|| National Parks Crash Course Series ||
The U.S. National Parks system is an amazing natural resource and protects some of America’s most prized natural treasures. With over 61 national parks, and many more national monuments and protected areas, the NPS system is vast. As a visitor, there are many rules, regulations, and procedures that are useful to know when planning a visit.
The purpose of this Crash Course series is to provide some small insights learned from personal experience that may make your next visit to a national park easier, faster, and a bit more enjoyable.
|| Permits, Reservations, and Deadlines ||
Each national park has its own system for permits, reservations, and other fees. I have tried to make a comprehensive table for all national parks including:
- Hyperlinks to respective permit and reservation pages
- Overview of the timeline if advance permit or reservations are possible
- Information on the price of the permit or reservation
As of January 3, 2020, the information included is the most up to date. I will try to periodically update the page, and include below that last update date.
LAST UPDATE: JANUARY 3, 2020
If you find that any of the information is not current or incorrect, please comment or send me an email at sam@engineeredforadventure.com. I am human. . .
| Name of National Park | Permit Information? | Timeline for Permit Reservations? | Price of Permit? Max Group Size? |
| Great Smoky Mountains, TN | REQUIRED: – Overnight camping and backpacking; reservations made through online portal | Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance | $4 per person; 8 person MAX |
| Grand Canyon, AZ | REQUIRED: – Overnight Camping – Backpacking – Paddling – Special Use – Photography/Filming | Varies based on permit; for general backcountry permits, 6-7 months in advance | $10 per permit plus $8 per person, additional fees may apply depending on permit |
| Rocky Mountain, CO | REQUIRED: – overnight camping – filming – other commercial uses | Permit reservations open on March 1; reservations must be made 3 days before trip | $30 per permit; 1-7 for individual sites, 8-12 for group sites |
| Zion, UT | REQUIRED: – Overnight Backpacking – Canyoneering – Overnight Climbing – River Trips | Backpacking– 2 months; Canyoneering — 3 months; Overnight Climbing — 3 months; River Trips — Day Of | Varies based on permit |
| Yellowstone, WY/MT/ID | REQUIRED: – Fishing – Boating – Overnight camping – Horseback riding – Special Use | – Reservations accepted Jan 1 to Oct 31; random lottery starts Apr 1 – Permits can be obtained in person 48 hours in advance | – $25 for advance reservations – Fees vary based on time of year |
| Yosemite, CA | REQUIRED: – Overnight Camping and Backpacking – Half Dome – Special use – special permits for John Muir Trail | Wilderness Permits — 24 weeks; after that, first-come first-serve or phone reservation | $5 per reservation plus $5 per person |
| Acadia, ME | NOT REQUIRED for normal use; only required for special use, weddings, and commercial photography | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Grand Teton, WY | REQUIRED: – Overnight Backpacking and Camping – Boating – Special use | – Reservations can be made in advance January 8 – May 15; after May 15 walk-up only | – $45/reservation for advance made through Recreation.gov – $35/permit for walk-up |
| Olympic, WA | REQUIRED: – Overnight Backpacking and Camping – Commercial Photography – Special use | For overnight backpacking and camping, up to 6 months in advance; made on a rolling basis | $6 reservation fee plus $8/person/night |
| Glacier, MT | REQUIRED: – Overnight backpacking and camping – Boating – Special use | Reservations open March 1 – March 15 | $40/reservation pus $7/person/night |
| Joshua Tree, CA | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Bolting Rock Climbing routes – Filming – Commercial Guiding – Special Use | NO ADVANCE RESERVATIONS NEEDED | Varies, but NO FEE for backcountry camping |
| Bryce Canyon, UT | Permits are only required for special use and research | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Cuyahoga Valley, OH | Permits are only required for special use | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Gateway Arch, MO | Permits are only required for special use | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Indiana Dunes, IN | Permits are only required for special use | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Death Valley, CA | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping, but self-issue | Self-Issue | Free |
| Arches, UT | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Fiery Furnace day-use – Special use | Backpacking: 7 days before Fiery Furnace: in-person, 7 days in advance | $7 per person for backpacking Fiery Furnace: $6 adults, $3 children |
| Mt. Rainier, WA | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Mountaineering above 10,000′ – Special Use | – For backcountry camping, reservations open March 15 | – $20/reservation – Climber Recovery Fee: $50 (year long, only for above 10,000′) |
| Hot Springs, AR | Not required unless camping | Only for camping | Only for camping |
| Shenandoah, VA | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Special Use | – Backcountry permits can be obtained in-person or in advance via mail | – Backcountry Permits: FREE |
| Sequoia, CA *jointly operated with Kings Canyon NP | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Research and Special Use – Mt. Whitney | – In-advance: starting March 1 AND at least 2 weeks before start date – Walk-up, in-person | – $10 plus $5/person |
| Capitol Reef, UT | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Canyoneering – Rock Climbing – Special Use | – In-person at the Visitor Center – HAYDUKE: email the park | – FREE |
| Hawai’i Volcanoes, HI | Permits are only required for special use | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Haleakala, HI | REQUIRED: – Sunrise viewing – Wilderness Cabins – Wilderness Camping | – Sunrise Viewing: online 60 days in advance – Wilderness Cabins: 180 days in advance – Wilderness Camping: first-come, first-serve | – Sunrise Viewing: $1/vehicle – Wilderness Cabins: $75/night – Wilderness Camping: FREE |
| Badlands, SD | Permits are only required for special use | Special Use only | Special Use only |
| Saguaro, AZ | REQUIRED: – Overnight hiking and camping – Overnight horseback riding – Special Use | *NOTE: Permits after 2/1/2020 will be issued on Recreation.gov BEFORE 2/1/2020: – Up to 2 months in advance | $8/site/night |
| Theodore Roosevelt, ND | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Frontcountry Camping (through Recreation.gov) – Special Use | – Backcountry Camping: in-person | – Backcountry Camping: FREE |
| Canyonlands, UT | REQUIRED: – Backcountry day-use for White Rim Road, Elephant Hill Road, Lavender Canyon Road, and Peakaboo/Horse Canyon – Overnight Backcountry camping – River Use – Horseback Riding – Needles Campground | – Day Use: 24 hours in advance – Backcountry: 4 months-2 days in advance or walk-up – River Use: 4 months – 2 days in advance or first-come first-serve | – Day Use: FREE – Backcountry: $30 – River Use: $30 plus $20/person – Horseback Riding: FREE |
| Crater Lake, OR | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Special Use | – Backcountry: 1 day in advance or in-person | FREE |
| Kings Canyon, CA *jointly operated with Sequoia NP | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Research and Special Use – Mt. Whitney | – In-advance: starting March 1 AND at least 2 weeks before start date – Walk-up, in-person | – $10 plus $5/person |
| Wind Cave, SD | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Cave Tours – Special Use | – Backcountry Camping: in-person – Cave Tours: 30 days in advance | – Backcountry Camping: FREE |
| Petrified Forest, AZ | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Research – Special Use | – Backcountry camping: in-person | FREE |
| White Sands, NM | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Horseback riding – Special Use | – Backcountry Camping: first-come first-serve – Horseback Riding: in-person or at fee station | – Backcountry Camping: $3/adult, $1.50/child – Horseback Riding: FREE |
| Glacier Bay, AK | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Mountaineering – Kayaking – Private Boating – Rafting – Special Use | – Backcountry camping: in-person – Mountaineering: in-person – Kayaking: in-person – Private Boating: 60 days in advance | Varies |
| Everglades, FL | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Frontcountry camping – Fishing | – Backcountry camping: in-person ONLY | FREE |
| Denali, AK | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping / Backpacking – Mountaineering – Bus tour – Campgrounds in the park | – Backcountry camping: in-person ONLY – Mountaineering: 60 day pre-registration – Bus tour: Vary – Campgrounds: Vary | – Backcountry camping: FREE – Mountaineering: $375 – Bus tour: Vary – Campgrounds: Vary |
| Mesa Verde, CO | REQUIRED: – Filming/Photography – Special Use | Only for Special Use | Only for Special Use |
| Mammoth Cave, KY | REQUIRED: – Backcountry Camping – Cave Tours – Photography/Filming – Special Use | – Backcountry Camping: in-person – Cave Tours: in advance on Recreation.gov | – Backcountry Camping: FREE – Cave Tours: $3/ticket |
| Lassen Volcanic, CA | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Stock use – Special Use – Commercial Filming | – Backcountry camping: in-person or email – Stock use: email 2 weeks in advance or in-person – Special Use – Commercial Filming: “sufficient time” | – Backcountry camping: FREE – Stock use: FREE – Special Use: $75 – Commercial Filming: $75 plus additional fees |
| Redwood, CA | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Frontcountry camping – Special use | – Backcountry camping: in-person no more than 24 hours in advance – Frontcountry camping: “in advance” on ReserveCalifornia.com | – Backcountry camping: FREE – Frontcountry camping: varies |
| Biscayne, FL | Permits are only required for special use | Special use only | Special use only |
| Carlsbad Caverns, NM | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Backcountry caving – Cave tours | – Backcountry camping: in-person only – Backcountry caving: at least 1 month in advance | – Backcountry camping: FREE – Backcountry caving: FREE |
| Great Sand Dunes, CO | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Frontcountry campgrounds – Special use | – Backcountry camping: in-person only | – Backcountry camping: FREE |
| Big Bend, TX | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – River use – Stock use – Fishing – Special use | – Backcountry use: 24 hours in advance in-person – Fishing: FREE | – Backcountry use: FREE – Fishing: FREE |
| Channel Islands, CA | REQUIRED: – Transportation to the islands – Frontcountry camping – Backcountry camping – Private boating | – Frontcountry campgrounds: no more than 5 months in advance – Backcountry camping: “in advance” – Private boating: 15 business days in advance | – Camping: $15/night/site |
| Kenai Fjords, AK | Permits are only required for special use | Special use only | Special use only |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Inner canyon use (including day use) – Fishing | – Backcountry camping: day of, in-person | – Backcountry camping: FREE |
| Voyageurs, MN | REQUIRED: – Tent camping – Houseboat | – Tent camping: calling into phone line or online at Recreation.gov – Houseboat: available beginning November 15 for the next year on Recreation.gov | – Tent camping: reservation fee of $10 plus various prices – Houseboat: $10/night |
| Pinnacles, CA | Permits are only required for special use | Special use only | Special use only |
| Guadalupe Mountains, TX | REQUIRED: – Backcountry use – Photography/Filming – Special use | – Backcountry use: in-person, day of | FREE |
| Great Basin, NV | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping (*voluntary) – Lehman Cave tours – Caving – Picknicking | – Backcountry camping: in-person (*voluntary) – Lehman Cave tours: in advance on Recreation.gov – Caving: at least 2 weeks in advance – Picknicking: at least 2 weeks in advance | – Backcountry camping: FREE – Lehman Cave tours: see Recreation.gov – Caving: FREE – Picknicking: $25 application fee plus $50 |
| Congaree, SC | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping | – Backcountry camping: in-person | – Backcountry camping: FREE |
| Virgin Islands | Permits are only required for special use | Special use only | Special use only |
| Wrangell-St. Elias | REQUIRED: – Off Road Vehicle – Federal Subsistence – Public Use Cabins | Varies | Varies |
| Dry Tortugas, FL | REQUIRED: – Camping – Boating – Special Use | – Camping: first-come, first-serve | – Camping: $15/night for individual site; $30/night for group site |
| Katmai, AK | REQUIRED: – Brooks Camp Campground – Fure’s Cabin – Hunting *NOTE: permits are not required for Backcountry hiking and camping | – Brooks Camp Campground: reservations start January 5 for current year – Fure’s Cabin: same as above | – Brooks Camp Campground: price varies based on season – Fure’s Cabin: same as above |
| North Cascades, WA | REQUIRED: – Car camping – Backcountry camping | – Car camping: online on Recreation.gov – Backcountry camping: In advance beginning March 15 or in-person, first-come first-serve | – Car camping: prices vary based on site – Backcountry camping: FREE for in-person first-come first-serve, $20 in advance |
| American Samoa | Permits are only required for special use | Special use only | Special use only |
| Isle Royale, MI | REQUIRED: – Backcountry camping – Boating – Cross-country camping – Rock Harbor Lodge and Windigo Camper Cabins | – Backcountry camping: in-person on arrival – Boating: at least 24 hours in advance – Cross-country camping: in-person | FREE |
| Kobuk Valley, AK | Permits are NOT required for individual use; for organized, commercial use contact the head rangers | N/A | N/A |
| Lake Clark, AK | REQUIRED: – Public Use Cabins *Permits are not required for any other activities | – Public Use Cabins: online at Recreation.gov | – Priest Rock Cabin: $65/night – Joe Thompson Cabin: $45/night |
| Gates of the Arctic, AK | “Permits and reservations are not required for any areas or activities within the park & preserve, except for groups” | N/A | N/A |