All parks › Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- July[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 143,659[3]
- Campgrounds
- 2[4]
Lava Beds National Monument is a National Monument in California run by the National Park Service[5]. NPS lists a $25 entrance fee for a private vehicle and lists the park as open around the clock, all year[1][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] | $25 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[11].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[12] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[12] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[12] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[12] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[12] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[12] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS lists access at all hours, 24 hours daily, all year[6]. NPS says the visitor center closes on Christmas Day, and it sometimes closes for a while in winter because of weather or maintenance[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 24,502 recreation visits, and the quietest was December with 4,266[2]. NPS notes that cold weather can happen in any season, and snow has fallen in every month on record[13]. In summer, afternoons average 75° to 80°F and thunderstorms sometimes happen[13]. NPS also notes frequent fog in the mornings between autumn and spring[13].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 7,364 |
| February | 9,442 |
| March | 5,202 |
| April | 7,699 |
| May | 12,726 |
| June | 20,761 |
| July | 24,502 |
| August | 24,297 |
| September | 8,827 |
| October | 9,562 |
| November | 9,011 |
| December | 4,266 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list Indian Well Campground, with 45 sites in one record and 43 in the other[4]. The two sources can differ slightly in their counts. NPS lists nightly fees for individual sites at $20[4].
- Indian Well Campground, 45 sites[4]
- Indian Well Campground, 43 sites
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, at all times where they are allowed[14]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, with service animals excepted[14]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park before bringing a dog[14].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment, according to NPS[11].
- The Resident Annual Pass costs $80 and the park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[12][10].
- A private vehicle entrance is good for 7 days[1].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS park page before you go[6].
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Lava Beds National Monument?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle, $20 for a motorcycle and $15 per person, each good for 7 days[1][7][8].
- When is the busiest month at Lava Beds National Monument?
- In 2025 the busiest month was July with 24,502 recreation visits, and the quietest was December with 4,266[2].
- Are dogs allowed at Lava Beds National Monument?
- Where pets are allowed, they must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, at all times[14]. The park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park first[14].
- Can I pay cash at the entrance?
- NPS lists entrance fees here as cashless, meaning cards or mobile payment[11].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 103,946, 2022: 130,969, 2023: 136,164, 2024: 127,563, 2025: 143,659. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Lava Beds National Monument (list on this page). National Park Service
- Lava Beds National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Monument) in California. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Lava Beds National Monument: The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The visitor center is typically only closed on Christmas Day but will sometimes temporarily close in the winter due to weather or maintenance. Temporary closures are... National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Lava Beds National Monument accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Lava Beds National Monument are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Lava Beds 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