Plan ahead to avoid getting shut out of your favorite activities and places to stay.
Lodges: In general, you should book six months ahead, says Bruce Brossman, director of sales for park lodging operator Xanterra Parks & Resorts, or more than a year ahead for the most sought-after lodges, like Grand Canyon’s EI Tovar Hotel.
If you’re set on staying at a particular place, he says, get your rooms, then plan your trip.
Campsites: Reserve six months in advance, or one year for a group, says Kathy Kupper of the National Parks Service. Some of the most popular spots have different rules, though. Yosemite, for one, limits reservations to five months in advance. Check nps.gov for availability.
Permits: You’ll need documentation for overnight activities such as hiking or back country camping. Request procedures vary: Some are given out the same day; others can be reserved weeks in advance or are distributed in a lottery system. Visit the park’s website to find out which rules apply.