Three National Parks Drop Timed Entry
Arches, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks are ending their timed entry reservation requirements for summer 2026. The National Park Service is dropping advance booking systems in favor of traditional first-come, first-served access. While this increases freedom for spontaneous visits, it could bring a return of crowding and capacity challenges during peak months.
- The now-removed timed-entry system at Arches National Park was first implemented as a pilot program in 2022 to manage a 74% increase in visitation over the previous decade. A study by Utah State University during its first year found that 84% of visitors surveyed would prefer a reservation system for future visits. - Glacier National Park is replacing its park-wide vehicle reservation system, which began in 2021, with more targeted solutions. For 2026, it will pilot a ticketed-only shuttle service for the popular Logan Pass and enforce a three-hour parking limit in that area. - Yosemite National Park, which has used various reservation systems on and off since 2020, will now rely on real-time traffic monitoring and active parking management. Officials will deploy additional staff to high-use areas and may implement temporary traffic diversions when parking lots reach capacity. - The decision to end the reservation systems was framed by the National Park Service as a way to expand public access and make the parks more accessible without extensive advance planning. - Without the reservation systems, park officials at Arches now advise that when parking lots fill at popular sites, the park may temporarily close for three to five hours at a time. - Conservation groups like the National Parks Conservation Association have criticized the move, predicting it will lead to "chaos," hours-long traffic jams, damage to park resources, and a worse visitor experience. - While these three parks are lifting restrictions, other major parks will continue to use similar systems. Rocky Mountain National Park, for example, will maintain its timed entry reservations for the peak season from late May through mid-October.
