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Pinnacles National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $30[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- March[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 343,208[3]
- Campgrounds
- 1[4]
Pinnacles National Park is a national park in California run by the National Park Service[5]. NPS lists an entrance fee of $30 for a private vehicle, and entrance fees here are cashless[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] | $30 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $25 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Non-commercial Groups[9] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[10] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[11].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[6].
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
In 2025 the busiest month was March with 44,670 recreation visits, and the quietest was October with 16,898[2]. NPS describes hot, dry summers with temperatures above 100 degrees and milder winters with highs in the 60s[13]. Temperatures can change a lot between day and night in every season[13]. NPS lists the east side entrance as open 24 hours, 7 days a week, holidays included[14]. The west entrance road is a narrow, winding single lane, so NPS asks drivers of oversize vehicles to come in from the east side[15].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 30,342 |
| February | 26,892 |
| March | 44,670 |
| April | 39,378 |
| May | 37,144 |
| June | 33,717 |
| July | 28,051 |
| August | 23,931 |
| September | 18,010 |
| October | 16,898 |
| November | 20,859 |
| December | 23,316 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list one campground in the park, Pinnacles Campground, with 134 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly fees for individual sites from $43 to $139[4]. Check the official listing for current rates and booking details before your trip.
- Pinnacles Campground, 134 sites[4]
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS leash rule, pets in areas where they are allowed must stay on a leash of six feet or less, or be crated or caged, and they cannot go into public buildings[16]. Parks can close more areas to pets[16]. Of the 24 things to do NPS lists here, pets are marked as permitted on 7, such as birdwatching and night sky viewing[17].
Before you go
- Bring a card or a phone for mobile payment, since NPS lists entrance fees here as cashless[6].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful interagency pass[11]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[12].
- NPS lists a Pinnacles Annual Pass at $55[10]. It is sold only to US citizens and residents and works only at this park[10].
- Oversize vehicles should use the east entrance[15].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS page before you go.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Pinnacles National Park?
- NPS lists $30 for a private vehicle[1], $25 for a motorcycle[7] and $15 for one person on foot or by bike[8]. The private vehicle pass is listed as good for 1 to 7 days[1].
- When is the best time to visit Pinnacles National Park?
- In 2025 the park saw the most recreation visits in March, with 44,670, and the fewest in October, with 16,898[2]. Summers can pass 100 degrees, while winter highs sit in the 60s[13].
- Are dogs allowed at Pinnacles National Park?
- Where pets are allowed, the national rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate or cage[16]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 7 of the 24 things to do it lists for the park[17].
- Is there camping at Pinnacles National Park?
- Yes. NPS and Recreation.gov list Pinnacles Campground with 134 sites, and NPS lists nightly individual site fees from $43 to $139[4].
- Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
- No. NPS lists entrance fees at Pinnacles as cashless, so pay with a card or mobile payment[6].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $30. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 348,857, 2022: 275,023, 2023: 341,220, 2024: 354,076, 2025: 343,208. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Pinnacles National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Pinnacles National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in California. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Pinnacles National Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $25. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Non-commercial Groups: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Pinnacles National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Pinnacles National Park. National Park Service
- Operating hours, East Side Entrance: Entrance to the east side of Pinnacles National Park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays. National Park Service
- Operating hours, West Side Entrance: The west entrance to the park offers access to trails such as Prewett Point, Balconies, and Juniper Canyon. Note: this one-lane road is narrow and winding. Oversize vehicles should enter the park on the east side. 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 24 things to do at Pinnacles National Park: Become a Junior Ranger at Pinnacles National Park, Hike Bench Trail to South Wilderness Trail, Hike Bench Trail to Balconies Cave Trail, Hike Bench Trail to Sycamore Trail, Hike Moses Spring Trail to... National Park Service