Changes at National Parks: What to Know Before You Go!
The pandemic drove millions of Americans outside to explore our national parks.
To reduce congestion, and create a more enjoyable experience, we're seeing parks institute new reservation systems you should be prepared for.
Check out my video blog, and you’ll see: winter is the time to plan for a summer trip!
2021: A Record Year
Nearly 300 million visits were recorded at our national parks last year.
Across the country, 44 parks set a record for visitors.
Yellowstone nearly hit 5 million visitors, setting a new record.
Zion National Park surpased 5 million visitors, and its iconic Angels Landing hike was overwhelmed.
The Grand Canyon welcomed 4.5 million visitors.
Nearly 4 million explored the Grand Tetons.
Yosemite welcomed 3.3 million visitors in 2021.
Glacier National Park set a new record, with more than 3 million visitors.
At the top of the list: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. The park set a record with an astounding 14 million+ visitors.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park (my favorite, and the one I've visited most over the years) started a reservation system for Going to the Sun Road in 2021. Rangers I spoke to seem to think it’s working well, and helping to control traffic and crowds.
You'll have to reserve an entry on recreation.gov for access to the park.
Register at the site ahead of time, log in, and hit "reserve" as soon as possible when your date opens up.
Reservations are released over time, in blocks, so you'll have to wait for your dates to be released.
You'll still have to pay for your car to enter the park ($25 - $50 depending on the park and your situation).
Other Parks
Yosemite opened reservations for 2022 for the first time.
From May 20th through the end of September, anyone entering the park will have to reserve a spot on recreation.gov.
Yellowstone does not require reservations, unless you’re looking for a boating/fishing or camping permit.
Arches National Park in Utah recently started a timed-entry program from April through October.
Tourism grew 66% over the last decade at Arches, to 1.7 million visitors a year. Rangers hope the timed entry program will help reduce congestion and make the park more enjoyable.
Zion National Park in Utah started an online loterry for hikers hoping to scale Angels Landing. There's a $6 fee to enter the lottery, which is nonrefundable, even if you aren't chosen! It's created some controversy, but again: rangers hope it'll scale back congestion and create a much better experience.
What if it’s already booked?!
Different parks have workarounds, if you cannot get a reservation.
The gates are staffed by 6am in at Yosemite and Glacier, but they never technically "close." If you arrive before dawn (and before the rangers) you can just drive right in without a reservation.
Honestly, arriving before sunrise would be my recommendation regardless of your reservation status, since the roads, trails and parking lots get crowded quickly!
You can also cue before sunset, around 4pm, to enter the park after the gates are no longer staffed. This one I haven't tried, but a ranger recommended it to us last year in Glacier. Other people were using it: on our way out for the day we saw a line of cars waiting to go in.
Transportation Challenges:
Small airports near national parks are undergoing expansion projects.
In Montana, the efficient airport in Kalispell (FCA) is undergoing a major expansion project to keep up with demand. It's closest to Glacier, but you could also fly to Missoula (for more flight options and a longer drive).
Rental car companies could also expand operations.
Rentals in Kalispell are readily available in the winter months. If you fly in to Kalispell, you can expect to pay $35 per day for a standard sedan. An SUV will cost about $50 per day.
By June, the same SUV is $400 per day, and the cars are $350 per day, and often sold out months in advance.
Lodging Options
The lodges inside parks like Yellowstone and Glacier often book out many months in advance.
They're also outside many budgets, with nightly rates of $300 - $600+.
Check Airbnb and local hotels on the outskirts of the parks for options.
For example, in Montana, if hotels on the popular western side of Glacier National Park in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls are sold out, consider staying on the eastern side of Glacier in St. Mary. You’ll be closer to other great spots, like Virginia Falls (seen below).
If you’re interested in looking into the National Park Service’s statistics, they do a great job compiling the numbers each year.