When is timed entry required in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2026?

Timed Entry: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. daily, May 22–October 12, 2026, for the whole park outside the Bear Lake Road corridor. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road: 5 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, May 22–October 18, 2026, to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor. Outside those hours no reservation is needed; a park entrance fee or pass is always required, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Does a campground reservation count as timed entry?

Yes, at Moraine Park Campground, Glacier Basin Campground, Aspenglen Campground and Timber Creek Campground. Moraine Park Campground, Glacier Basin Campground, Aspenglen Campground reservations include the Bear Lake Road corridor and the rest of the park. Timber Creek Campground covers the rest of the park but not the Bear Lake Road corridor. Campers can enter from 1 p.m. on the first day of the camping reservation (the campground check-in time).

Does Longs Peak Campground include timed entry?

No. First come, first served and tents only; it opens in early July. The camping fee does not include a timed entry reservation, so campers follow the same hours as other visitors.

I'm staying outside the park. What do I need?

A Timed Entry reservation to enter between 9 a.m.–2 p.m., or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor between 5 a.m.–6 p.m., during the season. Or enter before or after those hours. Reservations open on Recreation.gov on the first of the month before at 8 a.m. MDT, and 40 percent of each day's reservations are released at 7 p.m. MDT the evening before.

What happens on checkout day?

On checkout day (checkout is noon) the campground confirmation stays valid for re-entry all day. Bring the full confirmation and photo ID.

How much does a timed entry reservation cost?

A non-refundable $2 Recreation.gov processing fee. A park entrance fee or pass is always required, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Rocky Mountain National Park · Timed entry

Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry: Camping Exemption Guide

Published 2026-10-17 · Updated 2026-10-17 · Facts from official NPS, Forest Service and Recreation.gov pages, each linked.

Rocky Mountain National Park uses timed entry reservations from late May to mid-October. A reservation at one of the park's four reservable campgrounds counts as your timed entry, but which areas it opens — and from what time — depends on the campground. Use the checker, or read the rules below; both come from the same NPS page. [NPS]

RMNP timed entry checker

No timed entry reservation is listed for this date in the rest of the park.

The NPS 2026 season for Timed Entry runs May 22–October 12, 2026 (9 a.m.–2 p.m.); your date is outside it.
A park entrance fee or pass is always required, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Rules checked October 17, 2026 · Source: NPS Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry page (updated May 14, 2026). Campground entry rules apply to reservations at Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, Aspenglen, Timber Creek.

Campground matrix: what each reservation covers

Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry, 2026 season
Where you're staying	Rest of the park	Bear Lake Road corridor
Moraine Park Campground	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day
Glacier Basin Campground	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day
Aspenglen Campground	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day
Timber Creek Campground	Included Included from 1 p.m. on arrival day	Not included Not included: Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road needed 5 a.m.–6 p.m.
Longs Peak Campground (first come, first served)	Not included Timed Entry needed 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (May 22–Oct 12)	Not included Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road needed 5 a.m.–6 p.m. (May 22–Oct 18)
Staying outside the park	Not included Timed Entry needed 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (May 22–Oct 12)	Not included Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road needed 5 a.m.–6 p.m. (May 22–Oct 18)

Source: NPS — Rocky Mountain National Park: Timed Entry Permit System (page updated May 14, 2026), checked October 17, 2026.

2026 timed entry hours and dates

There are two reservation types. Each lets one vehicle enter within a 2-hour window; after that you can stay as long as you like. [NPS]

Rest of the park (Trail Ridge Road, Alpine Visitor Center, the west side, Wild Basin, Longs Peak, Lily Lake, Lumpy Ridge and other areas outside the Bear Lake Road corridor): Timed Entry reservation required 9 a.m.–2 p.m. daily, May 22–October 12, 2026. [NPS]
Bear Lake Road corridor (Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, the Park & Ride, Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Bear Lake): Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation required 5 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, May 22–October 18, 2026. [NPS]

Which campground reservations count as timed entry

NPS says campground reservations at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Moraine Park and Timber Creek include timed entry. Show the full confirmation and the reservation holder's photo ID at the entrance — cell service there isn't reliable, so save it before you arrive. [NPS]

Moraine Park Campground: reservation counts as timed entry for the rest of the park and the Bear Lake Road corridor. [NPS]
Glacier Basin Campground: reservation counts as timed entry for the rest of the park and the Bear Lake Road corridor. [NPS]
Aspenglen Campground: reservation counts as timed entry for the rest of the park and the Bear Lake Road corridor. [NPS]
Timber Creek Campground: reservation counts as timed entry for the rest of the park — not the Bear Lake Road corridor. [NPS]
Longs Peak Campground: First come, first served and tents only; it opens in early July. The camping fee does not include a timed entry reservation, so campers follow the same hours as other visitors. [NPS]
Campers can enter from 1 p.m. on the first day of the camping reservation (the campground check-in time). On checkout day (checkout is noon) the campground confirmation stays valid for re-entry all day. [NPS]

Staying outside the park

A stay in Estes Park, in the national forest or at a private campground doesn't include park entry. In season, book Timed Entry (9 a.m.–2 p.m.) or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road (5 a.m.–6 p.m.) on Recreation.gov, or plan to enter outside those hours. One reservation covers one vehicle for one day, so a multi-day visit needs one per day you enter during permit hours. [NPS][Recreation.gov]

The Hiker Shuttle runs from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride on Bear Lake Road. It needs its own Hiker Shuttle Ticket on Recreation.gov, and every rider needs a park entrance pass. [NPS][Recreation.gov]

When reservations are released

Reservations are first come, first served on Recreation.gov (also by app or 877-444-6777); they aren't sold at entrance stations or visitor centers. In addition, 40 percent of each day's reservations are released at 7 p.m. MDT the evening before. [NPS]

May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: May 22–June 30 [NPS]
June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: July 1–31 [NPS]
July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: August 1–31 [NPS]
August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: September 1–30 [NPS]
September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: October 1–18 [NPS]

Other rules to know

One reservation covers one vehicle and everyone in it, for one day. The reservation holder must be in the vehicle with photo ID; reservations can't be transferred or refunded (cancel up to 24 hours ahead). [NPS]
Enter within your 2-hour window, then stay as long as you like. With Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road, re-entering the corridor after leaving it is allowed only after 2 p.m. [NPS]
Timed entry is required for all areas of the park when arriving by vehicle, including outlying areas like Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Lumpy Ridge, Wild Basin and East Inlet — whether you park inside or outside the boundary. Display a printed copy on the dashboard at outlying areas. [NPS]
Cost: a non-refundable $2 Recreation.gov processing fee per reservation. A park entrance fee or pass is required on top, 24 hours a day, year-round. [NPS]
Wilderness overnight permits and horseback riding reservations serve as timed entry; people entering on a bicycle don't need one. A reservation doesn't guarantee parking. [NPS]

All of these facts are also in our open campgrounds dataset (/campgrounds.json).

Frequently asked questions

When is timed entry required in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2026?: Timed Entry: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. daily, May 22–October 12, 2026, for the whole park outside the Bear Lake Road corridor. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road: 5 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, May 22–October 18, 2026, to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor. Outside those hours no reservation is needed; a park entrance fee or pass is always required, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. [NPS]
Does a campground reservation count as timed entry?: Yes, at Moraine Park Campground, Glacier Basin Campground, Aspenglen Campground and Timber Creek Campground. Moraine Park Campground, Glacier Basin Campground, Aspenglen Campground reservations include the Bear Lake Road corridor and the rest of the park. Timber Creek Campground covers the rest of the park but not the Bear Lake Road corridor. Campers can enter from 1 p.m. on the first day of the camping reservation (the campground check-in time). [NPS]
Does Longs Peak Campground include timed entry?: No. First come, first served and tents only; it opens in early July. The camping fee does not include a timed entry reservation, so campers follow the same hours as other visitors. [NPS]
I'm staying outside the park. What do I need?: A Timed Entry reservation to enter between 9 a.m.–2 p.m., or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor between 5 a.m.–6 p.m., during the season. Or enter before or after those hours. Reservations open on Recreation.gov on the first of the month before at 8 a.m. MDT, and 40 percent of each day's reservations are released at 7 p.m. MDT the evening before. [NPS]
What happens on checkout day?: On checkout day (checkout is noon) the campground confirmation stays valid for re-entry all day. Bring the full confirmation and photo ID. [NPS]
How much does a timed entry reservation cost?: A non-refundable $2 Recreation.gov processing fee. A park entrance fee or pass is always required, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. [NPS]

Sources

NPS — Rocky Mountain National Park: Timed Entry Permit System (page updated May 14, 2026) (checked 2026-10-17)
Recreation.gov — Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry (checked 2026-10-17)
Recreation.gov — Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Shuttle Tickets (checked 2026-10-17)
NPS — Rocky Mountain National Park: Camping (checked 2026-10-17)