Visiting a national park next summer? Better plan ahead
Editor's Note
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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| 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. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.