The best campsites, lodges and timed entries go the minute their window opens, often six to thirteen months before your trip. Put in your dates and see exactly when to be at your keyboard.
Download not starting? Use the Google Calendar link on each date, or copy the list.
The rules behind the dates, with the last year they were confirmed.
6 months ahead, 10 a.m. Eastern
Most park campgrounds open each arrival date on a rolling window exactly six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Popular loops in the Smokies, Grand Teton and Glacier can fill in minutes.
13 months ahead, on the 5th
On the 5th of each month, the whole same month one year later opens: on July 5, 2026, every night of July 2027 went on sale. Online at midnight Mountain, by phone at 7 a.m.
1st of the month before, 8 a.m. Mountain
In 2026, permits for May 22 to June 30 opened May 1 at 8 a.m. MT. After that, each month opened on the 1st of the month before (July on June 1, and so on). Bear Lake Road permits run 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and cover the whole park. $2 fee.
90 days and 2 days ahead, 10 a.m. Eastern
About 30% of vehicle slots release 90 days ahead and the other 70% two days ahead, both at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sunrise slots go first. $6 per vehicle. Repeat for each day you want to drive up.
60 days ahead, 8 a.m. Mountain
No vehicle reservations in 2026, but a pilot ticketed shuttle to Logan Pass started July 1. Tickets released 60 days ahead on a rolling basis, with leftover next-day tickets at 7 p.m. MT. $1 per ticket, everyone age 2 and up. Logan Pass parking is limited to 3 hours.
5 months ahead, on the 15th, 7 a.m. Pacific
Yosemite releases campsites in month-long blocks on the 15th, five months ahead, at 7 a.m. Pacific. Arrivals from July 15 to August 14 open on February 15, for example.
Seasonal lottery, months ahead
Permits come from a seasonal lottery plus a day-before lottery. In 2026, spring hikes (March–May) applied February 13–25 and summer hikes (June–August) applied April 1–20. Permits cost $3 per person plus a $6 application fee.
Required in summer; set a reminder
A timed-use permit is needed for the I-84 parking lot from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer (May 22 to September 7 in 2026). Arriving before 9 or by shuttle avoids it. We set a reminder two weeks out.
No window; buy before you go
No entrance fee, but any car parked more than 15 minutes needs a tag: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. Federal passes don't cover it. We set a reminder a week out.
Arches, Glacier, Mount Rainier and Yosemite
All four dropped their vehicle reservation systems for 2026. Glacier still limits Logan Pass parking and runs a ticketed shuttle, so it's listed above. Watch for 2027 announcements.
Daily Montanan: Glacier drops ticketed entry ↗When Alyssa plans your trip, the booking timeline comes with it: which windows matter for your route, what to grab first and a backup if the first choice sells out.