When to Book a National Park Trip: Lodges, Camping, Entry
Each piece of a park trip opens on its own schedule. Here is the timeline from lodges to last-minute tickets, using the rules parks published for 2026.
Book a national park trip in layers: in-park lodges about 13 months ahead, campgrounds about five to six months ahead, timed-entry tickets one to three months ahead or in the short-notice batch a day or two before, and flights and rental cars as soon as your lodging is set. Permit lotteries such as Half Dome and Angels Landing have fixed application windows months before the hike. Release dates differ by park, so check each one on nps.gov.
The timeline below uses booking rules published for the 2026 season. Rules for 2027 had not been announced as of November 3, 2026, so check the park before you go.
What is the national park booking timeline?
Work backward from your travel dates. This timeline shows when each piece typically opens, with examples from park and concessioner pages.
| How far ahead | What to book | Examples (2026 rules) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 months | Lodges inside the park | Yellowstone: the 5th of each month for the same month next year. Grand Canyon South Rim: the 1st of each month at midnight Mountain time. Yosemite: 366 days ahead. |
| 6 months | Many campgrounds on Recreation.gov | Arches Devils Garden: up to six months ahead. Yellowstone’s concessioner campgrounds move to Recreation.gov for 2027, opening about six months ahead. |
| 5 months | Yosemite Valley campgrounds | Released on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific; they sell out within minutes. |
| 2–4 months | Permit lotteries and early batches | Angels Landing seasonal lottery (January 1–20 for March–May hikes). Half Dome preseason lottery, March 1–31. Acadia’s Cadillac Summit Road: 30% of reservations 90 days ahead. |
| About 2 months | Sunrise and short-window tickets | Haleakalā sunrise: 60 days ahead at 7 a.m. Hawaii time. Half of Tuolumne Meadows Campground sites: 2 months ahead. |
| About 1 month | Timed entry and tours | Rocky Mountain: the 1st of the month before, 8 a.m. Mountain (June 1 for July dates). Washington Monument: 30 days ahead. |
| 1–2 days | Last-minute batches and daily lotteries | Rocky Mountain: 7 p.m. the night before. Acadia: 70% of Cadillac reservations two days ahead. Haleakalā: a share two days ahead. Angels Landing and Half Dome daily lotteries. |
When should you book national park lodges?
Book in-park lodges the day your dates open if you are set on staying inside a popular park in summer. Yellowstone National Park Lodges opens each month’s dates on the 5th of the month one year earlier, so July 2027 opens on July 5, 2026. Xanterra’s Grand Canyon South Rim lodges open on the 1st of each month at midnight Mountain time. Yosemite’s lodging opens 366 days ahead.
Book early even if your plans may change, as long as you know the cancellation rules. Yellowstone refunds the deposit in full with 30 days’ notice, while Grand Canyon South Rim refunds it with at least two days’ notice. Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, is awarded by lottery and is closed through at least January 31, 2027. Our guide to booking national park lodges lists operators and alternatives.
When should you book campsites?
Reserve campsites as soon as the window opens, which for many national park campgrounds is about six months ahead on Recreation.gov. Some parks release sites in monthly blocks instead: Yosemite opens most Valley campgrounds five months ahead on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific. Holiday weekends and July and August go first.
If you miss the opening, check daily for cancellations, look at nearby national forest and state park campgrounds, and see whether the park keeps any first-come, first-served sites. Our guide to Recreation.gov reservations covers release patterns, fees and tips.
Which parks needed timed entry in 2026, and when did it open?
Fewer parks required entry reservations in 2026 than in recent years. These were the main ones:
| Park | Dates required (2026) | When tickets opened | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | May 22 to mid-October; 9 a.m.–2 p.m. park-wide, 5 a.m.–6 p.m. for Bear Lake Road | 8 a.m. MDT on the 1st of the month before; more at 7 p.m. the night before | $2 |
| Acadia, Cadillac Summit Road | May 20–October 25 | 30% at 90 days, 70% at two days, both 10 a.m. ET | $6 |
| Haleakalā sunrise | Year-round, 3–7 a.m. entry | 60 days ahead at 7 a.m. HST; a share two days ahead | $1 |
| Carlsbad Caverns | Year-round, to enter the cavern | Timed ticket on Recreation.gov | $1 |
Yosemite, Arches, Glacier and Mount Rainier did not require vehicle reservations in 2026. Glacier instead piloted a ticketed Logan Pass shuttle and three-hour parking at Logan Pass from July 1 to September 7, 2026. Parks usually announce the next season’s rules in winter or spring, so check our list of national parks that require reservations and the park’s own page before you go.
When should you book flights and rental cars?
Book flights and rental cars once your lodging is confirmed, so the expensive, scarce piece drives your dates. Rental cars at small airports near parks, such as Bozeman and Jackson Hole near Yellowstone, can sell out in summer, so reserve a car with free cancellation as soon as you have dates and recheck prices later. Airfares change constantly; set fare alerts and book when a fare fits your budget rather than waiting for a perfect day. Our guide to renting a car for a road trip covers fees and insurance.
What if you are planning a trip at the last minute?
You can still see the big parks with a few days’ notice:
- Use the short-notice batches: Rocky Mountain’s 7 p.m. release, Acadia’s two-day release and Haleakalā’s two-day release.
- Enter outside reservation hours: at Rocky Mountain in 2026, before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. without a timed-entry ticket, except on Bear Lake Road.
- Stay in a gateway town farther out, where rooms are more likely to be open.
- Watch for lodge cancellations near refund deadlines, such as 30 days before arrival at Yellowstone.
- Pick a shoulder month: May, September and October have more open rooms and campsites at most parks.
Bottom line
Book lodges 13 months out (366 days at Yosemite), campsites five to six months out, lotteries during their fixed windows, and timed-entry tickets about a month ahead or in the last-minute batch. Lock in a refundable rental car early, then fill in flights. Since 2027 rules are not yet out, confirm each park’s reservation requirements a few months before your trip.
FAQ
How far in advance should I book a Yellowstone trip?
For in-park lodging, book 13 months ahead, when each month opens on the 5th. Campsites open about six months ahead, and gateway-town hotels and rental cars are worth booking as soon as your dates are set.
Will Yosemite require reservations in 2027?
Yosemite did not use a timed reservation system in 2026, and its 2027 plans had not been announced as of November 3, 2026. Check the park’s website in early 2027.
Can I book everything on Recreation.gov?
No. Recreation.gov handles campsites, timed entry, tickets and permits, but lodges inside parks are booked directly with each park’s concessioner.
Is it too late to book a summer national park trip in spring?
Not usually. In-park lodges may be full, but gateway towns, cancellations, short-notice timed-entry batches and nearby campgrounds still leave plenty of options, especially on weekdays.
