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Capitol Reef National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $20[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- May[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 1,388,476[3]
- Campgrounds
- 5[4]
Capitol Reef National Park is a National Park in Utah[5]. NPS lists an entrance fee of $20 per private vehicle[1], and the park is open around the clock every day of the 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] | $20 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $15 |
| Per Person[8] | $10 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $35 |
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
The park is open all day, every day[6], while the visitor center opens daily apart from some major holidays[6]. Visitor center hours change, so NPS suggests calling 435-425-3791 for the current schedule[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was May with 221,189 recreation visits[2], and the quietest was January with 17,002[2]. September (182,374) and October (181,747) were also busy in 2025[2]. NPS posts weather each day at the visitor center, and it warns that rain or snow can leave dirt roads unusable for vehicles[12]. Stay out of narrow canyons when rain is falling nearby or expected[12].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 17,002 |
| February | 20,196 |
| March | 104,856 |
| April | 156,599 |
| May | 221,189 |
| June | 167,193 |
| July | 122,287 |
| August | 110,159 |
| September | 182,374 |
| October | 181,747 |
| November | 65,512 |
| December | 39,362 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 5 campgrounds in the park[4]. The largest is Fruita Campground with 72 sites[4]. Smaller options include primitive sites at Cathedral Campground (6 sites) and Cedar Mesa Campground (5 sites), plus Capitol Reef Group Campground and backcountry camping[4]. NPS lists a nightly individual-site fee of $25[4].
- Fruita Campground, 72 sites[4]
- Primitive campsites at Cathedral Campground, 6 sites
- Primitive campsites at Cedar Mesa Campground, 5 sites
- Capitol Reef Group Campground, 1 sites
- Backcountry Camping
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS rule, pets must be on a leash of up to six feet or kept in a crate or cage, and they cannot enter public buildings[13]. Service animals are an exception[13]. Of the 11 things to do NPS lists for the park, pets are allowed on 4: the Petroglyph Panel, the Scenic Drive Tour, picnicking and driving the Burr Trail[14].
Before you go
- A Motorcycle entrance pass costs $15 and NPS says it is good for 7 days[7].
- The Per Person fee of $10 admits one individual with no car, a fee NPS notes is used by cyclists and pedestrians[8].
- The Capitol Reef Annual Entrance pass is listed at $35[9].
- The park takes the America the Beautiful pass[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[11].
- Fees and hours can change, so check the official NPS page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Capitol Reef National Park?
- NPS lists $20 for a private vehicle[1], $15 for a motorcycle[7] and $10 per person for those arriving on foot or by bike[8].
- Is Capitol Reef open 24 hours?
- Yes, NPS says the park is open all day, every day[6]. Visitor center hours vary, so call 435-425-3791 for current times[6].
- What is the busiest month at Capitol Reef?
- The busiest month in 2025 was May, with 221,189 recreation visits[2]. January was the quietest with 17,002[2].
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: 1,405,353, 2022: 1,227,608, 2023: 1,268,861, 2024: 1,422,490, 2025: 1,388,476. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Capitol Reef National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Capitol Reef National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in Utah. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Capitol Reef National Park: Capitol Reef is a 24 hour park, open all day, every day. The visitor center is open daily, except for some major holidays. Visitor center hours vary, call 435-425-3791 and follow the prompts for current visitor... National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $10. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $35. National Park Service
- Capitol Reef 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 Capitol Reef 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 11 things to do at Capitol Reef National Park: Stargaze, Bicycle Touring, Watch the Sunset, Visit the Petroglyph Panel, Scenic Drive Tour, Hike in the South (Waterpocket) District, Picnic, Hike Cathedral Valley, Hike an Easy or Moderate Trail,... National Park Service