Is there an entrance fee at Knife River Indian Villages?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee. Confirm on the official park page before your trip.

NPS lists the park as open daily from sunrise until sunset all year. NPS also lists Summer Hours from 2027-05-19 to 2027-09-01.

When is the busiest month?

In 2025 the busiest month was July with 2,084 recreation visits. The quietest month was October with 12.

Are dogs allowed at Knife River Indian Villages?

NPS lists pets as permitted on the Village Trail walk. Where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.

All parks › Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

Knife River Indian Villages 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): July^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 9,048^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

This North Dakota site, Knife River Indian Villages, is part of the 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 Knife River Indian Villages 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 the park as open daily from sunrise until sunset all year, and the park stays open even when the visitor center is closed^[6]. NPS also lists Summer Hours from 2027-05-19 to 2027-09-01^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 2,084 recreation visits, and the quietest was October with 12^[2]. Summers can be warm with afternoon thunderstorms, and winters can be extremely cold with blizzards that are common, according to NPS^[7]. Confirm hours on the official park page before you go^[6].

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

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	50
February	54
March	162
April	274
May	1,165
June	1,884
July	2,084
August	1,712
September	1,498
October	12
November	125
December	28

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	11,223
2022^[3]	9,217
2023^[3]	8,134
2024^[3]	10,867
2025^[3]	9,048

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, with service animals excepted^[8]. NPS lists pets as permitted on the Village Trail walk^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee, but fees and hours can change, so check the official park page^[1].
NPS lists one visitor center at the park^[4].
NPS lists Junior Ranger Program and Self-Guided Tours - Walking among the activities^[10].
Bring layers and check the forecast, since NPS describes extreme winter cold and summer thunderstorms^[7].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Knife River Indian Villages?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1]. Confirm on the official park page before your trip.
What are the hours?: NPS lists the park as open daily from sunrise until sunset all year^[6]. NPS also lists Summer Hours from 2027-05-19 to 2027-09-01^[6].
When is the busiest month?: In 2025 the busiest month was July with 2,084 recreation visits^[2]. The quietest month was October with 12^[2].
Are dogs allowed at Knife River Indian Villages?: NPS lists pets as permitted on the Village Trail walk^[9]. Where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times^[8].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Knife River Indian Villages 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: 11,223, 2022: 9,217, 2023: 8,134, 2024: 10,867, 2025: 9,048. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Visitor Center). National Park Service
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historic Site) in North Dakota. National Park Service
Operating hours, Standard Hours: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is open from sunrise to sunset, every day of the year. Even when visitor center is closed, the park itself remains open. Listed exceptions: Summer Hours 2027-05-19 to... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Knife River Indian Villages 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 1 things to do at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site: Walk the Village Trail. Pets permitted on 1 of them (Walk the Village Trail). National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site: Arts and Culture, Craft Demonstrations, Cultural Demonstrations, Live Music, Compass and GPS, Geocaching, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Food, Picnicking, Guided Tours, Self-Guided... 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.