How to Plan National Park Reservations Early

A sunrise at a trailhead in a national park is much more enjoyable if the previous night wasn’t spent fighting for a campsite at 4 a.m. To make reservations at a national park, think beyond the park entrance. Planning is needed for the hike, the campground, the drive in, favorite roadside stops and entry into the park.

Reservations don’t need to take the fun out of a road trip. They can save some of the things travelers hoped to experience. That could be a peaceful campsite in the pines or a trip on a shuttle into a canyon that otherwise would be crawling with traffic.

How to Plan National Park Reservations by Type

With a little planning up front, it is easier to take some of the quirky and special detours along a route. Different parks have different reservation systems. Some ask for timed-entry reservations at certain times of day and month. Others want reservations for specific roads, areas or shuttles. And there may be separate systems for campgrounds, backcountry, day hikes and lodges.

First think about what is wanted from a trip. Here are four possibilities:

• Timed entry or vehicle reservations: They lock in when a visitor will arrive at the park. They don’t guarantee a campsite or activity. They tend to be used at parks where road space and parking are limited.
• Front-country campsites and lodging: They lock in a spot in or near the park. Often they become available months in advance. And they tend to fill up quickly on holidays, summer weekends and other busy times.
• Permits for hikes, backcountry trips, or climbing: Sometimes a permit is needed once in the park. There will often be limits on group size, number of people in a group and time of day for the activity. Some routes will require a ticket or reservation.
• Shuttles, scenic roads, and special-area access: In some parks, it is better to use a shuttle to get to a trailhead. Many parks require reservations, entrance fees or annual passes.

Keep copies of payment and confirmation. But remember, one receipt may not cover everything.

Build Your Calendar Before You Build the Drive

The best approach to booking is to start with a calendar, not a map. Pick a few priorities for the trip. That might be the trail most desired for a hike, the park most desired to visit or the campground for the stay.

Then look at when reservations open for that one. Reservations open at different times for different campsites. Some become available six months in advance. Others are released in batches over time or two weeks before a trip.

Timed-entry inventory might become available months in advance, then again closer to a visit. And often, backcountry lotteries open well before reservations for campsites.

Add to a calendar the dates and times reservations open for each of these. Be sure to note the correct time zone. If driving between states, this could save an hour.

Set up an account. Check that the payment method is up to date. And have dates in mind for the park (and two backups).

Most importantly, if traveling in the summer, flexibility will work in a traveler’s favor. It’s often easier to arrive at a park on a Tuesday than on a Friday. And there may be more options if camping Sunday through Thursday.

If the plan is only to drive up to a camp in the afternoon, an afternoon entry window could work well. And if possible, pick two dates at the park. Don’t rely on just one.

Plan the Route Around Real Travel Days

A reservation time isn’t a suggestion from your map app. It’s a promise. When you plan your route, factor in meals, fuel, traffic in gateway towns and slow stretches of road. And don’t rule out a giant dinosaur statue you might want to check out along the way.

Allow time for timed entries, shuttles and permit pick-up. In out-of-the-way country, heat, wildlife on the road, construction and poor cell service could easily add time to your drive. And if you’re driving a motorhome or towing a trailer, you’d want to add even more time.

In one day you’ll encounter mountain grades, narrow roads in the park, and maybe a suitable fuel stop for your motorhome. These are part of the day, not interruptions to it.

Here’s where a map of your trip could help. In Roadtrippers, for example, you could add to your route trailheads, gas stations, scenic overlooks, campgrounds and the park gates. And then you could check whether, say, that cute pie shop was on your route or would add two hours to getting into the park.

Don’t plan every minute of your day at a park. Reserve whatever needs reserving, then block out time for exploration. A maybe you could have a timed entry at 9 a.m., a picnic in the middle of the day on a short trail, and a vague intention of checking out some of the overlooks on the way back to camp. That’s less exciting than booking three big hikes in the day, but more likely to feel like a vacation.

Choose a gateway-town backup

And even good trip planners need a Plan B. If your campground in the park is full, consider motels, cabins, state parks, public lands where you could camp and even gateway towns within reasonable driving distance. All could work as a base for your trip.

But you’d be trading time. A two-night visit to the park might be fine spent 45 minutes outside the park, but it would probably rule out an early shuttle or sunrise hike. Consider splitting the difference: maybe you could spend one night near the park (for your best day there) and then head farther out for the other night(s) of your trip.

Book in an Order That Limits Risk

If you need reservations for more than one thing, prioritize the one that would be hardest to find elsewhere. For many people, that could be a campsite in the park, a popular hike, or a backcountry permit. Once you know that, book lodging around it and timed entry.

Don’t book nonrefundable lodging without looking at the park’s access rules. A hotel at the park entrance won’t be much use if the only entry spot available is three days from now. And even a great campsite may not seem worth it if your RV can’t drive up to it, or if the length of the site doesn’t work for your rig.

Before you hit “confirm,” read the rules. What’s the cancellation deadline? Are pets allowed? When can you check in? Do you need a printout or download of this reservation? If this is a backcountry trip, ask about food storage, water quality, trail closures and gear. No matter how beautiful your plan sounds, you don’t want to get a citation, take an unsafe hike or turn back.

What to Do When Reservations Are Gone

And just because something’s sold out doesn’t mean you can’t get in. Many parks will have cancellations, additional spots opening up later, first-come opportunities and less well-known parts of the park that could still give you a great day.

Rather than continually refreshing, check back now and then. And be open to adjusting your dates or camping outside the park.

You could reshape your trip, too. Spend a day at a state park, scenic byway, historic town, forest or national monument near the park. And then return on your reservation date.

Often the best stories of a road trip come in between the big parks. Maybe a drive-in burger joint on a county road, a hot spring, or a wildlife refuge at sunset.

Don’t assume you could show up before dawn and avoid needing a reservation. (Unless the park specifically allows it.)

Rules exist to avoid overwhelming the park’s ecosystems, roads, parking and staff.

By following them, you’re more likely to enjoy this place when other travelers roll in behind you.

Check Again Before You Leave

A week before your trip, check your park alert and any confirmation you may have. You’ll want to know about wildfire restrictions, weather advisories, road closures, construction delays and shuttle schedules. Take screenshots of your reservations and download maps for any part of your trip where you might not have good cell service. Let your travel companions know of your plans.

Plan for the reservation you have, not for the trip you imagine. If you enter later in the day, plan a lunch and bring some water. If you’re at a campsite, bring enough supplies so you won’t have to drive far to the grocery store. And if you’re in an RV, remind yourself of hookups, dump station access, size restrictions and routes at the campground.

And on your map, leave room for something unplanned. Your reservation gets you into the park. But often it’s that pullout for sunset, the swimming hole, the pie counter or the overlook that makes your trip to the park a story you’ll want to tell for years.