All parks › Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- May[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 247,642[3]
- Campgrounds
- 2[4]
Bandelier National Monument is a National Monument in New Mexico and part of the U.S. National Park System[5]. NPS lists an entrance fee of $25 for a private vehicle[1], and entrance fees are paid without cash, by card or mobile payment[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $25 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $45 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[6].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[11] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[11] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[11] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[11] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[11] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[11] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS says the monument is open daily from dawn to dusk, with closures possible for severe weather[12]. Dawn and dusk shift across the year, so know when you need to leave the canyon[12]. NPS lists a closure on Christmas Day, December 25[12]. The separate Tsankawi Unit has its own seasonal summer and winter hours listed by NPS[13]. NPS notes June tends to be the hottest month, while July, August and September afternoons often bring thunderstorms with lightning[14]. In 2025 the busiest month was May with 31,339 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 8,022[2].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 8,022 |
| February | 10,601 |
| March | 30,787 |
| April | 27,615 |
| May | 31,339 |
| June | 26,077 |
| July | 24,071 |
| August | 21,013 |
| September | 21,291 |
| October | 16,391 |
| November | 12,597 |
| December | 17,838 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 2 campgrounds in the monument[4]. Juniper Campground has 56 sites, and Ponderosa Group Campground has 2 sites[4]. NPS lists a nightly fee of $20 for individual sites[4]. Entrance passes do not pay for camping[1].
- Juniper Campground, 56 sites[4]
- Ponderosa Group Campground, 2 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be on a leash of six feet or less, or crated or caged, wherever they are allowed[15]. Pets cannot go into public buildings, and each park may close more areas to them[15]. Of the things to do NPS lists here, pets are permitted for picnicking and camping[16].
Before you go
- Bring a card or phone for payment, since NPS lists entrance fees as cashless[6].
- The America the Beautiful pass is accepted for entrance[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[11].
- If you plan repeat trips, NPS lists an Annual Entrance - Park pass for $45[9].
- In winter, NPS notes that snow and ice may shut roads and trails[14].
- Fees and hours change, so check the official NPS park page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Bandelier National Monument?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle[1], $20 for a motorcycle[7] and $15 per person for those on foot or bicycle aged 16 and older[8]. Fees are cashless[6].
- What are the hours at Bandelier National Monument?
- NPS lists the monument as open daily between dawn and dusk, unless severe weather or a holiday affects it[12]. It is listed as closed on Christmas Day, December 25[12].
- Are dogs allowed at Bandelier National Monument?
- Pets must be leashed at six feet or less, or crated, where allowed, and stay out of public buildings[15]. NPS lists pets as permitted for picnicking and camping[16].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 270,716, 2022: 210,941, 2023: 199,501, 2024: 213,595, 2025: 247,642. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Bandelier National Monument (list on this page). National Park Service
- Bandelier National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Monument) in New Mexico. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Bandelier National Monument are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $45. National Park Service
- Bandelier National Monument accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Bandelier National Monument: Bandelier National Monument is open every day from dawn to dusk unless impacted by severe weather or noted for specific holidays. The hours of dawn and dusk vary throughout the year so please come prepared... National Park Service
- Operating hours, Tsankawi Unit: Tsankawi is located 14.5 miles NE of Bandelier National Monument. It is located just outside of White Rock. Listed exceptions: Tsankawi Unit Summer Hours 2027-05-01 to 2027-09-30; Tsankawi Unit Winter Hours 2026-10-01 to... National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Bandelier National Monument. 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 19 things to do at Bandelier National Monument: Hike the Upper Falls Trail, Hike the Tsankawi Loop Trail, Picnicking at Bandelier, Camping at Bandelier, Long Trails, The Frijolito Loop Trail, Tyuonyi Overlook Trail, Short Trails, Explore the... National Park Service