Rocky Mountain National Park Increase Price, Require Reservations

Rocky Mountain National Park recently opened after having to close due to the pandemic.

With the reopening there have been a few changes with the park, reservations and price changes included.

Beginning June 4, a timed entry permit or camping reservation will be required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park in a private vehicle between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.

National Park Services

Now, in order to enter the park, you must purchase a timed-entry pass. You can get a 1-day pass for a vehicle with less than 16 people for $25, a 1-day walk-in and bicyclist pass (per person) for $15, and a 1-day motorcyclist pass (per person) for $25. Now, there will be an additional $2.00 reservation fee for every day you reserve, which will be added on to your pass price.

If you already own a valid Interagency Annual Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass or Senior Pass, you'll only need to pay the reservation fee when you purchase your timed-entry permit.

The 5 days you don't have to pay to enter the park are: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan 20, April 18 (National Park Week), August 26 (National Park Service birthday), September 26 (National Public Lands Day) and November 11 (Veteran’s Day).

Reserve a timed entry permit at Recreation.gov. Reservations are required, though there will be some flexibility for last-minute pass purchases. But do keep in mind that those will be offered two days before an entry window, and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, we wouldn't recommend relying on them to get you and your eight closest friends into the park on 24-hour notice.

If you have other questions about the new system, check out the National Park Service site here.

Missed opening day? Here's a video of how it went.

Source: National Park Service