LAST UPDATED JUNE 24, 2020

Before going to any remote national park, pack food, water, toilet paper, hand sanitizer (washrooms may not be stocked with soap or paper towels), and perhaps even a tent. Available facilities could change without notice, so you'll want to be prepared for anything.

Remember that it may not be safe for you to sleep in your car if there's food with you, so observe local advice about bear-proofing your supplies overnight. Here is the official advice about bear safety from the National Park Service.

Social distancing recommendations remain in effect—and not just for bears.

Many historic and commemorative national park units that do not offer overnight accommodation have reopened with limited group services—for example, at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, you can roam the grounds but the visitor center and ranger tours have suspended operations—so check directly with each unit. 

Of the larger national parks that include large nature reserves:

Acadia, Maine

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Open: Entrance passes must be reserved ahead. Park Loop Road and most hiking trails are open. Information stations are staffed outside main visitor center. Carriage Roads are closed to bicycles and horses. Campgrounds will open no sooner than July 1. Note that Maine has different entry rules depending on the state in which you live. More details here. 

Closed: Island Explorer shuttle, picnic areas

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/acad. 

Arches, Utah

Hours: open 24 hrs.

Open: All park roads, trails, and restrooms

Closed: Visitor centers and park stores, Devils Garden Campground, Fiery Furnace and backcountry camping, Willow Flat Campground at Island in the Sky district and Needles Campground in The Needles district of Canyonlands

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/arch. Information line: 435/719-2299 

Badlands, South Dakota

Hours: open 24 hrs.

Open: park roads, overlooks, trails

Closed: Ben Reifel visitor center, South Unit (located on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation), Fossil Exhibit Trail and Bigfoot Pass Overlook inaccessible due to construction.

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/badl.

Big Bend, Texas

Hours: 24 hrs.

Open: All paved roads, some trails, Panther Junction gas station and camp store; Rio Grande day float trips from paved road access points; Fossil Discovery Exhibit; Chisos Mountains Lodge restaurant (for take-out only), restrooms, Chisos Basin Campground and Chisos Mountains Lodge (both limited capacity), Old Maverick Road, Grapevine Hills Road, Dugout Wells, Dagger Flat Road, and Terlingua Ranch Road

Closed: Visitor centers, backcountry camping, all primitive dirt roads, Rio Grande Village Gas Station and Camper Store, Castolon Store, Hot Springs Historic Area and all associated trails, Boquillas Port of Entry

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/bibe. 

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Hours: open 24 hrs.

Open: main road and all viewpoints to Rainbow Point, visitor information and bookstore, Bryce Amphitheater trails including the Navajo Loop; guided horseback rides; General Store (not laundry or showers); Sunset Campground by reservation only; free park shuttle; hiking of backcountry trails and permits for backcountry camping reopen; Lodge at Bryce Canyon (including food, but take-away only)

Closed: backcountry trails and permits for backcountry camping (until July 1), North Campground (for construction; until mid-July)

Available restrooms: Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Farview, Rainbow Point, General Store

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/brca. 

Channel Islands, California

Hours: Open; visitor centers open for daytime use 

Open: Daily boat rides from concessioners Island Packers Cruises and kayak tours from Santa Barbara Adventure Company are operating at "approximately 40% capacity," according to the NPS. 

Closed: The park's mainland visitor center in Ventura is closed until further notice—not because of the coronavirus but due to ongoing construction. 

For the most current information, visit nps.gov/chis.

Canyonlands, Utah

Hours: 24 hrs.

Open May 29: All park roads, trails, restrooms; climbing/canyoneering permits

Closed: visitor centers, park stores, Willow Flat Campground at Island in the Sky district and Needles Campground in The Needles district

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/cany. Information line: 435/719-2313 

Death Valley, California

Hours: 24 hrs.

Open: trail heads, overlooks, and bathrooms along CA-190 and Daylight Pass roads; fuel and food available at The Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort; lodging available at Panamint Springs Resort

Closed: All other roads, camping, airports; The Inn at Death Valley will be closed all summer, until October 1.

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/deva.

Glacier, Montana

Hours: Re-affirmed park closing on May 27; anticipates a reopening in "early June" but with limited visitor services

Open: U.S. Highway 2 inside the park boundary. Cedar Creek Lodge Lake McDonald and Village Inn, Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins (June 19), Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins (June 26). Accommodation operated by Pursuit begins phased reopening June1. Openings and closures are complex and ever-changing at Glacier; Frommer's advises you check the links below for the most current advice.

Closed: The border with Canada is closed, as are roads through Native lands; Glacier Park Boat Company suspended all boat tour and small boat rental operations for the 2020 season; Sun Tours and Glacier National Park Lodges Red Bus Tours are suspended for the time being

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/glac. Lodge availability is updated at www.glaciernationalparklodges.com and glacierparkcollection.com/safety-promise.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Hours: South Rim: 24 hrs.; North Rim: check ahead 

Open: For the South Rim, you must use the South Entrance near the town of Tusayan. Tuweep is open for day use. Day hiking on inner canyon trails and existing backcountry permits for hikers camping overnight will be honored, but no new overnight camping permits for the inner canyon will be issued. Canyon Village Market is open. About 60% of lodging accommodations; The Grand Canyon Railway and the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Western River Expeditions river rafting trips. North Rim lodging.

Closed: South Rim shuttle bus; east entrance on the South Rim; all visitor centers except Verkamps; Desert View Watchtower area; Desert View campground; North Rim campground closed until July 1. About 40% of the lodges are closed; Frommer's advises you check the link below for the most up-to-date information.

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/grca. 

Grand Teton, Wyoming

Hours: 24 hrs.

Open: Most areas and services, sometimes with limited capacity

Closed: Jenny Lake Visitor Cente, Lodge, and Dining Room; AAC Climbers' Ranch; Jackson Lake Lodge and Facilities

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/grte. 

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee/North Carolina

Hours: Phased reopening began May 9 for daytime visitors. 

Open: most areas

Closed: Family Campgrounds: Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby, and Deep Creek. Group Campgrounds: Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Horse Camps: Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Tow String. Roads closed to vehicles but not pedestrians or cyclists: Balsam Mountain Road, Heintooga Round Bottom Road, Highway 284, Little Greenbrier Road, Straight Fork Road. AT Thru-hiker Permits will not be issued.

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/grsm.

Indiana Dunes

Hours: 8am–6pm

Open: all trails and most beaches

Closed: Park officials have warned that overcrowded beaches may be closed if visitors don't follow social distancing precautions.

For the most current information, visit nps.gov/indu.  

Joshua Tree, California

Hours: 24 hrs.

Open: nearly all services

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/jotr. 

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Hours: 24 hrs.

Open: self-guided cave tours (reservations recommended)

Closed: Guided cave tours, visitor center, all campgrounds, Green River Ferry

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/maca. 

Mount Rainier, Washington

Hours: normal hours (for facilities that are open)

Open: Routes 410 and 123 between Enumclaw and Packwood, including Cayuse Pass, and the trailheads that stem from those roads; backcountry recreation; Carbon River (with permits); Recreation above 10,500 feet (open June 19); campgrounds for day use only

Closed: visitor centers; National Park Inn and Paradise Inn

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/mora. Information line: 360/569-2211

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Hours: open daily

Open: most services: The Nature Trail, most of the Presidential Trail, parking garage, Sculptor's Studio, Mount Rushmore Bookstore inside the Information Center, Gift Shop, Carvers' Café and Ice Cream Shop

Closed: Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/moru. The concession vendor furnishes its own updates at www.mtrushmorenationalmemorial.com. 

Olympic, Washington

Hours: day use only

Open: most areas

Closed: some coastal areas; all campgrounds visitor centers, and ranger stations; Fairholme Store

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/olym. 

Rocky Mountain, Colorado

Hours: Over the summer, the park used a timed reservation system, but that requirement is now over. 

Open: Main park roads and trails are open, although rangers adjust availability depending on capacity

Closed: Visitor centers (Alpine visitor center will open in late July); Aspenglen, Timber Creek, Longs Peak campgrounds; Hiker Shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center; Wild Basin area

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/romo. 

Sequoia & Kings Canyon, California

Hours: Park roads open 24 hrs.

Open: Roads, parking lots, trails, restrooms, and picnic areas. Backcountry access is allowed for those with reservations only; no walk-up permits will be issued this summer.

Closed: Overnight campgrounds are expected to remain closed until early July. Also temporarily unavailable: visitor centers, bookstores, ranger stations, lodgings, restaurants, markets, and gift shops.

For the most current information, visit nps.gov/seki.  

Yellowstone, Wyoming/Montana

Hours: 24 hrs..

Open: Most services are open with limited capacity, but consult the table of openings and closings posted at Yellowstone's official site

Closed: Lodges that have dining rooms may only offer take-away service

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/yell. For updated information on lodges, consult their operator at www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/health-and-safety/.

Yosemite, California

Hours: As of June 11, most areas of the park are open, but visitors require either an accommodation reservation or a day use reservation (good until 11pm; one can be obtained here). The Wilderness is open to those with existing permits or an existing Half Dome permit. Hetch Hetchy Road only open 8am–5pm. Tioga Road/Pass is open for the summer. Reservations will no longer be required for day use after Nov. 1.

Closed: Yosemite Valley shuttle service. Some minor areas are closed: The Mist Trail from the top of Vernal Fall to the John Muir Trail junction near the Vernal Fall footbridge is closed to downhill hiking from 9am–4pm daily. Hikers may return to the trailhead using the Clark Point cutoff trail and John Muir Trail; Yosemite Falls boulders; Bridalveil Fall area; Chowchilla Mountain Road. Reservations for all campgrounds have been canceled through July 31. 

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/yose. 

Zion, Utah

Hours: services open for daylight hours only

Open: Most areas are open. Parking is limited and Scenic Drive is closed when spaces are full. Zion Lodge is open with limited services. Watchman Campground is open by reservation only. Rangers provide information outdoors near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center 8am–5pm.

Closed: all park shuttles, museum, theater, South Campground and Lava Point Campground, Kolob Canyons, Angels Landing Chains Section, all climbing and canyoneering, wilderness and recreation permits, overnight backpacking or any through hiking, Lower Emerald Pools Trail, Weeping Rock area, and the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout

For the most current information, visit www.nps.gov/zion. For the lodge, check www.zionlodge.com.