How to Get Recreation.gov Reservations: Windows, Lotteries, Fees

Recreation.gov is the federal booking site for campsites, timed-entry tickets, tours and permit lotteries at national parks, national forests and other public lands. Many campgrounds open on a rolling window up to six months ahead, timed-entry tickets usually release one to three months ahead with a second batch a day or two before, and the most popular permits are awarded by lottery. Every listing sets its own release date and time, so the facility page is the rule that counts.

This guide explains the release patterns, gives 2026 examples from the National Park Service, and covers fees, cancellations and what to do when everything is booked.

What can you book on Recreation.gov?

Recreation.gov handles five main kinds of bookings. Lodges inside national parks are not on the site; those are booked with each park’s concessioner.

When do Recreation.gov reservations open?

Most listings follow one of four patterns. Release times are in the park’s local time zone, which is easy to miss when you book from another part of the country.

1. Rolling window: each day, one more day opens at the far end of the window. Arches says Devils Garden Campground sites can be reserved up to six months ahead in peak season.
2. Monthly block: a whole month opens at once. Yosemite releases most Valley campground sites five months ahead on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific time, and they sell out within minutes.
3. Advance plus short-notice batch: part of the inventory opens weeks or months ahead and the rest shortly before the date. Acadia releases 30% of Cadillac Summit Road reservations 90 days ahead and 70% two days ahead, both at 10 a.m. Eastern.
4. Lottery: you apply during a window and winners are drawn at random, so applying early does not improve your odds.

Sources: park pages on nps.gov, including Rocky Mountain’s timed entry page. Several big parks dropped timed entry for 2026: Yosemite, Arches, Glacier and Mount Rainier did not require vehicle reservations, although Glacier piloted a ticketed Logan Pass shuttle. Rules for 2027 had not been announced as of November 3, 2026, so check the park before you go. Our list of national parks that require reservations tracks the current rules.

How do Recreation.gov lotteries work?

You pick dates, pay a nonrefundable application fee, and wait for a draw. If you win, you pay the permit fee. Two of the best-known 2026 lotteries:

• Angels Landing, Zion: seasonal lotteries open months ahead (for example, January 1–20 for hikes from March through May), and a day-before lottery runs daily from 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain time with results after 4 p.m. Each application costs $6 and covers up to six people; winners pay $3 per person.
• Half Dome, Yosemite: the preseason lottery takes applications March 1–31 with results in mid-April, and daily lotteries open two days before the hike. Each application costs $10, and winners pay $10 per person.

Other popular draws, such as The Wave in Arizona, follow the same idea with their own windows; see our guide to The Wave permit lottery.

How can you improve your chances of getting a reservation?

1. Set up your account early. Create a Recreation.gov login, save your payment card and check your vehicle details a day before release.
2. Know the exact release time and time zone. Write it down in your own time zone. Yosemite advises being logged in before 7 a.m. Pacific with an accurate clock.
3. Have backups ready. List two or three campgrounds, loops or entry windows in order of preference.
4. Stay flexible on dates. Weekdays and the shoulder months of May, September and October are easier than summer weekends.
5. Use the short-notice batch. Rocky Mountain’s 7 p.m. release and Acadia’s two-day release give a second chance.
6. Keep checking for cancellations. Canceled sites and tickets go back into inventory, especially around cancellation deadlines.
7. Respect the limits. Many listings cap how often you can book; Acadia allows one sunrise reservation per vehicle in seven days.

What fees and cancellation rules apply?

Recreation.gov adds small processing fees and keeps a service fee when you cancel. Its site-wide policies, which individual facilities can override, include these rules:

Source: Recreation.gov rules and reservation policies, as listed in November 2026. Fees for tickets and lotteries are nonrefundable, and many timed-entry and tour tickets cannot be refunded for bad weather.

What if everything is booked?

A sold-out listing is rarely the end of the trip. Try these options:

• Enter outside reservation hours. At Rocky Mountain in 2026, you could drive in before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. without a timed-entry ticket, except on Bear Lake Road.
• Look for first-come, first-served sites. Some park campgrounds hold sites for walk-up visitors in parts of the year.
• Camp nearby. National forest and state park campgrounds near major parks often have openings when park sites are gone.
• Use shuttles or tours. Commercial tours and park shuttles sometimes have their own access.
• Plan the next season. Our national park booking timeline shows when each piece opens.

Bottom line

Treat Recreation.gov like a ticket sale: know the release date, time and time zone, be logged in early, and have backups. Book campsites as soon as they open, often six months out, use both the advance and short-notice batches for timed entry, and apply to lotteries anytime within the window. Small processing fees apply, and campsite cancellations usually cost $10.

FAQ

What time do Recreation.gov reservations open?

Each listing sets its own time, in the park’s local time zone. In 2026, Yosemite camping opened at 7 a.m. Pacific, Rocky Mountain timed entry at 8 a.m. Mountain, Acadia’s Cadillac Summit Road at 10 a.m. Eastern and Haleakalā sunrise at 7 a.m. Hawaii time.

Is a timed-entry reservation the same as an entrance pass?

No. A timed-entry or vehicle reservation sets when you can enter, and you still need to pay the entrance fee or show a pass. Acadia, for example, requires both for Cadillac Summit Road.

Can I cancel a Recreation.gov reservation?

Yes, online or by phone before arrival. For campsites, a $10 service fee is withheld, and late cancellations can cost the first night; ticket and lottery fees are not refunded.

Does applying early in a lottery window help?

No. Zion’s Angels Landing page, for example, says any application submitted during the open window has the same odds as every other one, so there is no reason to rush at opening time.