Is there an entrance fee at Bent's Old Fort?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee.

What are the hours at Bent's Old Fort?

NPS lists the grounds as opening at 9:00 a.m. and closing at 4:00 p.m., with some holiday closures. The replica fort plaza is on a separate schedule.

Are dogs allowed at Bent's Old Fort?

NPS marks pets as permitted on 6 of the 7 listed things to do. Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet and are not allowed in public buildings.

What is the best time to visit Bent's Old Fort?

NPS says the weather is generally fair in fall and spring, and summer highs can reach the 90s and 100s. The busiest month in 2025 was September.

All parks › Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site: 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): September^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 7,190^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is a unit of the National Park System in Colorado^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

The grounds open at 9:00 a.m.^[6] and close at 4:00 p.m.^[6] per NPS, with closures on a handful of holidays. Upcoming listed dates include Thanksgiving Day on 2026-11-26 and Christmas Day on 2026-12-25^[6]. Entry to the replica fort has its own schedule, and NPS says the public can go in five days a week^[7]. Without a guided tour, entry is limited to the central plaza^[7]. NPS describes summer highs reaching the 90s and 100s^[8]. Fall and spring are generally fair^[8]. Winter can bring temperatures below freezing, and most of the replica fort is unheated^[8]. In 2025, the busiest month was September with 1,526 recreation visits^[2].

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

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	28
February	172
March	617
April	536
May	641
June	902
July	910
August	996
September	1,526
October	0
November	310
December	552

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	21,585
2022^[3]	26,057
2023^[3]	19,718
2024^[3]	16,102
2025^[3]	7,190

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed^[9]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and service animals are excepted^[9]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 6 of the 7 things to do it lists here, including guided tours and hiking along the Arkansas River^[10].

Before you go

There is no entrance fee listed by NPS^[1].
Confirm hours and closures on the official park page before you go^[6].
Dress for the weather, since NPS says the replica fort is mostly unheated^[8].
The park lists 1 visitor center, the Information Center^[4].
Guided tours are one of the things NPS lists to do here^[10].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Bent's Old Fort?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].
What are the hours at Bent's Old Fort?: NPS lists the grounds as opening at 9:00 a.m.^[6] and closing at 4:00 p.m.^[6], with some holiday closures. The replica fort plaza is on a separate schedule^[6].
Are dogs allowed at Bent's Old Fort?: NPS marks pets as permitted on 6 of the 7 listed things to do^[10]. Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet and are not allowed in public buildings^[9].
What is the best time to visit Bent's Old Fort?: NPS says the weather is generally fair in fall and spring, and summer highs can reach the 90s and 100s^[8]. The busiest month in 2025 was September^[2].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site 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: 21,585, 2022: 26,057, 2023: 19,718, 2024: 16,102, 2025: 7,190. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Information Center). National Park Service
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historic Site) in Colorado. National Park Service
Operating hours, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site: The park grounds are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on New Year's Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, Washington's Birthday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. During the... National Park Service
Operating hours, Replica Fort: Five days a week the public is invited inside the 1976 replica of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of the fort and its 20th century... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. 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 7 things to do at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site: Western National Parks Store at Bent's Old Fort, Guided Tours of Bent's Old Fort, Plaza Access in the Fort, Become a Junior Ranger at Bent's Old Fort, Birdwatching at Bent's Old Fort... 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.