The timed entry system confuses a lot of my guests, so I wrote this guide to explain it in plain language. These are the 2026 rules from the National Park Service. The park updates them each year, so check nps.gov before your trip.
The two reservation types
1. Timed Entry (does not include Bear Lake Road)
- Required to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- In 2026: May 22 through October 12
- Covers Trail Ridge Road, the Alpine Visitor Center, the west side, Wild Basin, and outlying areas like Lily Lake, Lumpy Ridge (including Gem Lake) and Longs Peak
2. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road
- Required to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- In 2026: May 22 through October 18
- Covers Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, the Park & Ride, Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake, plus the rest of the park
Cost
The reservation itself costs a non-refundable \$2 Recreation.gov processing fee. You still need a park entrance pass, which you can buy at entrance stations.
How to get one
- Reserve only at Recreation.gov (website or app), or by phone at 877-444-6777. Reservations aren't sold at the park.
- Monthly release: In 2026 reservations opened at 8 a.m. MT on the 1st of the prior month (May 1 for May 22 to June 30, June 1 for July, and so on).
- Night-before release: 40% of each day's reservations go on sale at 7 p.m. MT the night before. They sell out fast.
- One reservation covers one vehicle, and each account can make only one per day. The reservation holder must be in the car with a photo ID.
How the time window works
You pick a 2-hour entry window. Once you're in, stay as long as you like. If you're late, you'll be asked to come back after 2 p.m. With a Bear Lake Road reservation, you can't re-enter the corridor until after 2 p.m. once you leave.
No reservation? You can still visit
- Enter before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. for most of the park.
- Enter the Bear Lake corridor before 5 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Hiker Shuttle: reservations required on Recreation.gov; it runs from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride.
- Bicycles don't need a timed entry (they still need a per-person pass).
- Horseback ride and campground reservations include entry.
My tips
- Show up early. Entrance lines can take 30 minutes or more.
- Screenshot your full confirmation, including the QR code. Cell service at entrance stations is unreliable.
- For outlying areas like Lily Lake and Gem Lake (Lumpy Ridge), print your confirmation and put it on your dashboard. Both are inside the park, so park rules and timed entry apply, even though there's no entrance station and in practice passes are rarely checked.
- A reservation doesn't guarantee parking. Have a backup plan or use the free park shuttle.
- From Jeff & René: set an alarm for the 8 a.m. monthly release, and for last-minute slots get everyone in your group on their phones at 7 p.m. MT the night before. If Sky Pond (our #1 hike, from Glacier Gorge Trailhead) is on your list, you need the Bear Lake Road version, and that lot fills very early.
FAQ
How much does a timed entry reservation cost? \$2 (non-refundable), plus your park entrance pass.
What time are timed entry reservations released? Monthly at 8 a.m. MT on the 1st (for the following block of dates), plus a night-before release at 7 p.m. MT.
Can I get into RMNP without a reservation? Yes. Enter before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. (before 5 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for Bear Lake Road).
Do I need a reservation for each day? Yes. Each reservation is good for one day.
Is timed entry required in winter? No. The 2026 season ran from May 22 to mid-October.
Related guides: Plan around the seasons with the best time to visit Estes Park, and find trails worth the reservation in my Summer Hikes guide.
Staying close to the park makes early entry easy. Bluebell Mountain House is in a prime location, very close to the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance, so beating the 9 a.m. window is easy. I'd love to host you.