US EditionReservations no longer needed at 3 popular national parks: NPS
The National Park Service will keep entrance passes and use targeted congestion management to improve visitor safety and access at three major parks in 2026, officials said.
- On Feb. 18, 2026, the National Park Service announced Arches National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Glacier National Park will not use reservation systems in 2026.
- Citing data, the NPS said a season‑wide reservation requirement is not the most effective approach, and Kevin Lilly, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the move expands access and uses targeted management tools.
- Entrance passes remain required but are not time‑tied, and parks will use real-time traffic monitoring, active parking management, added staff, and temporary traffic controls to manage congestion this year.
- The rollback will ease entry this summer, but the National Parks Conservation Association and Senator Alex Padilla warned it could cause overcrowding and strain local businesses; Glacier and Yosemite also imposed a $100 surcharge on international visitors.
- Yosemite National Park will not require advance reservations for the firefall season from February through March, and Glacier will monitor busy corridors like Going‑to‑the‑Sun Road for safety thresholds.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Reservations No Longer Required at 3 Popular National Parks
Three of the nation’s most popular parks will not require reservations during the summer of 2026, the National Park Service announced on Feb. 18. Visitors wanting to explore Arches National Park in Utah, Glacier National Park in Montana, and Yosemite National Park in California no longer have to pre-book their trip, it said. “Our national parks belong to the American people, and our priority is keeping them open and accessible,” acting Assistant…
National park reservation requirements are changing in 2026
Three of the most visited U.S. national parks have decided to roll back their entry requirements in 2026.In recent years, timed entry systems have become increasingly common at popular national parks — an attempt to curb overtourism, preserve park infrastructure and make the visitor experience more enjoyable. Reservations are typically required during the summer months and at other peak times. However, three popular parks have decided to nix res…
Changes at Yosemite and Glacier National Parks: what it means for you
The Department of the Interior is making significant changes to the reservation systems at some of the nation's most beloved parks. Starting in 2026, Yosemite and Arches National Parks will no longer require seasonal reservations, and Glacier National Park is…
The Independent
The Independent (US)National Parks ditches reservation system used to help control crowd sizes
‘Our national parks belong to the American people, and our priority is keeping them open and accessible,’ a Trump administration official said
Reservations No Longer Needed at Three of America's Most Popular National Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that visitors to three of the most popular national parks in the United States will no longer need to make reservations to enter in 2026. The move is a dramatic shift in how the NPS handles over-visitation and overcrowding, and may significantly affect how landscape and nature photographers approach their photo adventures.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
