Is there an entrance fee at De Soto National Memorial?

No. NPS lists De Soto National Memorial as a fee-free park.

Is De Soto National Memorial open on holidays?

NPS lists the park as closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It is open seven days a week otherwise, and severe weather can also close it.

Can I bring my dog to De Soto National Memorial?

Where pets are allowed, the national NPS pet rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate or cage. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park.

What can I do at De Soto National Memorial?

NPS lists fishing, saltwater fishing, paddling, kayaking, living history, reenactments and historic weapons demonstrations. It also lists a bookstore and park store.

All parks › De Soto National Memorial

De Soto National Memorial: 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): December^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 124,294^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

De Soto National Memorial is a National Memorial in Florida that belongs to the U.S. National Park System^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for De Soto National Memorial^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS lists the park as open seven days a week, with closures on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day^[6]. The listed closure dates are 2026-11-26, 2026-12-25 and 2027-01-01^[6]. Severe weather such as tropical storms and hurricanes can also close the park^[6]. The Visitor Center is closed because of hurricane damage, and NPS says a Visitor Contact Tent is open instead^[7]. Portable restrooms and handwashing stations are on site, and access on the trails is limited for visitors who need mobility assistance^[7]. In 2025 the busiest month was December with 21,510 recreation visits, and January had 0^[2]. NPS describes summer as hot and humid, with short afternoon showers and thunderstorms, and winters as mild and dry^[8].

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

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	0
February	6,848
March	16,409
April	16,397
May	12,266
June	9,803
July	10,553
August	10,349
September	8,305
October	0
November	11,854
December	21,510

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	222,380
2022^[3]	173,150
2023^[3]	231,892
2024^[3]	155,016
2025^[3]	124,294

Pets and dogs

The national NPS pet rule says pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times^[9]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, though service animals are excepted^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park before you bring a dog^[9].

Before you go

Entry is free, but confirm hours and closures on the official NPS park page before you go^[1]^[6].
NPS notes the Visitor Center is closed, so plan around the Visitor Contact Tent^[7].
The park lists fishing, kayaking, paddling and a bookstore and park store among its activities^[10].
NPS describes summers as hot and humid, with short late-afternoon showers and thunderstorms^[8].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at De Soto National Memorial?: No. NPS lists De Soto National Memorial as a fee-free park^[1].
Is De Soto National Memorial open on holidays?: NPS lists the park as closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day^[6]. It is open seven days a week otherwise, and severe weather can also close it^[6].
Can I bring my dog to De Soto National Memorial?: Where pets are allowed, the national NPS pet rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate or cage^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park^[9].
What can I do at De Soto National Memorial?: NPS lists fishing, saltwater fishing, paddling, kayaking, living history, reenactments and historic weapons demonstrations^[10]. It also lists a bookstore and park store^[10].

Facts and sources

NPS lists De Soto National Memorial 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: 222,380, 2022: 173,150, 2023: 231,892, 2024: 155,016, 2025: 124,294. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (De Soto National Memorial Visitor Reception Tent). National Park Service
De Soto National Memorial is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Memorial) in Florida. National Park Service
Operating hours, De Soto National Memorial Entrance Gate and Parking Lot Hours: De Soto National Memorial is open seven days a week with exceptions of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The park will also be closed during periods of severe... National Park Service
Operating hours, De Soto National Memorial: De Soto National Memorial is open with a Visitor Contact Tent. The park's Visitor Center remains closed due to Hurricane damage. The park cannot offer the movie at this time. Trails are awaiting rehabilitation... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for De Soto National Memorial. 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
Activities NPS lists for De Soto National Memorial: Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Living History, Reenactments, Historic Weapons Demonstration, Paddling, Kayaking, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store. 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.