Rocky Mountain National Park: Timed Entry Reservation Guide

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. Its dramatic mountain ranges, alpine lakes, wildlife, and location drive the masses to explore its beauty. Many national parks have begun implementing reservation systems in order to combat the crowds, so it is imperative to book early and have a plan before you arrive. 

What are Timed Entry Reservations?

Timed Entry Reservations are permits you acquire to allow entry into RMNP within specific time slots. Due to the popularity of the park, these help reduce traffic during peak times of the year. A timed entry reservation will give you a two-hour time frame that you can enter the park. There is no time limit - once you are in, you can stay as long as you like. Each reservation is only $2.

Do I have to get a timed entry reservation?

Not necessarily as it depends what time of year you are visiting. We personally highly recommend securing a reservation if you are visiting anytime between May and October. Dates vary year to year, but typically fall within these months. For 2026 specifically, timed entry reservations are required during peak hours between May 22 through October 12. Peak hours vary depending on the type of reservation you secure.

Even if you are visiting without the timed reservation, you must secure a valid park pass in order to enter. Entrance for 1-day in a standard vehicle is $30, $35 for a 7-day pass or if have an America the Beautiful pass you can use that. If you plan on visiting more than two national parks in a year, you should definitely spring for an America the Beautiful pass, which is $80 for US citizens and residents or $250 for non-US residents.

Reservation Types

• Timed Entry

  • Provides access to all areas of the park except the Bear Lake Road Corridor

  • Required 9 a.m.–2 p.m. daily between May 22 to October 12, 2026

  • You may reenter anytime between 9 am-2 pm after your initial time slot

• Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road

  • Provides access to all areas of the park including Bear Lake Road Corridor

  • Required 5 a.m.–6 p.m. daily from May 22 through October 18, 2026

  • You cannot reenter this park of the park until after 2pm after your initial time slot

Basically, you need to decide if you want to explore the Bear Lake Corridor trails. If you are able to snag a Bear Lake timed entry, we highly recommend it. There are some great trails to hike here. However, they are more difficult to acquire and there are plenty of other great trails to explore if you are not able to get the Bear Lake Corridor reservation.

How to Book Your Reservation

Reservations typically release at 8 a.m. MDT on the first day of each month for the following month. If you are not able to secure a reservation in advance, you still have one more change to get a reservation the night before your desired date as they hold a portion of tickets aside. These are released at 7 p.m. MDT. 

Personally, we had no issues securing timed entry reservations for Bear Lake road for a weekend in June, which is a very popular time of the year to go. Just plan ahead and create an alarm for yourself to login to recreation.gov at the designated release times.

Below is the release schedule for 2026:

• Release: May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT; Reservation dates: May 22 - June 30

• Release: June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT; Reservation dates: July 1 - July 31

• Release: July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT; Reservation dates: August 1 - August 31

• Release: August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT; Reservation dates: September 1 - September 30

• Release: September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT; Reservation dates: October 1 - October 18

What if I still can’t secure a timed entry reservation?

You might have noticed that all the timed entry reservations are between the hours of 9 am and 2pm, which means you can still enter the park even if you don’t have a timed reservation! You just have to get up early and into the park before 9 am or wait until after 2pm. Do note though that this does not apply to the Bear Lake Corridor where reservations are required 5 am to 6 pm. So, if you really want to visit that area of the park, it’s imperative to get a reservation.

What Happens at the Gate?

Lines at the gate are still a popular occurrence even if you have a timed entry reservation and especially on weekends. We found arriving 15 minutes ahead of our timed entry helped us get through the gate quickly. We just pull off the side of the road and waited until our time slot started. Once there, you will just need to show your reservation and park pass. Always make sure to save to your phone as you never know when cell service will be spotty.

Final Thoughts

If you are visiting May-October, secure that reservation. Don’t assume you will be able to get into the park when you arrive. All is not lost though if you are planning a trip last minute. You will still have time to try to get reservations the night before or you may just have to shift some of your plans and enter the park before or after the timed entrance requirement is in place. We hope you enjoy your time in Rocky Mountain National Park! Be sure to check out our Rocky Mountain National Park Guide to help you plan your travels.

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