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Wright Brothers National Memorial: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
Wright Brothers National Memorial is a National Memorial in North Carolina run by the National Park Service[4]. NPS lists an entrance fee of $10 per person, and visitors age 15 and younger are free[5].
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.
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[7].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[8].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[9] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[9] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[9] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[9] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[9] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[9] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[9] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[9] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[9] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
In 2025, the busiest month was July with 62,634 recreation visits[1]. June had 53,430 and August had 55,689[1]. The quietest month in 2025 was October with 264 visits[1]. NPS says the weather on the Outer Banks changes by season and by day, with hot summers and cold, wet winters[10]. It also notes that the memorial sits on a barrier island, so hurricanes in summer and nor'easters in winter can affect it[10]. NPS lists one closure exception to the hours, on Christmas Day, 2026-12-25[11]. Check the official park page for the current opening times.
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 1,703 |
| February | 6,668 |
| March | 23,385 |
| April | 41,767 |
| May | 46,730 |
| June | 53,430 |
| July | 62,634 |
| August | 55,689 |
| September | 35,437 |
| October | 264 |
| November | 2,430 |
| December | 11,439 |
Pets and dogs
The national NPS pet rule says pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed[12]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, though service animals are excepted[12]. NPS marks pets as permitted on all 4 of its listed things to do here, including the ranger program and the walk to the monument[13]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so ask at the park[12].
Before you go
- NPS lists entrance fees here as cashless, so bring a card or use mobile payment[8].
- The Annual Entrance - Park pass costs $35 and admits the passholder plus up to 3 additional people ages 16 and up[6].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass, and the Resident Annual Pass costs $80 according to NPS[7][9].
- Commercial sedans pay $25 plus $7 per person according to the NPS note[14].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS page before your trip[11].
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Wright Brothers National Memorial?
- NPS lists $10 per person[5]. The charge is per person rather than per vehicle, and children 15 and younger are free[5].
- Can I pay with cash?
- NPS says entrance fees here are cashless, so plan on a card or mobile payment[8].
- Does the park accept the America the Beautiful pass?
- Yes, NPS lists the America the Beautiful pass as accepted for entrance[7]. The Resident Annual Pass costs $80[9].
- When is the busiest month?
- In 2025 the busiest month was July with 62,634 recreation visits, and the quietest was October with 264[1].
Facts and sources
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 482,191, 2022: 437,391, 2023: 423,488, 2024: 406,593, 2025: 341,576. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Wright Brothers Visitor Center and Museum). National Park Service
- Wright Brothers National Memorial is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Memorial) in North Carolina. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $10. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $35. National Park Service
- Wright Brothers National Memorial accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Wright Brothers National Memorial 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 Wright Brothers National Memorial. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Hours of Operation: These are the times the park grounds and visitor center are open for visitors. Listed exceptions: Christmas Day 2026-12-25 to 2026-12-25. 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 4 things to do at Wright Brothers National Memorial: Attend a Ranger Program, Fly a kite like Wilbur and Orville!, Walk to the Monument, Take a Selfie with Orville and Wilbur. Pets permitted on 4 of them (Attend a Ranger Program, Fly a kite like... National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Commercial Sedan: $25. National Park Service