All parks › Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $20[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- March[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 769,336[3]
- Visitor centers
- 1[4]
Cabrillo National Monument is a National Monument in California, part of the U.S. National Park System[5]. NPS lists a private vehicle entrance fee of $20[1].
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] | $20 |
| Motorcycle[6] | $15 |
| Per Person[7] | $10 |
| Non-commercial Groups[8] | $20 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[9].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[10] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[10] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[10] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[10] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[10] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[10] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[10] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[10] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[10] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS says the park opens every day of the year, holidays included, from 9 am to 5 pm[11]. The Bayside Trail and the Oceanside Trail shut at 4pm, and the tidepools and the Coastal Trail shut at 4:30pm[11]. NPS lists closures on Thanksgiving 2026-11-26 and Christmas 2026-12-25[11]. In 2025 the busiest month by NPS recreation visits was March, with 95,622[2]. September had 56,699 visits and November had 27,808[2]. NPS notes that San Diego has dry, warm summers and gentle winters, and that rain mostly falls from December to March[12].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 75,772 |
| February | 64,989 |
| March | 95,622 |
| April | 67,001 |
| May | 68,531 |
| June | 93,926 |
| July | 82,279 |
| August | 69,494 |
| September | 56,699 |
| October | 0 |
| November | 27,808 |
| December | 67,215 |
Pets and dogs
The national NPS pet rule says pets must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, where they are allowed[13]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, and service animals are excepted[13]. NPS lists the Coastal Trail as the one thing to do where pets are permitted[14]. Each park can close more areas to pets[13].
Before you go
- NPS lists a Private Vehicle fee of $20 and a Motorcycle fee of $15[1][6].
- Walking or biking in costs $10 per person under the NPS listing, and children 15 and younger are free[7].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass[9]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[10].
- NPS says reservations are required for 2 of the 6 things to do it lists[14].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS park page before you go.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Cabrillo National Monument?
- NPS lists $20 for a Private Vehicle and $15 for a Motorcycle[1][6]. Entering on foot or by bicycle is $10 per person[7].
- What are the hours at Cabrillo National Monument?
- NPS says the park opens daily from 9 am to 5 pm[11]. Some trails and the tidepools close earlier[11].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $20. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 683,613, 2022: 768,076, 2023: 810,147, 2024: 845,912, 2025: 769,336. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Visitor Center and View Building). National Park Service
- Cabrillo National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Monument) in California. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $10. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Non-commercial Groups: $20. National Park Service
- Cabrillo 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, Cabriilo National Monument: The park is open 365 days a year including holidays from 9 am until 5 pm. The Bayside Trail and the Oceanside Trail close at 4pm. The tidepools and the Coastal Trail close at 4:30pm. Listed exceptions:... National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Cabrillo 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 6 things to do at Cabrillo National Monument: Visit the Cabrillo Tidepools, Oceanside Trail, Earn Your Cabrillo Junior Ranger Badge, Bayside Trail, Coastal Trail, Whale Watching at Cabrillo. Pets permitted on 1 of them (Coastal Trail).... National Park Service