All parks › Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $30[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- May[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 796,057[3]
- Campgrounds
- 3[4]
Canyonlands National Park is a National Park in Utah, part of the U.S. National Park System[5]. NPS lists an entrance fee of $30 for a private vehicle[1], and NPS says the park is generally open around the clock, all year[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] | $30 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $25 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
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 park is generally open around the clock, every day of the year[6]. Spring (April to May) and fall (mid-September to October) are the mild seasons, with daytime highs averaging 60 to 80 F and lows averaging 30 to 50 F[12]. Summer heat often goes past 100 F, which makes hard exercise tough[12]. In winter, highs average 30 to 50 F and lows average 0 to 20 F[12]. The busiest month in 2025 was May with 120,667 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 9,900[2]. Temperatures can swing by over 40 degrees within one day, so pack layers[12].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 9,900 |
| February | 16,638 |
| March | 83,067 |
| April | 108,034 |
| May | 120,667 |
| June | 87,146 |
| July | 66,388 |
| August | 61,026 |
| September | 100,997 |
| October | 87,556 |
| November | 34,090 |
| December | 20,548 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 3 campgrounds in the park[4]. The Needles District Campground has 26 sites, Island in the Sky Campground has 12 sites, and the Needles District GROUP Campsites has 3 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly fees for individual sites from $15 to $20[4].
- Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground, 26 sites[4]
- Island in the Sky Campground, 12 sites
- Canyonlands National Park Needles District GROUP Campsites, 3 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS rule, pets must be crated, caged or kept on a leash of six feet or less wherever they are allowed[13]. Pets cannot go into public buildings, onto public transportation or onto designated swimming beaches, and service animals are an exception[13]. Of the 8 things to do NPS lists here, pets are permitted on 1, Experience the Shafer Trail[14].
Before you go
- The Annual Entrance - Park pass costs $55[9]. It covers Arches and Canyonlands national parks plus Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments, and is for U.S. residents only[9].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80 and the Non-Resident Annual Pass at $250[11].
- Youth 15 and under get in free on the per person entrance, which NPS lists at $15[8].
- NPS lists 3 of its 8 things to do here as needing a reservation[14].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm on the official NPS park page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee for Canyonlands National Park?
- NPS lists $30 for a private vehicle[1], $25 for a motorcycle[7] and $15 per person on foot or bike[8].
- What is the best time to visit Canyonlands?
- NPS describes spring (April to May) and fall (mid-September to October) as the temperate seasons, with daytime highs averaging 60 to 80 F[12]. Summer often goes above 100 F[12].
- Are dogs allowed in Canyonlands National Park?
- Where pets are allowed, the national rule requires a leash no longer than six feet, a crate or a cage[13]. NPS lists pets as permitted on Experience the Shafer Trail[14].
- Does Canyonlands accept the America the Beautiful pass?
- Yes, NPS says the park accepts the America the Beautiful pass[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[11].
- Is Canyonlands open at night?
- NPS says the park is generally open around the clock, every day of the year[6].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $30. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 911,594, 2022: 779,147, 2023: 800,322, 2024: 818,492, 2025: 796,057. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Canyonlands National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Canyonlands National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in Utah. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Open Year-round: Canyonlands National Park is generally open 24 hours a day, year-round. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $25. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Canyonlands National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Canyonlands National Park. 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 8 things to do at Canyonlands National Park: Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah, Hiking at Canyonlands, Boating in Canyonlands, Canyonlands Junior Ranger Program, Backcountry Camping in Canyonlands, Experience the Shafer Trail, Auto Touring in... National Park Service