TIMED ENTRY PERMIT HELPER
Do you need one, which zone applies to your plans, and how to book it — sorted out in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
Your plans
1 vehicle × $2 recreation.gov fee
This fee is separate from your park entrance fee or annual pass — you need both.
Timed Entry
Recommended for youCovers Trail Ridge Road and the rest of the park — not the Bear Lake Road corridor.
When required: Required for any entry between 9am and 2pm, May 22 through mid-October, if you're not headed to Bear Lake Road destinations.
- Go to recreation.gov and search for Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry.
- Reservations open on a rolling monthly basis — May 1 for the May 22-June 30 window, June 1 for July dates, and so on.
- Pick a 2-hour arrival window between 9am and 2pm on your planned date.
- Pay the flat $2 reservation fee per vehicle (not per person).
- Bring your confirmation — once inside, there's no departure time restriction.
Booking windows
Reservations open monthly on a rolling basis (May 1st for late-May/June dates, June 1st for July, and so on). If you didn't plan ahead, extra reservations are released at 7pm MDT the night before your desired date, first-come first-served — worth checking even at the last minute.
The two Timed Entry reservation types
Timed Entry
Recommended for youCovers Trail Ridge Road and the rest of the park — not the Bear Lake Road corridor.
When required: Required for any entry between 9am and 2pm, May 22 through mid-October, if you're not headed to Bear Lake Road destinations.
- Go to recreation.gov and search for Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry.
- Reservations open on a rolling monthly basis — May 1 for the May 22-June 30 window, June 1 for July dates, and so on.
- Pick a 2-hour arrival window between 9am and 2pm on your planned date.
- Pay the flat $2 reservation fee per vehicle (not per person).
- Bring your confirmation — once inside, there's no departure time restriction.
Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road
Required for Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake itself.
When required: Required for entry to the Bear Lake Road corridor between 5am and 6pm, May 22 through mid-October.
- Go to recreation.gov and search for Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road.
- Reservations open on the same rolling monthly schedule as standard Timed Entry.
- Pick a 2-hour arrival window between 5am and 6pm — the extended window helps for early Bear Lake corridor starts.
- Pay the same flat $2 reservation fee per vehicle.
- This permit also grants access to the rest of the park, including Trail Ridge Road — it's the broader of the two options.
Timed Entry Permit FAQ
Do I need a Timed Entry Permit for Rocky Mountain National Park?
Yes, if you're arriving between 9am and 2pm (or 5am-6pm for Bear Lake Road) from May 22 through mid-October. Outside that season or those hours, no timed entry reservation is required — just your regular entrance fee or pass.
How much does a Rocky Mountain Timed Entry reservation cost?
A flat $2 recreation.gov reservation fee per vehicle, regardless of how many people are in the car. This is separate from and in addition to your park entrance fee or annual pass.
What's the difference between Timed Entry and Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road?
Standard Timed Entry covers Trail Ridge Road and most of the park but excludes the Bear Lake Road corridor. Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road includes access to Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake, plus everything the standard permit covers. Both cost the same $2 fee.
When can I book a Timed Entry reservation for Rocky Mountain National Park?
Reservations open monthly on a rolling basis — for example, May 1 for the May 22-June 30 window, June 1 for July dates. Extra reservations are also released at 7pm MDT the night before a given date, on a first-come, first-served basis, for anyone who didn't book in advance.