Real-time Travel News

Rockies NP reservations

In the summer of 2024, as in previous years, entry to the Rocky Mountain National Park roads will be by reserving entrance tickets in advance. Two tickets will be sold – one for all park roads excluding Bear Road and one for all parks roads including Bear Road, see more information here.
See here for information on the opening of the order dates (starting in May):

Acadia NP update

Vehicle reservations will be required the coming summer for Cadillac Summit Road in Acadia National Park. See more info here:

Arches National Park reservations

Entry to the Arches National Park in 2024 will be by advance reservation only (unless you have secured a spot in the parks’ campground). Due to the expected demand, it is advised to reserve the second (literally the second) that the reservation window opens. The reservations costs 2 dollars per vehicle, in addition to the entrance fee to the park which costs 35 dollars per vehicle per week and which can be purchased at the entrance station.
to reservation: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10088426
see here information on the opening dates of the booking windows – in groups of one month, 3 months in advance:

Route 1 closed

Please note, Highway 1 in California is still closed in the section between Monterey and Cambria/Morro Bay (near Limekiln SP), no info regarding an opening data.

Canada NP Camping Reservations

For anyone inquiring about a reservation in Canada’s National Parks Campgrounds:
1. Yes it’s a bit complicated but after once you understand it’s easy
2. It is advised to open an account on the website a few days before the reservation window opens (since it’s also a bit complicated)
3. You can experiment by making a reservation (without the payment step) at a campground whose reservation window opens before your reservation window
4. For information on important RV glossary refer to our information page
5. The reservation window opens in January or February, you must reserve the second (literally the second) it opens
Information on the dates the reservation window opens can be found here.

Carlsbad Caverns reservations

Entry to the stunning Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 2024 will be by reserving an entrance ticket in advance. You can make a reservation 30 days before the date of the visit here: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/234637/ticket/10086811

Glacier NP reservations

Again this year, entry to the three roads below in the Glacier National Park will be by advance reservation only. The booking window will open 120 days before the date of the visit and must be booked the second it opens. Those who reserved an activity within the park (as well as accommodation – hotels and/or overnight parking lots) will not need to order an entry permit to the road from which this activity departs. Those who plan to travel by shuttle on Going to the Sun Road will not need an entry permit either. Those who plan to enter Going to the Sun Road from the east (from Saint Mary) will not need an entry permit this year, as will those who plan to visit the Two Medicine area of the park.

see more info here: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm
to reserve: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10087086

Angels Landing lottery

The opening dates of the lottery for a permit to hike the Angels Landing trail in the Zion National park have been announced, see information here:
https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/2024-angels-landing-permit-dates.htm

Yosemite reservations

In the summer of 2024, entry to the Yosemite National Park will only be by reservation. The booking window for the whole summer will open on Jan 5th 2024 at 8 am Pacific time. It is likely that the tickets will be snapped up quickly, therefore you should order the second the booking window opens. Two types of tickets will be sold – a ticket for the whole day or a ticket only starting at 12 noon. Both reservations are valid for three days in a row. Those who do not get a ticket can try to get one a week before, then another reservation window will open. The reservation costs $2 per vehicle only (this is in addition to the entrance fee to the reserve – $35). Entry to the park before 5 am or after 4 pm is free, without prior reservation. Those who have a reservation for campgrounds or hotels in the park do not need to reserve entry.
to reserve: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745
more info: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm

Canada NP reservations

The the opening dates of the booking window for Canada’s national parks camping reservations has been announced. In most parks the booking window opens in January or February. In order to reserve successfully you must book the second (literally in a second) from the reservation window opening time, for information click here.

Death Valley roads closed

Many roads in Death Valley NP are still closed (due to the floods of Hurricane Hillary), see closure map here:
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

National Parks Pass

Starting 2024, only one signature will be allowed on the US National Parks annual pass (perhaps in order to prevent it from being sold to another person, as happens too much). The pass costs $80 per year for all occupants of the vehicle and allows entry without cost to all National Parks, National Monuments and National Historic Sites.

Multnomah Falls Permit

Parking near Multnomah Falls in Oregon in summer 2024 will require reserving a permit. More info regarding the 2024 travel season will be published here.

Death Valley NP roads closed

Some Death Valley NP roads are closed due to floods

See a more info here: https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Yosemite Updates

The road to Glacier Point in Yosemite opens April 30. Mariposa grove remains closed due to storm damage (and even if the grove will open – there is currently no free shuttle from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza to the Mariposa Grove due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Parking is available (until full) at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. There are approximately 300 parking spaces and it may fill by mid-morning. Access to Mariposa Grove is via a two-mile hike (each way) on the Washburn Trail or the Mariposa Grove Road (each have approximately 500 feet in elevation gain). Several miles of trails are available in the grove from that point.

Reservations for Cadillac Summit Rd, Acadia NP

Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Rd in Acadia NP from May 26 through October 19. Reservations can be made 90 days in advance. See more info here.

Major Yellowstone Road Closed

The road between Tower Junction and Canyon in Yellowstone NP will be closed for the 2021 season. See more info here.

Reservations Required for the American Rockies NP

Due to Covid-19 reservations are required for the American Rockies NP for the 2021 summer season. The reservation window for June opens May 1st and so on. For more info press here.

Reservations Required for the Zion NP shuttle

Due to Covid-19 reservations are required for the Zion NP shuttle for the 2021 summer season. See first day to reserve below. For more info press here.

Reservations Required for visiting Yosemite NP

Due to Covid-19 reservations are required for visiting Yosemite NP for the 2021 summer season. See first day to reserve below. For more info press here.

Reservations Required for Glacier NP

Due to Covid-19 reservations are required for driving the Going to the Sun Rd in Glacier NP for the 2021 summer season. The reservation window opens 60 days in advance. For more info press here.

Route 1 opens

After being closed for a few months due to a landslide, California’s Route 1 (between Monterey and Morro Bay) is due to reopen April 31st.

Vehicles free day – Cades Cove Loop Rd

No Vehicles will be allowed along the Cades Cove Loop Road (in Great Smoky Mountains National Park) each Wednesday, from June 17th through September 30th 2021. See more info here: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm

Route 1 in California closed

Route 1 in California closed south of Big Sur and north of Ragged Point to to a collapse of the road.

See more info here.

The location of the collapse is circled in black. The area of the road closure is highlighted in yellow. You may travel the road from Carmel to south of Big Sur and back north to Carmel (pink line), or from Cambria north until the closure and back south (green line):

Navajo Nation Update

Navajo Nation Update – Navajo Nation tourist sites (Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Canyon de Chelly and more) remain closed due to Covid-19. See updated information here.

Grand Canyon Update

Grand Canyon National Park update – State Route 64, (Desert View Drive), is open a distance of 22 miles, from Grand Canyon Village to Navajo Point. There is a turnaround at Navajo Point. The East Entrance to the park at Desert View, the Desert View Watchtower area and campground are CLOSED. You must use the South Entrance near the town of Tusayan to enter and exit the park. See more information here.

Yellowstone Update

Yellowstone National park’s roads are starting to close for the winter. See road status here.

Rocky Mountain Update

Rocky Mountain National Park update – The park has temporarily implemented a timed entry system effective on June 4.

Permits issued using the reservation system allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance passes and reservations are required for all areas of the park, including outlying areas when arriving by vehicle whether a visitor parks within the park or outside the park boundary. This includes but is not exclusive to Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet, and North Inlet.

Reservation Availability

Reservations to enter the park are available through Recreation.gov. On August 1, reservations became available for the month of September and any remaining days that had not been booked for August. On September 1, reservations will be available for the month of October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.

Yosemite Update

Yosemite National Park update – Traveling through the park on Tioga Road or any other road requires a reservation. Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) is the closest alternate route over the Sierra Nevada in most cases.

Acadia Update

Acadia National Park update – Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road and Sand Beach Entrance, which allows access to Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and trailheads for Ocean Path, The Beehive, Great Head, and Gorham Mountain along a 2-mile section of the Park Loop Road.