The allure of national park experiences intensifies as summer draws near. But these famous locations are drawing previously unheard-of crowds.

The National Park Service (NPS) had more over 300 million visits in 2023, up 4% from the year before. Not just well-known locations are seeing this spike; lesser-known parks like Congaree and Dry Tortugas are also seeing record-breaking attendance. Park officials are using creative tactics to enhance the visitor experience in order to handle the surge.

We have insider knowledge to make sure your trip to a national park is nothing short of spectacular, from arranging the ideal hotel to making the ideal reservations. This is what you should know.

Best time to visit

When organizing your summer vacation, timing is everything, particularly if you’re considering well-known national parks. It might be challenging to find reasonably priced accommodations and things to do at the busiest time of year.

There are certain trade-offs to take into account, but you can anticipate nice weather and a break from the throng during the shoulder seasons, which are early to mid-spring and late October. Your options for lodging may be limited because several hotels and lodges may close during the off-season and reopen later in the year. Furthermore, not all of the trails in higher elevation parks, like Glacier or Lassen Volcanic, may be available, and using snowshoes or traction cleats may be necessary.

There are benefits to arriving before sunrise as well. If you get there early enough, you may experience sites like Arches’ Windows or Delicate Arch with few people because most visitors don’t come until mid-to-late morning.

When allowed, winter park exploration provides a distinct viewpoint that few people get to see. For example, Yosemite Valley becomes a winter paradise, a sight that both nature lovers and photographers love.

According to Yosemite Mariposa County spokesperson Tony McDaniel, the best method to organize a trip is to steer clear of using a “checklist approach.”

According to McDaniel, “slow down and immerse yourself in the destination.” “Yosemite National Park is unlike any other place on earth, and it’s best experienced slowly and without a car so that you can appreciate all of the sights, sounds, and smells.”

What parks require timed entry passes?

Reservations for timed admission usually grant access within a two-hour timeframe. However, the regular park admission charge is not included in the pass’s cost. However, if you already have a wilderness permit, camping reservations, or reservations for a pre-planned, park-sponsored activity, you do not need a second timed entrance permit. Additionally, you only need to make a single timed entrance reservation if you intend to spend many days in the park; just be sure to be there the entire time.

NPS spokesperson Kathy Kupper claims that while these tickets sometimes lessen the spontaneity of a vacation, they also result in greater park experiences.

“Timed entry gives visitors more confidence that they will be able to get in and get where they want to go, which is why they love it,” Kupper adds.

Don’t worry if you can’t make a timed admission reservation. Instead of driving, choose to go to the park at any time of day by foot or by bicycle. Every year, Glacier National Park makes adjustments to its timed admission scheme, such as moving entry gates outside the visitor center, where visitors can board a shuttle bus to enter the park.

For example, reservations for June 1–30 opened on March 1 and reservations for July 1–31 opened on April 1. A limited number of reservations will also be released at 7 p.m. MST the day before, giving last-minute planners to Utah some flexibility. Arches: Timed entry reservations will be required from April 1 to October 31. The reservation system operates on a rolling basis.

Glacier: If you plan to drive the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road or go to North Fork, Montana, you must make a vehicle reservation between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. from May 24 to September 8; similarly, from July 1 to September 8, you must make a reservation to enter Many Glacier between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations can be made up to 120 days, or roughly four months in advance, beginning at 8 a.m. MST. If you want to enter the next day, a limited number of next-day vehicle reservations will be made available at 7 p.m. MST on a rolling basis.

Rocky Mountain: Admission to this Colorado park requires a reservation between May 24 and October 20. There will be two different reservation options: one that allows entry to the whole park, including the busy Bear Lake Road Corridor, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and another that does not allow access to this corridor from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning at 8 a.m. on May 1, reservations can be made for May 24 through June 30. Reservations will be made available for subsequent releases, starting on June 1st for July and so on.

Yosemite: April through October is when reservations are required. Reservations are needed from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (May 27, June 19, September 2, and October 14) from April 13 to June 30 and August 17 to October 27. Reservations are required every day at the same hours from July 1 to August 16.

What parks require a specific area pass?

Acadia: From May 22 to October 27, reservations are needed for vehicles on Maine’s Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. Around one-third of them are available for purchase 90 days in advance, and the remaining ones go on sale two days prior, beginning at 10 a.m. Only at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/400000 are reservations available, and they cost $6.

Great Smoky Mountains: You can access this Tennessee-North Carolina park without a timed entrance reservation, but if you want to linger for more than fifteen minutes, you will need a parking permit. Daily passes cost $5, weekly passes cost $15, and yearly passes cost $40. You may buy permits online or in person. Passes are valid for a single car.

Haleakalā: Throughout the year, from 3 to 7 a.m., you will require a parking pass in order to park at Hawaii’s Haleakalā peak in time for dawn.

Zion: Hiking Angel’s Landing in Utah requires a timed permit. Lotteries for treks in June, August, September, and November open on April 1, July 1, and October 1, respectively. The day before, at 12:01 a.m., a restricted quantity of next-day licenses will be made available. A permit can be applied for by hiking parties of up to six persons. Winning teams

Best alternatives to national parks

You still have choices if you’re going in the summer, don’t have a reservation, and are unable to enter the park in time. Although they receive fewer tourists, state parks and national forests that encircle official national parks can provide comparable vistas.

For instance, the beautiful Dixie National Forest is only a 15-minute drive away if you are unable to enter Utah’s Bryce Canyon. You will see roughly identical vistas while being virtually alone on the trails, as opposed to sharing the space with thousands of other tourists.

Where to stay in or near a popular park

Recreation.gov allows reservations for the majority of NPS campgrounds six months in advance on a rolling basis; but, the most popular locations, such as Watchman in Zion or Slough Creek in Yellowstone, can sell out in a matter of minutes. You still have a lot of possibilities even if you don’t get it.

According to McDaniel, “Housekeeping Camp or Curry Village are as close as you’ll get to camping in Yosemite Valley, and you don’t need to bring a tent.” You may still enter the park by renting a cabin in places like Wawona, Yosemite West, and Foresta. There are hundreds of more alternatives beyond the park in picturesque settings and historic towns that are typically more affordable and near to numerous eating options.

Established campsites or free scattered camping (regions outside a designated campground) are usually available in nearby national forests and Bureau of Land Management areas. In most cases, sites are first-come, first-served. To get a recently deserted spot, get to a well-established campsite between 10 a.m. and noon.

Sites like Campendium and freecampsites.net, as well as apps like AllStays, can be of great assistance. Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming’s Signal Mountain Campground fills up pretty instantly, but during a recent visit, I discovered an amazing mountaintop scattered campground in Bridger-Teton National Forest. The fact that the camping was free added to the breathtaking vista of the Tetons.

Disclaimer:

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) or any other governmental agency. All data, including park entry requirements, reservation policies, and visitation statistics, are based on publicly available sources as of the time of writing and may be subject to change. Readers are encouraged to verify details by visiting official park websites or contacting relevant authorities before making travel plans. We do not guarantee the accuracy or availability of third-party services mentioned.