so visitors are encouraged to plan ahead.
Timed entry tickets will not be required for those with camping permits, backcountry permits, Fiery Furnace permits or tour tickets, special use permits, concessions contracts, or commercial use authorizations.
The park is currently accepting public feedback about past visitor experiences under the 2022 and 2023 pilot programs and long-term strategies for visitor access.
More details are available on the project website and comments can be submitted through December 1, 2023. Input received from this process will be used to inform strategies for the future.
For more information about the 2024 pilot timed entry program, please visit go.nps.gov/ArchesTicket. Details and updates will also be posted on the Arches National Park Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Benefits of Timed-Entry System in Arches National Park
Visitation to Arches National Park grew 73 percent between 2011 and 2021, nearing 2 million people annually. This increase was concentrated during certain hours, causing congestion at key destinations in Arches National Park, reduced visitor enjoyment, and increased resource damage.
During times of peak congestion prior to implementing the vehicle reservation pilots, the park had to temporarily close its gates until crowding lessened, resulting in many visitors being unable to enter the park at their preferred time or at all.
The vehicle reservation pilots in 2022 and 2023 were successful in reducing congestion, improving visitor experiences, providing reliable access, and distributing visitation throughout the day. Visitors arriving with the appropriate vehicle reservation and park pass were guaranteed entry to the park during the pilots.
More About Arches National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Arches Hikes
- Most Beautiful Arches in Arches National Park
- Top Things To Do in Arches National Park
- Best Views on the Arches Scenic Drive
- Accommodation
Rocky Mountain National Park Vehicle Reservations 2024
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will implement a pilot reservation system using timed entry in 2024, beginning May 24.
The pilot is similar to that used in 2023 with two types of reservations available. One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor, as well as access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability, with no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park.
The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
The Bear Lake Road Corridor timed entry reservation system will continue through Sunday, Oct. 20. However, the rest of the park reservation system will end on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Reservations to enter the park will be available through Recreation.gov following the below schedule.
- Beginning at 8 a.m. MT on Monday, May 1. This round of reservations will be available to enter the park from May 24 through June 30.
- The next release will occur on June 1, for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On Aug. 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On Sept. 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
Modifications from the 2023 pilot system to the 2024 pilot system include making the night before reservations available at 7 p.m. MT through recreation.gov, rather than 5 p.m. These are expected to run out quickly and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead when possible.
Rocky Mountain National Park is currently accepting public feedback on its Environmental Assessment for the park’s long-range day use visitor access plan. More details are available on the park website and comments can be submitted through Dec. 14, 2023.
This plan is needed to provide day use visitor access in a way that protects resources while creating opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences in the long term.
For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park please visit www.nps.gov/romo, follow the park on social media @RockyNPS or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.
Benefits of Timed-Entry System in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks. The park experienced a 44 percent increase in visitation from 2012 to 2019. In 2021, the park received 4.4 million visits.
Even with a vehicle reservation timed-entry system in place, the park received some of the highest visitation in its history. Between 2016 and 2023, the park piloted several day-use visitor management strategies to address crowding, congestion, and impacts on park resources.
These pilots have demonstrated this strategy is effective at easing congestion impacts and improved the visitor experience in the park.
The park also asked the public for their participation in envisioning the future of day use visitor access at Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer of 2021 and the winter of 2022-2023.
More About Rocky Mountain National Park
Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations 2024
Glacier National Park will implement a pilot vehicle reservation system in 2024, beginning May 24 for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork and on July 1 for Many Glacier.
“Our balanced approach for the 2024 pilot reflects feedback from Tribes, the public, partners, and stakeholders, particularly regarding access to the Apgar Village area and Two Medicine,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “We also heard that knowing what park operations and access will look like sooner, rather than later, is important.”
West Entrance
One reservation per vehicle will be required to travel Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond the Apgar Village area from May 24 through Sept. 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation.
New in 2024, vehicle reservations will be valid for one day only, down from three days in 2023. Data from 2023 indicates that only two percent of three-day reservations were used for all three days. By changing to a one-day reservation, consistent with other park areas, a greater number of reservations can be made available.
Also new in 2024, visitors will be able to access Apgar Village amenities, including the Apgar Visitor Center and the western shore of Lake McDonald, without a vehicle reservation.
Lodging, camping (including front country developed campgrounds and backcountry camping permits), transportation, or commercial activity reservations originating in Apgar will no longer provide access beyond the Apgar filter check point.
North Fork
One reservation per vehicle will be required at the entrance station May 24 through Sept. 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are good for one day. Visitors can enter before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. There are no changes in the North Fork from 2023.
Many Glacier Valley
One reservation per vehicle will be required at the entrance station July 1 through Sept. 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are good for one day. Visitors can enter the valley before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. There are no changes in Many Glacier from 2023.
St. Mary
Also new in 2024, visitors will be able to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east side beyond Rising Sun without a vehicle reservation. Visitors will also have access to the St. Mary Visitor Center and shuttle stop on the east side of Glacier National Park, as in 2023.
“We will be testing vehicle reservations proactively in areas where congestion most frequently occurs – the North Fork, Many Glacier, and through the West Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road – and will take a wait-and-see approach at other locations and manage adaptively if needed,” said Roemer. “In all locations, our goal is to learn how effective these systems are at improving visitor experiences and protecting park resources.”
Vehicle Reservations and Entrance Passes
Vehicle reservations will be available on Recreation.gov, the Recreation.gov mobile app, or the Recreation.gov Call Center (Reservation Line: 877-444-6777).
Each of the specified areas of the park will require a separate reservation. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain reservations. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.
Pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, vehicle reservations are not required for tribal members throughout the park.
Vehicle reservations will be available through two booking windows.
- A portion of reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance, starting on Jan. 25, 2024, at 8 a.m. MST on a rolling basis on Recreation.gov.
- New in 2024, the remaining vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting on May 23, 2024.
In addition to a vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park.
These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass. However, please note that a vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass, and the park entrance pass does not serve as a vehicle reservation.
Like previous years, visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the specified reservation areas can use proof of their reservation for entry in lieu of a Recreation.gov reservation to gain access to the portion of the park for which they have a reservation.
As in past years, entry will be temporarily restricted in areas of the park that become too congested for visitor safety and resource protection. Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, and other areas may be unavailable.
Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of free shuttles for hiker access to Logan Pass although waits for shuttles may be long depending on the time and location. They are also encouraged to plan their visit outside of peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback ride, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.
Future visitors are encouraged to check the park website frequently for updates and additional information.
This will be the fourth year of piloting vehicle reservations in the park. The pilots help test the effectiveness of different approaches to manage high traffic volumes within the park while delivering quality visitor experiences.
During an open comment period for 2024 Visitor Use Management Strategies, a total of 1,408 comments were received. Input from these comments has helped inform strategies for how visitors will access park areas in the summer of 2024. The comments along with a summary report can be found on the park’s 2024 Visitor Use Management Strategy web page.