July 4th Is Coming And These U.S. National Parks Are Open To Last-Minute Visitors

Forbes

2 days ago

Couple on top of the mountain, looking at beautiful summer mountain landscape of the South Rim in ... More Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
If you forgot to book your July 4th plans, you are not entirely out of luck. Not every national park in the United States requires advance reservations, timed entries, or a lottery system.
Some offer open trails, stunning views and geological wonders—perfect for spending Independence Day, even if it is a last-minute decision to go.
Yosemite National Park has already sold out its timed-entry tickets, making it nearly impossible to secure a spot for the Independence Day holiday for the timeframe between 6 AM and 2 PM PT.
Rocky Mountain National Park will release its timed-entry tickets for July 4–6, covering the 9 AM to 2 PM entry window, on July 3 at 7 PM MDT. However, due to peak holiday demand, they will likely sell out within minutes. National Park Service (NPS) advises all visitors to "pack their patience," especially if they plan to visit this national park.
Timed-entry tickets for Arches National Park over the July 4 weekend are still available in limited quantities. NPS will release additional slots on July 3 at 7 PM MDT. Access between 7 AM and 4 PM is only possible with a prepaid ticket.
If you do not have a reservation but are eager to visit a national park this weekend, your best option is to arrive outside the peak entry hours or choose a destination that does not require a timed-entry ticket. But which ones are they?
Zion National Park
Wooden bridge and scenery in Zion National Park, Utah.
Zion National Park covers nearly 150,000 acres in southwestern Utah and has ranked No. 12 on the list of most visited U.S. national parks for 2024, drawing almost 5 million visitors last year.
Visitors can access the park through two main entrances: the South Entrance near Springdale, which is the most heavily used, and the East Entrance via the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway.
While no general reservation or timed-entry ticket is required to enter Zion, select hikes will not be available. Its gates are open 24/7, and general visitors can enter at any time with a valid pass.
Tickets for Angel's Landing and The Subway are lottery-based due to overcrowding and safety concerns. Without it, hikers cannot access the whole trail.
However, if you want to go back during the fall, apply for a permit now to hike Angel's Landing between September 1 and November 30. The applications will close on July 10, and the NPS will announce the lottery results on July 25.
With temperatures forecasted to soar past 100°F in Zion National Park for Independence Day Weekend, the NPS urges hikers to start early, stay hydrated, eat salty snacks, rest in the shade and avoid strenuous activity during peak heat.
A July 4th parade in Springdale will temporarily close State Route 9 on Friday morning, adding to congestion.
NPS's cyanobacteria warnings remain active in the Virgin River, so visitors should avoid drinking or submerging in the water.
Grand Canyon National Park
View of the Grand Canyon from Desert View Point with the Colorado River visible during dusk.
Grand Canyon National Park spans over 1.2 million acres in northern Arizona and remains one of the 13th most visited national parks in the United States, welcoming almost 5 million visitors in 2024.
The park has two main entrances: the South Rim, open year-round and by far the most popular, and the North Rim, which is primarily open for the summer.
The South Rim offers easy access to popular viewpoints, including Mather Point, Desert View, and the Bright Angel Trailhead.
No reservation or timed-entry ticket is needed to enter the park, and gates remain open 24/7 for those with a valid park pass.
However, backcountry routes and overnight hikes require permits that are often secured months in advance through lotteries.
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Yellowstone spans 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It was the 14th most visited national park in 2024, welcoming over 4.8 million visitors in the previous year.
No registration or timed-entry ticket is needed. Visitors can arrive at any time, as the gates are open 24/7 and can enter with a valid pass.
Visitors can enter the park through five main gates: North (Gardiner), Northeast (Silver Gate/Cooke City), East (near Cody), South (via Grand Teton/Jackson Hole) and West (near West Yellowstone).
The West Entrance is the most popular gateway, as it offers direct access to prime geothermal features, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and several geyser basins, all connected via the park's scenic Grand Loop Road.
Shenandoah National Park
Sunset over the Shenandoah Valley from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
Shenandoah National Park stretches for nearly 200,000 acres along Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains and welcomed around 1.7 million visitors in 2024.
Visitors can enter via four primary gates off Skyline Drive: Front Royal, Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap and Rockfish Gap.
All gates are open 24/7 with no reservation or timed-entry ticket required, only a standard park pass.
The Front Royal (North) entrance is most popular, giving quick access to iconic overlooks and the Appalachian Trail.
The famous Old Rag Mountain hike does require a $2 day-use ticket, but over 280 tickets were available at the time of publication.
Joshua Tree National Park
Old Woman Rock in Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park spans over 790,000 acres in Southern California, attracting nearly 3 million visitors last year.
The park has three main entrances: West Entrance (near Joshua Tree town), North Entrance (at Twentynine Palms), and South Entrance (off I‑10 near Cottonwood).
The West Entrance is the most popular and closest to iconic sights like Hidden Valley, Skull Rock and Keys View, as well as popular climbing areas and scenic hiking trails.
No reservation or timed-entry ticket is required and visitors can enter 24/7 with a valid park pass.
While campgrounds often book out in advance, day visitors can explore the national park freely.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Humpback whale pod in Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska.
The nearly 670,000-acre Kenai Fjords National Park showcases Alaska's rugged coastline, glaciers, and mountains on the south-central coast. Visitors have a chance here to witness active glaciers, whales, puffins and sea otters.
While it is one of the most remote parks in the U.S., it drew only 419,000 visitors in 2024, making it the third most visited national park in Alaska.
The only road-accessible area of the park is the Exit Glacier area, reached via Seward, a small harbor town about 2.5 hours from Anchorage by car.
No need to make any reservation or purchase a timed-entry ticket in advance. However, glacier tours and boat excursions book out quickly in peak summer months.
What Should You Know Before You Go
With July 4th crowds and potentially limited staffing due to this year's layoffs, visitors should tread lightly, respect wildlife, pack out trash, stay on trails and follow Leave No Trace principles to help protect both nature and the rangers working to preserve it.