Booking choice: The summer tour from Denver, from $169 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Timed entry is the park's way of spreading summer crowds: you book a two-hour window to drive in, and once inside you can stay as long as you like.
It only applies at certain hours, it costs $2, and guided tours do not need one. The details below are for the 2026 season; the park announces each year's dates in spring.
The quick answer
In 2026, drivers needed a timed entry reservation to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 22 through October 12, and a separate Timed Entry+ permit for Bear Lake Road from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 18. It costs $2 on Recreation.gov plus the entrance fee. Guided tours handle entry for you.
What is Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry?
A reservation for a two-hour window in which you may enter the park by vehicle during the busiest hours of the summer season.
You must arrive within your window; miss it and you can be asked to come back later. Once in, there is no set time to leave. The reservation is on top of the entrance fee or your pass, not instead of it.
Would rather skip the booking race? The summer tour from Denver handles park entry.
Check dates for the summer tour from DenverWhen is timed entry required in 2026?
From May 22 into mid-October: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for most of the park, and 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Bear Lake Road.
| Permit | Covers | Hours | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timed Entry | The park outside Bear Lake Road | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | May 22 to October 12 |
| Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road | Bear Lake Road corridor and the rest of the park | 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. | May 22 to October 18 |
| No reservation | Most of the park | Before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. | All season |
How do you book a timed entry reservation?
On Recreation.gov: slots open on the 1st of the month before at 8 a.m. MT, and more are released at 7 p.m. MDT the night before.
In 2026, May 1 opened May 22 to June 30, June 1 opened July, and so on. The booking fee is $2. Summer weekend slots go fast, so be online at 8 a.m. on the release day, or try the 7 p.m. next-day release if you missed out.
Can you enter without a reservation?
Yes: before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. you need no reservation for the park outside Bear Lake Road.
Early entry is the best trick in the park: better light, more wildlife and cooler air. Bear Lake Road is the exception, because its permit runs from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Campers with a park campground reservation and wilderness permit holders also do not need a separate timed entry.
What about Bear Lake Road and the shuttles?
Bear Lake Road has its own Timed Entry+ permit, and the park runs free shuttles from the Park & Ride so you do not have to hunt for parking at the lakes.
In 2026 the Bear Lake route ran daily from May 23 to October 19, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., every 10 to 15 minutes, and the Moraine Park route hourly from 7 a.m. Check which permit your plan needs on the park's timed entry page before you drive up.
Staying in Estes Park? The open jeep's price includes the park pass and timed entry.
Explore the open-air jeep tourDo guided tours need a timed entry reservation?
No: tour operators with a commercial permit enter without a timed entry slot, and the tours here include park entry in the price.
That is the main reason to book a tour in peak summer: you get in on the day you want, at the hour the guide chooses. Two exceptions: on the photo tour a guide rides in your car, and the audio tour is self-drive. The photo tour includes the timed entry but not your pass; with the audio tour you book both yourself.
Summer dates gone on Recreation.gov? The Denver day with picnic includes park entry and the reservation.
Check dates for the small-group day with picnicWhat happens if you miss your window?
You can be turned away and asked to return when reservations are no longer needed, so leave a buffer for traffic in Estes Park.
The two-hour window is for arriving, not for leaving: you can stay until dark. If your slot falls through, the Estes Park e-bike tour stays in town and needs no reservation.
Will timed entry run again in 2027?
The park announces each season's system in spring; the 2027 dates have not been published yet.
The 2026 pattern (a 9 to 2 window and a separate Bear Lake permit) is a reasonable guide for planning. For fees and passes, see Rocky Mountain prices and fees.
Planning next summer? Tours cancel free up to 24 hours before, so an early booking costs nothing.
Check dates for the summer tour from DenverFrequently asked questions
How much does a Rocky Mountain timed entry reservation cost?
$2 on Recreation.gov, on top of the entrance fee or your pass.
Do I need timed entry if I enter at 7 a.m.?
Not for the park outside Bear Lake Road. Bear Lake Road needs its own permit from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Do I need timed entry on a guided tour?
No. The operator enters under its commercial permit, and the guided tours on this site include park entry.
How long can I stay with a timed entry reservation?
As long as you like. The two-hour window is only for arriving; there is no set departure time.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Rocky Mountain Summer Tour from Denver
- Small group of 12 or fewer in a touring van, local driver-guide
- Trail Ridge Road, Alpine Visitor Center, Many Parks Curve, Alluvial Fan
- Picnic lunch in the park, snacks and water refills
Open-Air Jeep Tour from Estes Park
- Safari-style open jeep, 10 guests or fewer
- Old Fall River Road or Trail Ridge Road, depending on season and weather
- Alpine Visitor Center and Alluvial Fan stops
Rocky Mountain Small-Group Tour & Picnic
- Small-group tour in a premium 14-seat van
- Pickup at Denver Union Station or in Boulder
- Fresh picnic lunch (tell them about diets at checkout)
