Planning to visit a national park next summer? It's wise to prepare in advance.

America's national parks continue to attract large crowds. In fact, attendance has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with around 312 million visitors reported in 2022, according to the National Park Service. Exploring one of the U.S. park sites remains an extremely popular travel option for many.

This high demand means that some parks can become very congested, particularly during the peak summer travel season. If you're considering a trip to a national park in the summer of 2024, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the entrance requirements for the park you wish to visit. The National Park Service website is an excellent resource for planning your visit and ensuring you're aware of specific entry requirements.

At certain parks, such as Arches National Park in Utah, the demand for entry is so high that some visitors arrive before dawn. Arches is among a select group of sought-after national parks that continue to implement a timed-entry reservation system or ticket requirements to control crowds during peak hours, which are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry to the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. does not necessitate a ticket. These measures were introduced to manage the overwhelming number of visitors following the lifting of pandemic-related travel restrictions.

Currently, visitors at Glacier National Park in Montana do not need a vehicle reservation as visitor numbers decrease with the changing seasons. The reservation system was implemented to alleviate vehicle congestion in the park, particularly on Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road, during the busy summer months and peak hours, specifically from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. This 50-mile stretch that traverses the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains is arguably America's most picturesque highway and a major attraction for Glacier.

With the end of the reservation system, visitors can now relish the expansive views and scenic outlooks along the road without the worry of being denied entry for not having secured a ticket beforehand. However, be aware that the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed during the winter months. The road remains accessible up to Avalanche Lake Campground on the west side and Rising Sun on the east side.

It's important to note that although Glacier's reservation system ended on September 10, 2023, this doesn't mean it's permanently discontinued. The vehicle reservation process is expected to return for the summer of 2024, given that Glacier continues to be a favored destination for those wishing to experience the great outdoors.

In 2023, additional access points to Glacier National Park were incorporated into the reservation system for the Many Glacier and Two Medicine valleys as park officials analyzed visitor data. If the vehicle reservation system is reinstated in 2024, it will be intriguing to see whether park officials limit the validity period of park tickets to just three days. Previously, tickets were valid for seven days, but this change was made to allow more visitors to enjoy the scenic, winding cliffside roads and breathtaking views of Going-to-the-Sun Road.

If you're curious about how much time to set aside for the drive, the Park Service suggests that the entire journey can be completed in roughly two hours if you don’t stop. However, why rush through such an unforgettable experience? You'll want to pause at several points to soak in the stunning scenery and capture some great photos for social media, so plan on taking about four hours to drive the whole route.

If you're planning a visit to Glacier, make sure to keep an eye on the park's website or its X (formerly known as Twitter) account for the latest updates on entry policies. If you're thinking about camping in Glacier, permits are free from November 1 to April 30. Between May 1 and October 31, there is a $10 permit fee along with an additional $7 camping fee per night, per person. For those who prefer not to plan ahead, walk-in permits are available, with approximately 30% of the campgrounds reserved for walk-in campers.