Visiting a national park next summer? Better plan ahead
Editor's Note
Quick summary
America's national parks continue to draw big crowds. In fact, attendance has bounced back almost to pre-pandemic levels, with nearly 312 million visitors in 2022, according to the National Park Service. Visiting one of the U.S. park sites remains an incredibly popular travel choice for many people.
That high demand means some parks get very crowded, especially during the peak summer travel season. If you're already thinking of planning a trip to a national park in the summer of 2024, it's important you read up on entrance requirements for the park you intend to visit. The National Park Service website is an invaluable resource to help plan your trip and to make sure you're aware of specific entry requirements.
At certain parks like Arches National Park in Utah, the demand to gain entry to the park is so great some people arrive before sunrise to get in. Arches is one of a handful of in-demand national parks that continue to use a timed-entry reservation system or ticket requirements to manage crowds during the busiest time, which is between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Entrance to the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. does not require a ticket. These measures began to deal with the massive influx of visitors after pandemic-era travel restrictions were lifted.
Visitors at Glacier National Park in Montana do not need a vehicle reservation at the moment as visitor traffic declines as the seasons change. The reservation system was a measure introduced to ease vehicle congestion in the park, primarily on Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road, during the busy summer season and peak times, primarily 6 a.m.-3 p.m. That 50-mile stretch crossing the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains is perhaps America's most scenic highway and one of Glacier's biggest drawing cards.
Related: Complete guide to Glacier National Park
The expiration of the reservation system means visitors can enjoy the sweeping vistas and outlooks along the road without fear of being turned away for not having booked a ticket in advance. Keep in mind that the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed during the winter season. The road is still open to the Avalanche Lake Campground on the west side and Rising Sun on the east side.
Related: What you need to know before planning your national park trip
Now, we should point out that while Glacier's reservation system expired as of Sept. 10, 2023, it doesn't mean it's gone for good. It's likely the vehicle reservation procedures will resume for the summer of 2024, given that Glacier remains a popular destination for travelers wanting to enjoy the great outdoors.
Additional entrances into Glacier National Park were added to the reservation system in 2023 to the Many Glacier and Two Medicine valleys as park officials studied visitor data. If the vehicle reservation system returns in 2024, it will be interesting to see if park officials keep the window in which park tickets are valid to only three days. It used to be they were good for seven days, but authorities changed it with the intention of giving more people a chance to experience Going-to-the-Sun Road's winding cliffside road and picturesque views.
If you're wondering how much time to allow for the drive, the Park Service says it's possible to do the entire drive in about two hours if you don't stop. But why would you want to rush through such an unforgettable experience? You'll want to make several stops to take in the incredible sights and some nice photos for the 'gram, so budget around four hours to complete the entire drive.
If you're considering a trip to Glacier, be sure to monitor the park's website or its X (formally known as Twitter) account for updates on park admittance policies. And if you're thinking of camping at Glacier, permits are free between Nov. 1 and April 30. From May 1-Oct. 31, there is a $10 permit fee as well as an extra camping fee of $7 per night, per person. For those who are not big on advance planning, walk-in permits are available. The park sets aside about 30% of the park's campgrounds for walk-in campers.
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