Is there an entrance fee at Amistad National Recreation Area?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee. Confirm on the official park page before you go.

When is the best time to visit Amistad?

The recreation area is open throughout the year. In 2025 May was the busiest month and December the quietest.

Are dogs allowed at Amistad National Recreation Area?

NPS lists pets as permitted on all 4 of its listed things to do here. Where allowed, they have to be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less.

How many campgrounds are there at Amistad?

NPS and Recreation.gov list 6 campgrounds. Governors Landing Campground has the most sites at 15.

All parks › Amistad National Recreation Area

Amistad National Recreation Area: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): May^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 734,293^[3]
Campgrounds: 6^[4]

Amistad National Recreation Area is a unit of the National Park System in Texas^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee, and it is open throughout the year^[1]^[6].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Amistad National Recreation Area^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS says the recreation area is open throughout the year, though some areas may close for a time because of low water levels^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was May with 107,951 recreation visits^[2]. The quietest month was December with 25,731^[2]. NPS describes hot summers and mild winters in Southwest Texas, and says weather can change in a matter of minutes^[7]. Check the park's Current Conditions page before you go^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, May, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	45,622
February	49,371
March	72,634
April	59,444
May	107,951
June	69,873
July	88,746
August	62,338
September	56,315
October	51,581
November	44,687
December	25,731

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	1,091,897
2022^[3]	912,283
2023^[3]	836,733
2024^[3]	832,294
2025^[3]	734,293

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list 6 campgrounds here^[4]. Governors Landing Campground has 15 sites, Spur 406 Campground has 6 and Rough Canyon Campground has 4^[4]. There are also three group campgrounds, San Pedro, Rock Quarry and 277 North^[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $3 to $10^[4].

Governors Landing Campground, 15 sites^[4]
Spur 406 Campground, 6 sites
Rough Canyon Campground, 4 sites
San Pedro Group Campground, 1 sites
Rock Quarry Group Campground, 1 sites
277 North Group Campground, 1 sites

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, where pets are allowed, they have to be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted^[8]. NPS lists pets as permitted on all 4 of its listed things to do here, including Boating at Amistad and Hiking at Amistad^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee, but fees and hours can change, so confirm on the official park page before your trip^[1].
Some areas may close when water is low, so check Current Conditions^[6].
NPS lists boating, fishing, swimming and SCUBA diving among the activities here^[10].
NPS lists one visitor center, the Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center^[11].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Amistad National Recreation Area?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1]. Confirm on the official park page before you go.
When is the best time to visit Amistad?: The recreation area is open throughout the year^[6]. In 2025 May was the busiest month and December the quietest^[2].
Are dogs allowed at Amistad National Recreation Area?: NPS lists pets as permitted on all 4 of its listed things to do here^[9]. Where allowed, they have to be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less^[8].
How many campgrounds are there at Amistad?: NPS and Recreation.gov list 6 campgrounds^[4]. Governors Landing Campground has the most sites at 15^[4].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Amistad National Recreation Area as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 1,091,897, 2022: 912,283, 2023: 836,733, 2024: 832,294, 2025: 734,293. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Campgrounds in Amistad National Recreation Area (list on this page). National Park Service
Amistad National Recreation Area is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Recreation Area) in Texas. National Park Service
Operating hours, Amistad National Recreation Area: Amistad National Recreation Area is open throughout the year. However, some areas may experience temporary closures because of low water levels. Please see our Operation Hours and Seasons and Current... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Amistad National Recreation Area. National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
NPS lists 4 things to do at Amistad National Recreation Area: Hike the Diablo East Nature Trail, Boating at Amistad, Swimming at Amistad, Hiking at Amistad. Pets permitted on 4 of them (Hike the Diablo East Nature Trail, Boating at Amistad, Swimming at... National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for Amistad National Recreation Area: Boating, Motorized Boating, Sailing, Jet Skiing, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Group Camping, RV Camping, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Hiking,... National Park Service
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center). National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.