Rocky Mountain National Park is one of a small number of national parks that requires a separate timed-entry reservation on top of your park entrance fee. Show up during the required window without one, and rangers will turn you away at the gate — so it's worth understanding exactly how the system works before you go.
When You Need a Reservation
Timed Entry permits are required daily from late May through mid-October, generally 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (the park sets exact dates each year, so always confirm current dates on recreation.gov before you book). Outside that window and those hours, no reservation is needed — just your standard park entrance pass.
Two Different Zones — Don't Book the Wrong One
RMNP runs two separate Timed Entry products, and picking the wrong one is the most common mistake visitors make:
- Timed Entry — covers the rest of the park, including Trail Ridge Road, Wild Basin, and the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side. This is the one most visitors need.
- Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road — required specifically if you plan to drive Bear Lake Road (the corridor to Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bierstadt Lake trailheads). This permit also covers general park entry, so you don't need to book both.
If your day includes any Bear Lake Road trailhead — even just Sprague Lake — book the Bear Lake Road permit, not the general one.
What It Costs
The reservation itself is a flat $2 per vehicle booking fee on recreation.gov, separate from and in addition to your park entrance fee or annual pass. The $2 fee is non-refundable even if you don't end up using the reservation.
How Booking Windows Work
Reservations release in two waves:
- Rolling monthly release — a large batch of permits for an upcoming month goes live at 8:00 a.m. MT roughly a month ahead.
- Next-day release — a smaller batch of leftover and returned permits releases at 7:00 p.m. MT the evening before the date you want.
The monthly release is competitive for peak summer weekends — set a calendar reminder and be online right at 8:00 a.m. MT if you have specific dates in mind. If you miss it, the day-before release is a real second chance, not just a formality.
Your Reservation Is a Window, Not a Time Limit
A Timed Entry reservation only controls when you enter the park — once you're in, you can stay as long as you like that day. You don't need to book a new reservation to keep exploring after your entry window ends.
Getting In Without a Reservation
A few legitimate ways to skip the reservation entirely:
- Enter before 9:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m. — no reservation needed at any entrance.
- Stay overnight in the park at a campground or backcountry site with a valid permit — those cover entry.
- Have a confirmed lodging, dining, or tour reservation inside the park boundary (rare, but some concessioner bookings qualify).
- Visit outside the Timed Entry season (roughly mid-October through late May).
Practical Tips
- Book Bear Lake Road permits earlier than general ones — that corridor sells out fastest.
- A confirmed permit is tied to a specific entrance date and product, not a specific gate — you can use it at any applicable entrance that day.
- Print or screenshot your confirmation; cell service is unreliable at several entrance stations.
