RMNP Timed Entry Permit: Route and Dates
RMNP Timed Entry permits are first-come, first-served in Rocky Mountain National Park. The route covers 48 miles.
This guide covers the Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Reservation permit.
$2 Recreation.gov processing fee
Permit Cost
Half a day to a full day
Duration
48 miles
Distance
easy
Difficulty
About RMNP Timed Entry
The day-use vehicle reservation required to drive into Rocky Mountain during the busiest hours from late May to mid-October, in two versions depending on whether you want Bear Lake Road.
The RMNP Timed Entry route
- Distance
- 48 miles
- Route type
- point-to-point
- High point
- 12,183 ft
- Trip length
- Half a day to a full day
- Difficulty
- easy
Entry points: Beaver Meadows Entrance, Fall River Entrance, Grand Lake Entrance
Front Range. Nearest town: Estes Park
Points along the route
- Beaver Meadows Entrance
- Fall River Entrance
- Grand Lake Entrance
- Trail Ridge Road
- Bear Lake Road Corridor
RMNP Timed Entry permit detailsandAll Rocky Mountain National Park permits
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Pro Tips
There are two different reservations and only one of them gets you onto Bear Lake Road: check which you are buying
Blocks release at 8 a.m. MDT on the 1st of the month for the following month, and NPS puts more out at 7 p.m. MDT the night before each date
You do not need a reservation at all if you enter before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m.
Cancellations are allowed up to 24 hours before the visit, so slots do come back
Bear Lake Road re-entry is only allowed after 2 p.m., so leaving the corridor mid-morning costs you the rest of the morning
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a RMNP Timed Entry permit?
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RMNP Timed Entry permits are available first-come, first-served. They can be booked online when they become available. Popular dates fill quickly.
When is the best time to visit RMNP Timed Entry?
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The reservation season runs May 22 to October 18. Trail Ridge Road is usually fully open from late May or June through October, and the corridor is busiest in July and August, when the monthly release sells out fastest.
How long is the RMNP Timed Entry route?
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The route is 48 miles, as a point-to-point. Plan on Half a day to a full day.
How difficult is the RMNP Timed Entry route?
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Anyone driving into Rocky Mountain between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in season, and anyone who wants Bear Lake Road at all between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Where does the RMNP Timed Entry route start?
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The permit covers 3 entry points: Beaver Meadows Entrance, Fall River Entrance, Grand Lake Entrance.
What gear do I need for the RMNP Timed Entry route?
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Essential gear includes: The reservation itself, on your phone or printed, A park entrance pass or the entrance fee, which the $2 reservation does not include, Layers for 12,000 feet: Trail Ridge Road is well above treeline.
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