Going to Get Tougher Getting into National Parks

[mcpandt]

Originally Posted by Judge

Thanks to COVID plus the influx of foriegn travelers, it is going to start getting much harder to plan and coordinate trips to National Parks.

Glacier NP just announced they will be selling tickets starting the end of April to access the Going to the Sun Road. Between the crowds last year (even with COVID and the east side getting shut down early) and road construction, they are going to try and use tickets to control crowds and flow.

Now yesterday Yosemite NP announced they will be doing the same thing just to access the park. The tickets will only be good for three days.

We already have campgrounds booked for east and west Glacier in late August and early September but we can't try to buy the ticket to the Going to the Sun Road until 60 days out. They are going to hold back a limited number of tickets that you can purchase 48 hours out.

I'm betting most of the popular National Parks are going to do the same thing in the next year. The problem is that you usually need to book campgrounds 6 - 12 months in advance so you don't know if you will be lucky enough to get a ticket on the days you plan to be there.

So what if you have the National Park Pass? I have not had a problem getting into any National Park anywhere, but we have had National Park passes every year for quite a while.

[ador]

Mcpandt, , we are the same situation. We have NP pass for several years now. I hope they will not limit our usage since we paid for annual pass.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by mcpandt

So what if you have the National Park Pass? I have not had a problem getting into any National Park anywhere, but we have had National Park passes every year for quite a while.

With the National Parks Pass you don't have to pay the entry fee but the restrictions still applyand you need a ticket where applicable during the restricted dates.

In the case of Glacier you need to get a ticket for the day(s) you wish to use the Going to the Sun Road that is good for a 7 day period. In the case of Yosemite the ticket it good for a three day period unless you have a campoground reservation.

Here are the details for Yosemite...

https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745

[Terry and Jo]

Wow! Back in November (maybe that timing was the reason), we took a 3-week vacation back to Utah and Arizona. One week in Moab, UT to see Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks, one week in Kanab, UT to see Zion, Bryce, and (luckily) the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and then 3 or 4 days to see the South Rim of the GC and Petrified Forest National Parks. While we stayed in VRBO facilities, we had no problems with any kind of limiting for going into those parks.

Terry

[JamieGeek]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ZxXpHEN6A

[Scubawise]

MP_RVer...we are in Montana any great parks near the border we should visit when travel bans are lifted?