Is there an entrance fee at Fort Union Trading Post?

NPS lists the site as a fee-free park with no entrance fee. Confirm on the official park page before you visit.

What is the best time to visit Fort Union Trading Post?

In 2025 the busiest month was June and the quietest was October. NPS notes summers are warm from May through September and winters are cold from December through February.

Are dogs allowed at Fort Union Trading Post?

NPS lists pets as permitted on 2 of the 4 things to do, the fort tour and the Trade House visit. Pets must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, where allowed.

What is there to do at Fort Union Trading Post?

NPS lists 4 things to do, including a fort tour, an orientation film, a Trade House visit and a Jr. Ranger program.

All parks › Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): June^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 9,808^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is a National Park System unit in Montana and North Dakota^[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 Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS lists hours in the Central time zone, with closures on Thanksgiving Day 2026-11-26, Christmas Day 2026-12-25 and New Years Day 2027-01-01^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was June and the quietest was October^[2]. NPS describes summer highs in the 80s-90s from May through September^[7]. It also notes winter lows in the single digits from December through February^[7]. NPS says wind is considerable year-round and that thunderstorms and blizzards are possible^[7]. Check the official park page for current hours before you go^[6].

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

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	69
February	44
March	218
April	200
May	1,222
June	3,084
July	2,159
August	1,797
September	947
October	0
November	39
December	29

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	11,479
2022^[3]	12,822
2023^[3]	12,942
2024^[3]	12,028
2025^[3]	9,808

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, where they are allowed, and they are not allowed in public buildings^[8]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 2 of the 4 things to do here: the fort tour and the Trade House visit^[9].

Before you go

NPS lists 1 visitor center here, the Bourgeois House Visitor Center^[4].
NPS lists activities such as guided tours, living history, a park film and a junior ranger program^[10].
Pack for changing weather, since NPS notes conditions can shift quickly^[7].
Fees and hours can change, so confirm on the official NPS park page before a trip^[1].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Fort Union Trading Post?: NPS lists the site as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1]. Confirm on the official park page before you visit.
What is the best time to visit Fort Union Trading Post?: In 2025 the busiest month was June and the quietest was October^[2]. NPS notes summers are warm from May through September and winters are cold from December through February^[7].
Are dogs allowed at Fort Union Trading Post?: NPS lists pets as permitted on 2 of the 4 things to do, the fort tour and the Trade House visit^[9]. Pets must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, where allowed^[8].
What is there to do at Fort Union Trading Post?: NPS lists 4 things to do^[9], including a fort tour, an orientation film, a Trade House visit and a Jr. Ranger program.

Facts and sources

NPS lists Fort Union Trading Post 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: 11,479, 2022: 12,822, 2023: 12,942, 2024: 12,028, 2025: 9,808. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Bourgeois House Visitor Center). National Park Service
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historic Site) in Montana and North Dakota. National Park Service
Operating hours, Park Hours: Hours are in the Central time zone. Listed exceptions: Closed Thanksgiving Day 2026-11-26 to 2026-11-26; Closed Christmas Day 2026-12-25 to 2026-12-25; Closed New Years Day 2027-01-01 to 2027-01-01. National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Fort Union Trading Post 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 4 things to do at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site: Tour Fort Union Trading Post, Watch the Fort Union Trading Post Orientation Film, Visit Fort Union's Trade House, Become a Jr. Ranger and Jr. Trader at Fort Union. Pets permitted... National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site: Arts and Culture, Craft Demonstrations, Cultural Demonstrations, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Living History, Reenactments, Historic Weapons Demonstration, Junior Ranger... 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.