Mount Rainier joins the parade of national parks requiring reservations: Here’s what you need to know
This post has been updated with additional information. It was originally published on April 3, 2024.
As part of the effort to combat overcrowding at U.S. national parks, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington will require advance reservations to visit starting this summer.
This timed entry reservation system will be required to enter parts of the park during certain times of day and year. Specifically, reservations are required to enter Paradise Corridor on the park's south side from May 24-Sept. 2 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and the Sunrise Corridor on the northeast side from July 4-Sept. 2 for the same eight-hour window.
Visitors can make reservations for July as of Monday, while reservations for August and September open at 8 a.m. PDT on May 1, 90 days ahead of the reservation block. All reservations are for an entry period of two hours and cost $2.
Note that timed entry reservations are not required for travelers with lodging reservations at the National Park Inn in Longmire, Paradise Inn or Cougar Rock Campground within the Paradise Corridor, who can use their reservation to enter the park after 1 p.m. in lieu of a timed entry reservation. Similarly, those with a first-come, first-served permit at White River Campground within the Sunrise Corridor can use this camping permit to gain access to the Sunrise Corridor, while visitors with Wilderness Permits or Special Use Permits can use those to gain access to the associated corridor specified by their permit.
Pedestrians and bikers are exempt from reservations. Timed entry reservations can only be booked at recreation.gov. In addition to the timed entry, parkgoers must pay the park entrance fee.
"Each corridor requires a separate vehicle reservation," the U.S. National Park Service noted online. "Timed entry reservations are for good a single day per vehicle, and are required in addition to an entrance fee or park pass."
The goal of these timed reservation systems used at parks around the country is to reduce wait times, congestion and thinning resources resulting from overcrowding, per the NPS. Mount Rainier National Park's website cites a 40% increase in visitation over the last 10 years.
Mount Rainier, about 90 miles south of Seattle, is the latest park within the NPS to implement a pilot timed entry reservation system. As of April, 10 national parks require timed entry reservations, per a NPS spokesperson. In addition to Mount Rainier, Arches, Acadia, Glacier, Yosemite, Haleakala, Zion, Shenandoah and Rocky Mountain National Parks plus Muir Woods National Monument have timed entry systems in place. Additionally, other parks require you to book select activities before arrival.
The NPS did not respond to a request for comment clarifying the number of parks that currently use timed entry systems. For the most up-to-date information, including entry protocols, we recommend bookmarking the NPS website.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.