Don’t miss your opportunity to visit some of the most sought-after, must-see National Parks in 2025 in the United States. When visiting the top National Parks in the USA, such as Zion, Rocky Mountain, and Yosemite National Parks, it’s essential to review the reservation, entry, and permitting requirements before heading out on your trip. No matter where you’re headed, we’ve got you covered with the permitting and reservation requirements for the top 12 National Parks.
Your Complete Guide to Permit Requirements for the Top 12 National Parks
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Closest Hub: New York
Hiking Permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Required to camp overnight, year-round, and in designated campsites only. Apply for the permit up to 30 days before your first night on the
NPS backcountry permit website for up to a 7-night permit.
Parking: Starting March 1, 2023, all park visitors parking for longer than 15 minutes must purchase
parking tags.
Yellowstone National Park
Closest Hub: Salt Lake City and
Denver
Hiking Permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Backcountry Permits are required year-round, but the process of getting the permit varies by season.
Peak Season Backcountry Permits (May 15th – October 31st): Permits are available through
an early access lottery system on Recreation.gov, from March 1st to March 20th. Then there is a general on-sale period which begins on April 26th for the remaining permits.
Non-Peak Season Backcountry Permits (November 1st – May 14th): Permits are
available via Recreation.gov beginning October 6th.
Closest Hub: Denver
Hiking Permits: Rocky Mountain National Park permits are not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Required year-round. Summer 2025 permits are available beginning on March 1st via
Recreation.gov.
Timed Entry Permits: Reservations are required to enter the park from May 26th to October 22nd. One permit is for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, and a separate permit is for the rest of the park. So do your research to ensure you can access the hike you plan to do with the permit you apply for. Timed-entry permits are available beginning
May 1st.
Closest Hubs: Salt Lake City and
Las Vegas
Hiking Permits: Beginning in 2024 Wilderness permits will be required for day-long activities. This includes canyoneering trips to the Left Fork (Subway) and the top-down route of the Virgin River Narrows. Permits are also required to attempt Angels Landing. Visit the
park site for the most up-to-date information.
Closest Hub: Las Vegas
Hiking Permits: No permit required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Required for overnight stays below the rim. Permits available via monthly lottery four months in advance on
Recreation.gov.
Closest Hub: Salt Lake City and
Denver
Hiking Permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Permits are required for all overnight hikes. Summer reservations are available for hikes from May 1st to October from the
park’s website. They are available for reservation from January 10th to May 15th only. If you miss these dates, permits are available in-person on a first-come first-served basis.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Closest Hub: Chicago
Hiking Permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: No backcountry camping is permitted at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Furthermore, there is no camping available anywhere in the park.
Closest hub: New York
Hiking permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Backcountry camping is not permitted in Acadia National Park.
Vehicle Reservation for Cadillac Summit Road: Vehicle reservations are required from May 22nd to October 27th. Reservations open February 22nd.
Closest hub: Seattle
Hiking Permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Permits are required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry.
Permits are available on a rolling basis, up to six months in advance. Reservations for the summer season open on April 15th.
Closest Hub: Los Angeles
Hiking Permits: Not required for day hikes.
Backcountry Permits: Permits are not required for backcountry camping within the park or the surrounding area.
Closest Hub: San Francisco
Hiking Permits: Permits are not required for most day hikes. However,
permits are required to attempt Half Dome when the cables are up.
Half Dome Permits: Permits are available via a lottery system for all visits from May 24th to October 15th. The preseason lottery runs from March 1st – 31st and the daily lottery runs from May 22 to October 13th, and you must apply two days in advance.
Backcountry Permits: Permits are required to camp overnight in the backcountry. They are
available via lottery at least 24 weeks in advance.
Reservations: Required in February 2025 for the Firefall event at Horsetail Falls.
