All parks › Valles Caldera National Preserve
Valles Caldera National Preserve: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- July[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 84,952[3]
- Visitor centers
- 1[4]
Valles Caldera National Preserve is a National Preserve in New Mexico that is part of the U.S. National Park System[5]. NPS lists a $25 entrance fee for a private vehicle, and fees 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] | $25 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $45 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
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[11] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[11] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[11] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[11] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[11] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[11] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[11] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
In 2025 the busiest month was July with 11,357 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 2,172[2]. NPS describes average temperatures of 22°F in January and 60°F in July[12]. Rain is heavier during summer monsoon thunderstorms in July and August, and snowstorms come from December through March[12]. For the Valle Grande Main Entrance, NPS lists hours exceptions including Thanksgiving Day on 2026-11-26, Christmas Day on 2026-12-25, and Summer Hours from 2027-05-31 to 2027-09-06[13]. NPS lists one visitor center, the Volcano Discovery Center[4].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 2,172 |
| February | 2,555 |
| March | 4,537 |
| April | 5,266 |
| May | 8,908 |
| June | 10,246 |
| July | 11,357 |
| August | 10,755 |
| September | 10,850 |
| October | 8,732 |
| November | 6,063 |
| December | 3,511 |
Pets and dogs
The national NPS rule says pets, where allowed, must be kept in a crate or cage or on a leash of six feet or less, and they are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted[14]. A park can close more areas to pets[14]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 17 of the 46 things to do listed for this preserve[15].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment, according to NPS[6].
- NPS says the private vehicle fee covers seven consecutive days[1].
- The preserve accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[11].
- NPS also lists an Annual Entrance park pass for this preserve at $45[9].
- NPS notes that reservations are required for 16 of the things to do it lists[15].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS page before your trip[13].
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Valles Caldera?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle, $20 for a motorcycle and $15 per person[1][7][8]. The vehicle fee covers seven consecutive days[1].
- What is the busiest month at Valles Caldera?
- In 2025 the busiest month was July with 11,357 recreation visits[2]. January was the quietest with 2,172[2].
- Are dogs allowed at Valles Caldera?
- NPS marks pets as permitted on 17 of the 46 things to do it lists[15]. The national rule requires a leash no longer than six feet where pets are allowed[14].
- Can I pay cash at the entrance?
- NPS says entrance fees are cashless, so plan on a card or mobile payment[6].
- Does Valles Caldera accept the America the Beautiful pass?
- Yes, NPS lists the America the Beautiful pass as accepted for entrance[10].
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: 76,578, 2022: 63,738, 2023: 76,090, 2024: 82,111, 2025: 84,952. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Volcano Discovery Center). National Park Service
- Valles Caldera National Preserve is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Preserve) in New Mexico. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Valles Caldera National Preserve are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $45. National Park Service
- Valles Caldera National Preserve 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 Valles Caldera National Preserve. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Valle Grande Main Entrance: Valle Grande Main Entrance is located at mile marker 39.2 along New Mexico Highway 4. Listed exceptions: Thanksgiving Day 2026-11-26 to 2026-11-26; Christmas Day 2026-12-25 to 2026-12-25; Summer Hours 2027-05-31... 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 46 things to do at Valles Caldera National Preserve: Hike the Cabin District Interpretive Trail, Hike the Cerro Abrigo Loop, Hike the San Antonio Mountain Trail, Horseback Riding in Valles Caldera, Hunting in Valles Caldera, Take a Self-Guided... National Park Service