NPS lists daily hours of 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, with closures on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1.

Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and service animals are excepted.

What is the busiest month?

In 2025 the busiest month was March and the quietest was October, by NPS recreation visit counts.

All parks › George Washington Carver National Monument

George Washington Carver National Monument: 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): March^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 31,062^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

George Washington Carver National Monument is a National Park System unit in Missouri^[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 George Washington Carver National Monument^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS lists daily opening at 9:00 AM and closing at 5:00 PM^[6]. It closes on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1^[6]. The weather note from NPS says the park sits in southwestern Missouri, near Diamond^[7]. NPS describes summers as humid and winters as having periods of intermittent freezing^[7]. In 2025 the busiest month was March and the quietest was October^[2]. Those are counted recreation visits for this park only^[2].

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

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	702
February	1,015
March	5,463
April	3,910
May	3,820
June	2,672
July	4,271
August	2,603
September	3,923
October	0
November	980
December	1,703

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	25,838
2022^[3]	29,725
2023^[3]	37,282
2024^[3]	39,081
2025^[3]	31,062

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, with service animals excepted^[8]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 9 of its listed things to do, including Pack a Picnic^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee here^[1].
Hours and closure days are what NPS lists, so confirm on the official park page before you go^[6].
NPS lists one visitor center, a good first stop^[4].
The park offers a Junior Ranger Program and a bookstore and park store, per NPS^[10].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at George Washington Carver National Monument?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].
What are the hours?: NPS lists daily hours of 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, with closures on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1^[6].
Are dogs allowed?: Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and service animals are excepted^[8].
What is the busiest month?: In 2025 the busiest month was March and the quietest was October, by NPS recreation visit counts^[2].

Facts and sources

NPS lists George Washington Carver National Monument 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: 25,838, 2022: 29,725, 2023: 37,282, 2024: 39,081, 2025: 31,062. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (George Washington Carver National Monument). National Park Service
George Washington Carver National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Monument) in Missouri. National Park Service
Operating hours, George Washington Carver National Monument: George Washington Carver National Monument is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, except Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. There is no park entrance fee. Listed exceptions: Thanksgiving... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for George Washington Carver 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 13 things to do at George Washington Carver National Monument: A Contemplative Experience, From Woodlands to Prairies, Report for Duty at the Park, The Legacy of George Washington Carver, Pack a Picnic, Explore the Park Museum and Discovery Area,... National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for George Washington Carver National Monument: Arts and Culture, Food, Picnicking, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Hands-On, Junior Ranger Program, Birdwatching, Park Film, Museum Exhibits, Shopping, Bookstore and Park... 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.