On February 18, 2026, the National Park Service released a press update covering expanded summer access and safety topics at high-visit parks.
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The announcement comes on the heels of other major NPS updates. For example, the federal entity recently updated its annual pass fees last December, then changed its fee-free calendar in January of this year.
Now, the National Park Service is updating how it accepts reservations at four of its most popular parks this summer. Here’s what you need to know.
These four parks are changing their summer reservation setup
In time for the peak summer season, these four national parks are updating their reservation systems: Arches National Park, Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
The goal of these changes is to maintain park safety measures, prevent traffic in popular zones, and improve park operations in high-demand congestion zones. In other words, NPS is figuring out new ways to manage copious numbers of visitors, especially as domestic travel continues to rise.
Arches National Park will not use a timed entry reservation system. That means you can’t reserve your place ahead of time. Just show up early and be flexible—if popular zones are full, you’ll be diverted to lesser-known locations. NPS also reminds Americans that Arches National Park is a Dark Sky Sanctuary, meaning you can (and should) explore at night.
Glacier National Park will not require park-wide vehicle reservations, meaning it’s first-come, first-served like Arches National Park. NPS staff will actively manage popular corridors and divert vehicles when congestion becomes a problem. Once again, show up early and stay flexible with your plans.
Rocky Mountain National Park will use its traditional timed entry reservation system from mid-May to mid-October. All vehicles entering the park will be logged into a system that oversees park capacity. In other words, you need to be registered with the reservation system to get in during the peak season.
Yosemite National Park will not require advanced reservations from February-March, then the peak summer months. You’ll get access to popular spots based on a first-come, first-served approach. Park staff will use real-time visitor data to divert vehicles and prevent congestion.
