List of fee areas in the United States National Park System facts for kids
Fee areas of the National Park System comprise a minority of the areas of the United States National Park System administered by the National Park Service. A majority of sites are fee-free areas.
The list below includes all areas that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee; generally not included are sites that only charge expanded amenity fees such as those for camping, boat launching, and parking. Sites where nearly all visitors purchase these additional amenities, such as areas with caves that require fee-based guided tours for cave access, are also generally not included. Many areas listed have parts where fees do not apply. Each year, there are a handful of free entrance days when entrance fees are waived at these areas.
Fees are given on a per-vehicle or per-person basis. Per-vehicle fees admit all occupants of a private passenger vehicle, generally for 7-days (unless otherwise noted). Most per-vehicle sites also offer passes for individuals arriving on foot, bicycle, or motorcycle; these are not listed. Fees do not apply to children age 15 or younger unless otherwise noted. All sites accept America the Beautiful Passes to waive entrance fees, which have been described as one of the best deals in recreation. Most fee areas also offer an annual area-specific pass for those who visit the same area often.
List
Bold indicates national parks.
| Name | Location | Typical fee | Fee type | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River Canyon National Preserve | Alabama | $15 | per-vehicle | [1] | |
| Denali National Park and Preserve | Alaska | $15 | per-person | [2] | |
| Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | Arizona | $30 | per-vehicle | [3] | |
| Utah | |||||
| Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona | $35 | per-vehicle | [4] | |
| Montezuma Castle National Monument | Arizona | $10 | per-person | [5] | passes valid at Tuzigoot National Monument |
| Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument | Arizona | $25 | per-vehicle | [6] | |
| Petrified Forest National Park | Arizona | $25 | per-vehicle | [7] | |
| Pipe Spring National Monument | Arizona | $10 | per-person | [8] | |
| Saguaro National Park | Arizona | $25 | per-vehicle | [9] | |
| Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | Arizona | $25 | per-vehicle | [10] | passes valid at Wupatki National Monument |
| Tonto National Monument | Arizona | $10 | per-person | [11] | |
| Tumacacori National Historical Park | Arizona | $10 | per-person | [12] | |
| Tuzigoot National Monument | Arizona | $10 | per-person | [13] | passes valid at Montezuma Castle National Monument |
| Walnut Canyon National Monument | Arizona | $15 | per-person | [14] | |
| Wupatki National Monument | Arizona | $25 | per-vehicle | [15] | passes valid at Sunset Crater National Monument |
| Fort Smith National Historic Site | Arkansas | $10 | per-person | [16] | |
| Cabrillo National Monument | California | $20 | per-vehicle | [17] | |
| Death Valley National Park | California | $30 | per-vehicle | [18] | |
| Nevada | |||||
| Devils Postpile National Monument | California | $8 | per-person | [19] | fee for daily use of shuttle; other types of passes and limited vehicle access exist |
| Joshua Tree National Park | California | $30 | per-vehicle | [20] | |
| Kings Canyon National Park | California | $35 | per-vehicle | [21] | passes valid at Sequoia National Park |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | California | $30 | per-vehicle | [22] | |
| Lava Beds National Monument | California | $25 | per-vehicle | [23] | |
| Muir Woods National Monument | California | $15 | per-person | [24] | |
| Pinnacles National Park | California | $30 | per-vehicle | [25] | |
| San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park | California | $15 | per-person | [26] | |
| Sequoia National Park | California | $35 | per-vehicle | [27] | passes valid at Kings Canyon National Park |
| Whiskeytown National Recreation Area | California | $25 | per-vehicle | [28] | |
| Yosemite National Park | California | $35 | per-vehicle | [29] | |
| Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site | Colorado | $10 | per-person | [30] | |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Colorado | $25 | per-vehicle | [31] | |
| Colorado National Monument | Colorado | $25 | per-vehicle | [32] | |
| Dinosaur National Monument | Colorado | $25 | per-vehicle | [33] | |
| Utah | |||||
| Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument | Colorado | $10 | per-person | [34] | |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve | Colorado | $25 | per-vehicle | [35] | |
| Mesa Verde National Park | Colorado | $30 | per-vehicle | [36] | fees are reduced during the winter season |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | Colorado | $25 | per-vehicle | [37] | |
| Canaveral National Seashore | Florida | $20 | per-vehicle | [38] | |
| Castillo de San Marcos National Monument | Florida | $15 | per-person | [39] | |
| Dry Tortugas National Park | Florida | $15 | per-person | [40] | |
| Everglades National Park | Florida | $30 | per-vehicle | [41] | |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore | Florida | $25 | per-vehicle | [42] | |
| Mississippi | |||||
| Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area | Georgia | $5 | per-vehicle | [43] | |
| Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park | Georgia | $10 | per-person | [44] | fees only required for visiting Point Park at Lookout Mountain battlefield |
| Tennessee | |||||
| Cumberland Island National Seashore | Georgia | $10 | per-person | [45] | |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | Georgia | $10 | per-person | [46] | |
| Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park | Georgia | $5 | per-vehicle | [47] | daily fee |
| Haleakala National Park | Hawaii | $30 | per-vehicle | [48] | |
| Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | Hawaii | $30 | per-vehicle | [49] | |
| Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park | Hawaii | $20 | per-vehicle | [50] | |
| Craters of the Moon National Monument | Idaho | $20 | per-vehicle | [51] | |
| Poverty Point National Monument | Louisiana | $4 | per-person | [52] | daily fee; monument and fees administered by Louisiana state parks |
| Acadia National Park | Maine | $30 | per-vehicle | [53] | |
| Antietam National Battlefield | Maryland | $10 | per-person | [54] | 3-day pass; $20 per-vehicle pass available (3-day pass) |
| Assateague Island National Seashore | Maryland | $25 | per-vehicle | [55] | 7-day pass; daily $10 per-vehicle pass available for Virginia district. Passes valid for entrance to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge |
| Virginia | |||||
| C & O Canal National Historical Park | Maryland | $20 | per-vehicle | [56] | passes required only for Great Falls Tavern area; passes valid at Great Falls Park |
| Washington D.C. | |||||
| Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine | Maryland | $15 | per-person | [57] | |
| Adams National Historical Park | Massachusetts | $15 | per-person | [58] | |
| Cape Cod National Seashore | Massachusetts | $25 | per-vehicle | [59] | |
| Isle Royale National Park | Michigan | $7 | per-person | [60] | daily fee |
| Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Michigan | $25 | per-vehicle | [61] | |
| Vicksburg National Military Park | Mississippi | $20 | per-vehicle | [62] | |
| Louisiana | |||||
| Gateway Arch National Park | Missouri | $3 | per-person | [63] | daily pass; tickets for tram to top of arch separate |
| Wilson's Creek National Battlefield | Missouri | $20 | per-vehicle | [64] | fees currently waived and some venues closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Glacier National Park | Montana | $35 | per-vehicle | [65] | reduced fees during the winter season |
| Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument | Montana | $25 | per-vehicle | [66] | |
| Lake Mead National Recreation Area | Nevada | $25 | per-vehicle | [67] | |
| Arizona | |||||
| Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park | New Hampshire | $10 | per-person | [68] | fees currently waived and some venues closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Thomas Edison National Historical Park | New Jersey | $15 | per-person | [69] | |
| Bandelier National Monument | New Mexico | $25 | per-vehicle | [70] | |
| Capulin Volcano National Monument | New Mexico | $20 | per-vehicle | [71] | |
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | New Mexico | $15 | per-person | [72] | 3-day pass |
| Chaco Culture National Historical Park | New Mexico | $25 | per-vehicle | [73] | |
| Valles Caldera National Preserve | New Mexico | $25 | per-vehicle | [74] | fees currently waived |
| White Sands National Park | New Mexico | $25 | per-vehicle | [75] | |
| Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site | New York | $20 | per-person | [76] | 2-day pass; passes required only for the house and presidential library. Top Cottage requires a separate $10 fee per-person. |
| Sagamore Hill National Historic Site | New York | $10 | per-person | [77] | fee applies only for Theodore Roosevelt Home tour |
| Statue of Liberty National Monument | New York | $19.25 | per-person | [78] | children 4–12 years, $9; seniors 62+ years $14; fee includes ferry ticket and pedestal access, crown tickets additional fee and require reservation |
| New Jersey | |||||
| Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site | New York | $12 | per-person | [79] | youth 6-18, $7; seniors 62+, college students, and veterans, $9 |
| Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site | New York | $10 | per-person | [80] | fee for mansion entry only, gardens and grounds free |
| Wright Brothers National Memorial | North Carolina | $10 | per-person | [81] | |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | North Dakota | $30 | per-vehicle | [82] | |
| First Ladies National Historic Site | Ohio | $7 | per-person | [83] | children under 18, $5; seniors, $6; America the Beautiful Pass holders, $4 |
| James A. Garfield National Historic Site | Ohio | $10 | per-person | [84] | |
| Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial | Ohio | $10 | per-person | [85] | fees for memorial and observation deck only; these are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Crater Lake National Park | Oregon | $30 | per-vehicle | [86] | reduced fees during the winter season |
| Lewis and Clark National Historical Park | Oregon | $10 | per-person | [87] | fee applies only to Fort Clatsop, separate fees apply to state park units |
| Washington | |||||
| San Juan National Historic Site | Puerto Rico | $10 | per-person | [88] | daily fee |
| Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park | South Carolina | $10 | per-person | [89] | fees for Fort Moultrie only; Fort Sumter is free to enter but generally requires a paid ferry fare to reach |
| Badlands National Park | South Dakota | $30 | per-vehicle | [90] | |
| Big Bend National Park | Texas | $30 | per-vehicle | [91] | |
| Fort Davis National Historic Site | Texas | $20 | per-vehicle | [92] | |
| Guadalupe Mountains National Park | Texas | $10 | per-person | [93] | |
| Padre Island National Seashore | Texas | $10 | per-vehicle | [94] | daily pass; 7-day vehicle pass available for $25 |
| Arches National Park | Utah | $30 | per-vehicle | [95] | |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Utah | $35 | per-vehicle | [96] | |
| Canyonlands National Park | Utah | $30 | per-vehicle | [97] | |
| Capitol Reef National Park | Utah | $20 | per-vehicle | [98] | |
| Cedar Breaks National Monument | Utah | $10 | per-person | [99] | |
| Golden Spike National Historical Park | Utah | $20 | per-vehicle | [100] | |
| Natural Bridges National Monument | Utah | $20 | per-vehicle | [101] | |
| Zion National Park | Utah | $35 | per-vehicle | [102] | |
| Christiansted National Historic Site | Virgin Islands | $7 | per-person | [103] | |
| Great Falls Park | Virginia | $20 | per-vehicle | [104] | passes valid at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
| Prince William Forest Park | Virginia | $20 | per-vehicle | [105] | |
| Shenandoah National Park | Virginia | $30 | per-vehicle | [106] | |
| Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | Washington | $10 | per-person | [107] | fee only for entry to reconstructed fort, free access to rest of grounds |
| Oregon | |||||
| Mount Rainier National Park | Washington | $30 | per-vehicle | [108] | |
| Olympic National Park | Washington | $30 | per-vehicle | [109] | |
| Harpers Ferry National Historical Park | West Virginia | $20 | per-vehicle | [110] | |
| Devils Tower National Monument | Wyoming | $25 | per-vehicle | [111] | |
| Grand Teton National Park | Wyoming | $35 | per-vehicle | [112] | no fee stations at the north entrance, which is only accessible through Yellowstone National Park |
| Yellowstone National Park | Wyoming | $35 | per-vehicle | [113] | |
| Idaho | |||||
| Montana |
History
On October 24, 2017, Secretary of the Interior Zinke proposed large fee hikes at seventeen of the most visited national parks in order to address a backlog of maintenance at all national parks. The NPS considered that these changes, which would increase entrance fees from $25 to $75, were appropriate because they only targeted the most popular parks, which already have entrance fees. However, there was a nearly unanimous public backlash against this proposal; many families felt this would prohibit them from being able to visit the parks.
Further, there was concern that this hike would disproportionately affect low-income families, who are already underrepresented in visitation to national parks. Additionally, many organizations working to increase access to nature for families of color, such as Latino Outdoors and African American Nature and Parks Experience, spoke out against these proposed fee hikes.
Altogether, more than 110,000 comments were posted on the NPS website, with 98% of them protesting this change. Representative Raul Grijalva commented, “This is a prime example that activism works.” In response to this strong public reaction, on April 12, 2018, Secretary Zinke released a statement replacing this plan with a more moderate proposal to raise prices incrementally across all parks with entrance fees.
Cashless
In an effort to save on cash processing and hand handling fees, 22 national parks have gone cashless as of 2023. In September 2023, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) proposed the "Protecting Access to Recreation with Cash Act" (PARC) which would require national parks to accept cash as a form of payment for entrance fee.In April 2024, several NPS visitors sued seeking to restore cash as a payment form noting how cash is legal tender suitable "for all public charges" and that the "additional processing fees that will be borne by NPS and by visitors who ultimately fund the federal government through taxes, in addition to personal surcharges and bank fees visitors may incur under NPS cashless policy."
See also
