Will National Parks Be Open This Summer?
Everything travelers need to know for 2025
Two Medicine Campground in Glacier National Park
Wondering if your favorite national park will be open this summer? The answer is a resouding YES...U.S. national parks will be open and operating pretty much as normal for summer 2025! In spite of speculation in the media, national parks will be operating similarly to recent years, despite government funding challenges.
The minimal layoffs announced in March 2025 appear to be offset by a planned increase in hiring of seasonal workers. At some parks, visitor center hours and ranger-led programs may be slightly reduced, but most operations remain unchanged.
See the National Parks Active Alerts & Closures page for up-to-date information.
Current Federal Workforce Impacts
The 1,000 NPS employees initially let go were ordered to be reinstated by a federal judge. The National Park Service employs over 20,000 full-time staff and plans to hire 7,700 seasonal workers in 2025 (compared to 6,350 in 2024). Popular parks like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon show minimal staffing impacts.
While changes are still possible, operations appear to be very minimally affected. For more details, see our recent blog Will National Parks Be Understaffed This Summer?
Confirmed 2025 Park Openings
Here are the opening dates for popular national parks and their facilities:
Glacier National Park
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Entry Requirements: Park entrance pass required; timed entry reservations required for Going-to-the-Sun Road access 7:00 AM–3:00PM from late spring to late summer.
Roads: Portions are open year-round; full Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens by early July.
Entrance Gates
West Entrance (Apgar): Timed entry reservation required June 13–September 28, 2025, from 7 am to 3 pm
North Fork (Polebridge): Timed entry reservation required June 13–September 28, 2025, from 7 am to 3 pm
St. Mary and Two Medicine: Open without reservations; temporary restrictions may occur during peak congestion
Popular Facility Opening Dates
Lake McDonald Lodge: May 16, 2025
St. Mary Village: June 5, 2025
Many Glacier in 2025
Many Glacier Valley will be closed to vehicles July 1–September 21, 2025 due to construction; you’ll need to take a shuttle or have lodging or activity reservations.
See Glacier National Park’s operating hours.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Entry Requirements: No advance reservations required; park entrance pass needed
Roads: South Rim: open year-round; North Rim: May 15, 2025
Entrance Gates
South Rim Entrances (South and East): Open year-round
North Rim Entrance: Opens May 15, 2025
Popular Grand Canyon Facilities
South Rim Lodges: Open year-round
North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge: Opens May 15, 2025
North Rim Campground: Opens May 15, 2025
See Grand Canyon National Park’s operating hours.
Grand Teton National Park
Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park
Entry Requirements: No advance reservations required; park entrance pass needed
Roads: Teton Park Road opens May 1, 2025; All others are open year-round with limited winter access
Entrance Gates
South Entrance connector from Yellowstone opens May 9, 2025
All others are open year-round (weather permitting)
Popular Facility Opening Dates
Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center: Open year-round
Jenny Lake Visitor Center: May 10, 2025
Jackson Lake Lodge: May 16, 2025
Jenny Lake Lodge: June 1, 2025
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Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park
Entry Requirements: No timed entry reservations required; park entrance pass needed
Roads: Most open by May, with all roads and services fully operational by June
Entrance Gates
North Entrance in Gardener, MT: open year-round
West Entrance in West Yellowstone: April 18, 2025
East Entrance in Cody, WY: May 2, 2025
South Entrance connector from Grand Teton: May 9, 2025
Popular Facilities
Old Faithful Inn & Cabins: May 2, 2025
Lake Yellowstone Hotel: May 9, 2025
Canyon Lodge & Cabins: May 16, 2025
See Yellowstone National Park’s operating hours.
Zion National Park
Riverside Walk in Zion National Park
Entry Requirements: No advance reservations required; park entrance pass needed
Roads: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles during the shuttle season. All other roads are open year-round.
Free Zion Shuttle System
Operates March 2–November 1, 2025
Zion Canyon Line: First bus departs at 7:00 AM; last bus departs Temple of Sinawava at 6:15 PM.
Popular Zion Facilities
Zion Canyon Visitor Center: Open year-round
Zion Lodge: Open year-round
Special Notes for 2025
South Campground: Closed for renovation in 2025
Hiking permits are required for Angels Landing, The Subway, and other technical hikes
See Zion National Park’s operating hours.
Tips for Planning Your 2025 Trip
Review individual park websites for current conditions before traveling
Consider staying in gateway communities just outside park boundaries
Use free park shuttle systems when available to avoid parking issues
Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak crowds
Be flexible with timing—entrance lines may be longer than usual
Booking and Reservation Advice
Timed Entry Systems: Required at select parks including Glacier (Going-to-the-Sun Road), Arches, and Rocky Mountain National Park
Campgrounds: Reserve up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov
In-Park Lodging: Book 9-12 months ahead when possible
Alternative Options: Consider gateway towns for more lodging availability
Permits: Some popular trails and backcountry camping require advance permits
Plan Your 2025 National Parks Trip Today
Once you’ve done your research, checked park conditions, and made plans, go and have fun knowing that you may need to stay flexible.
With some visitors deterred by news reports, summer 2025 might offer smaller crowds and better availability at America's amazing national parks!
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