Fees & Passes

 

BIG BEND ENTRANCE FEES & PASSES

All vehicles entering Big Bend National Park are subject to an entrance fee.

• No cash is accepted; credit/debit card only.
• No refunds are given due to inclement weather

There are no reservations required for entering Big Bend National Park. There are no day passes issued, and there is no limit to the number of visitors entering the park each day.

 

Overview of entrance requirements

All visitors MUST have

• Entrance Pass

  Required for all visitors*

* May not apply in some cases. See details below.

Entrance Passes

Interagency Passes

FREE–$80.00

The America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States. entrance fees at lands managed by the National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service and also standard amenity fees (day use fees) at lands managed by the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

More about interagency passes

Standard Entrance Pass

$15.00–$30.00

All vehicles entering Big Bend National Park are subject to an entrance fee. No cash is accepted; credit/debit card only. No refunds are given due to inclement weather. You can pay your entrance pass when you arrive at the park. There are no reservations required for entering Big Bend National Park.

Private Vehicle

$30.00

Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less); valid for 7 days.

In-person Purchase Locations

• Panther Junction Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Chisos Basin Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Maverick Entrance Station

  Credit/Debit Only

• Persimmon Gap Entrance Station

  Credit/Debit Only

More information

Motorcycle

$25.00

Admits one non-commercial motorcycle; valid for 7 days.

More information

Per Person

$15.00

Admits one individual. Typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians; valid for 7 days.

More information

For Organizations & Businesses

Education/Academic Group

$0.00

Groups entering the park for education purposed are encouraged to check the academic fee waiver page for application and qualification information.

More information

Commercial Motor Coach (26+ seats)

$200.00

Companies conducting business in the park are required to obtain a commercial use authorization. The only exception is companies travelling in a 26-person capacity or greater vehicle; such vehicles are charged a flat fee of $200 (commercial use authorization not required).

More information

Non-commercial Group (16+ persons)

$30.00

Organized groups such as Scouts, youth groups, churches, reunions, clubs, etc. that do not qualify for an academic fee waiver are charged as follows: $30 per non-commercial vehicle with a capacity of 15 or less. $15 per person traveling in a non-commercial vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more. Fees will not exceed the commercial rate for the same sized vehicle. Youth 15 and younger are free. Individuals or families with a valid annual or lifetime pass may use their pass for themselves and up to 3 others.

More information

Show less about Standard Entrance Pass

Annual Entrance - Park

$55.00

Big Bend National Park Annual Pass Covers entrance fees to Big Bend National Park. Pass is available at Big Bend National Park entrance stations or any visitor center. Good for one year from purchase date. Pass is non-transferable.

In-person Purchase Locations

• Maverick Entrance Station

  Credit/Debit Only

• Persimmon Gap Entrance Station

  Credit/Debit Only

• Chisos Basin Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Panther Junction Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

Show lessabout Annual Entrance - Park

2023 Fee-free Days

No entrance pass required on these days:

• Monday, January 16 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Saturday, April 22 — First Day of National Park Week
• Friday, August 4 — The Great American Outdoors Act
• Saturday, September 23 — National Public Lands Day
• Saturday, November 11 — Veterans Day

Close

 

Big Bend National Park Entrance Fees

• Vehicle: $30
  Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less); valid for 7 days.
• Motorcycle: $25
  Admits one non-commercial motorcycle; valid for 7 days.
• Individuals: $15
  Admits one individual. Typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians; valid for 7 days.
• Big Bend Annual Pass: $55 (good for one year from purchase date)
  Covers entrance fees to Big Bend National Park. Pass is available at Big Bend National Park entrance stations or any visitor center. Pass is non-transferable.
• Non-commercial groups:
  Organized groups such as Scouts, youth groups, churches, reunions, clubs, etc. that do not qualify for an academic fee waiver are charged as follows:
  $30 per non-commercial vehicle with a capacity of 15 or less.
  $15 per person traveling in a non-commercial vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more. Fees will not exceed the commercial rate for the same sized vehicle. Youth 15 and younger are free. Individuals or families with a valid annual or lifetime pass may use their pass for themselves and up to 3 others.
• Commercial Groups:
  Companies conducting business in the park are required to obtain a commercial use authorization. The only exception is companies travelling in a 26 person capacity or greater vehicle; such vehicles are charged a flat fee of $200 (commercial use authorization not required).
• Educational Groups:
  Groups entering the park for education purposed are encouraged to check the academic fee waiver for application and qualification information.

 

CAMPING FEES

• Developed Campgrounds
  The National Park Service operates three developed frontcountry campgrounds; Rio Grande Village Campground, Chisos Basin Campground, and Cottonwood Campground. The cost is $16 per night per site ($8 per night with Senior or Access pass).
• Campground Reservations
  Reservations required. Approximately 2/3 of the campsites at Rio Grande Village and Chisos Basin campgrounds are reservable up to 6 months in advance, and 1/3 up to 14 days in advance. Cottonwood Campground campsites are reservable up to 14 days in advance. Reservations may be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
• Backcountry Campsites
  Backcountry campsites require a $10 per night backcountry use permit ($5 with a Senior or Access pass), which must be acquired either online at www.recreation.gov, or in person at either the Panther Junction or Chisos Basin visitor centers during normal business hours. Learn more about Backcountry Camping.

 

Visitors arrive at the Maverick Entrance Station.