Updated with every data refresh
Which parks require reservations right now
Reservation rules change every season, and a stale list is how trips die at the entrance gate. These 12 units currently require timed entry, tour tickets, or advance reservations. Each park page has the details and booking links.
| Park | Required | |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park1 bookable | Maine | Vehicle reservations are not required for any other areas of the park, or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bike, or taxi. Vehicle reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time until 9 pm, when the road closes to vehicles. Reservations do not permit re-entry. |
| Adams National Historical Park | Massachusetts | Reservations are required for guided tours. Self-guided tours do not require reservations. Access into the historic homes requires an entrance pass (fee). Access to the park grounds is free and does not require reservations or timed entry. |
| Ford's Theatre National Historic Site1 bookable | District of Columbia | While there is no park entrance fee, timed reservations are required due to space limitations. Limit 6 tickets per customer. These reservations carry a small fee that benefits the Ford's Theatre Society, the official park partner. |
| Frederick Douglass National Historic Site1 bookable | District of Columbia | To tour the home, book a reservation in advance online. Same-day tickets may be available at the visitor center desk. Tours frequently fill to capacity. Tickets are not required to visit the visitor center. |
| Independence National Historical Park1 bookable | Pennsylvania | Entrance to Independence Hall is by guided or self-guided tour. No tickets are required from 9 am to 9:50 am. Reserved tickets are required for tours from 10:00 am to 4:20 pm. |
| Lincoln Memorial2 bookable | District of Columbia | Timed entry tickets are required to visit the undercroft and museum on the lower level. For advance reservations, visit Recreation.gov or call 877‑444‑6777 beginning May 26, 2026. You may get same day tickets at the Korean War Veterans Memorial starting June 25, 2026. |
| Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site2 bookable | New York | While the National Park Service does not collect an entrance fee at this site, the Museum is only accessible by guided tenement apartment tours or neighborhood walking tours and requires the purchase of the appropriate ticket. |
| Oklahoma City National Memorial1 bookable | Oklahoma | While the outdoor Memorial is free to access, the Museum requires a timed entry ticket. Adult tickets are $18. |
| Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve3 bookable | Oregon | The National Park Service does not collect an entrance fee at this park, but the cave itself is only accessible by guided tour. Reservations are recommended but not required. During summer months long wait times and sell outs may occur. |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | Colorado | Planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park? Depending on where you would like to visit and what time of day you plan to arrive, you might need a timed entry. |
| Timpanogos Cave National Monument3 bookable | Utah | Although there is no cost to enter the park, a cave tour ticket must be purchased to enter the caves. |
| Washington Monument1 bookable | District of Columbia | Timed tickets are required to enter the Washington Monument and ride the elevator to the observation deck. Advance tickets are available online at recreation.gov. Same-day tickets are available at the Washington Monument Lodge ticket window, located at the rear of the building, while supplies last. |
How the three reservation systems work. Most bookings run through recreation.gov, and popular releases sell out in minutes.