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 Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Kevin Lilly said in a news release.

The decision came after the service reviewed each park’s infrastructure, visit requests, and coordination plans with local governments.

“We’re expanding access where conditions allow and using targeted tools only where necessary to protect visitor safety, maintain emergency access, and preserve these extraordinary places for future generations,” Lilly said.

Yosemite officials plan to add staffing to key intersections during peak periods, respond quickly to congestion hot spots, and have “active parking management” in Yosemite Valley to help with parking.

“While reservation systems are one valuable management tool, our data demonstrates that a season-wide reservation requirement is not the most effective approach for the coming season,” Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden said in a news release.

Starting on July 1, Glacier National Park plans to use a ticketed shuttle system to transport people from the parking area to Logan Pass.

“With the new trial measures, we aim to improve the public’s ability to visit Logan Pass for short durations and allow the shuttle system to perform more reliably for a more specific purpose,” Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer said in a news release.

Private visitor parking at Logan Pass will be capped at three hours.

“This initiative reflects our continued learning and listening as we refine park transportation and access to better serve the public and safeguard the integrity of the park’s resources,” Roemer added.

Arches National Park will still require a “valid entrance pass”  before visitors can enter.

“We encourage visitors to arrive early, explore lesser-traveled areas if certain locations are busy, and be flexible when enjoying the park,” Superintendent Lena Pace said.

“Arches is an International Dark Sky Park, and visiting after hours is highly encouraged. We look forward to working closely with local and state partners as we implement these adjustments and refine our approach to serve visitors while protecting park resources.”

National Parks such as Yosemite started widely implementing reservations during restrictions necessitated by the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

National parks recorded over 331 million visitors in 2024, according to visitation statistics. Visitor numbers for 2025 have not yet been released.