Grand Canyon National Park is a remarkable destination that draws in excess of 5 million visitors annually from around the globe. Accessible through three distinct entrances, this natural wonder often experiences long lines at its gateways. To enhance your experience and minimize wait times, consider the following tips.
Visit outside of the Memorial Day to Labor Day (summer season).
Plan to enter the park on a weekday as weekends are particularly busy.
Arrive at the entrance either before 10 A.M. or after 2 P.M.
There is no guarantee that following these tips will prevent you from waiting in line, but it greatly improves your chances of not having to wait.
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
Note: on entrance fee-free days, other fees for reservations, camping, lodging, and tours, are not included, unless stated otherwise
Educational Fee Waivers
National Park Service policy permits entrance fees to be waived for national and international academic institutions visiting parks for non-commercial educational purposes. However, Educational Fee Waivers are not issued automatically. Educational groups must apply and meet the criteria to receive a fee waiver.
Large Girl Scout, Boy Scout and other youth groups
Service organizations, etc.
Organized Non-commercial Groups in vehicles with a manufacture's designed capacity of 16 or less are charged the $35.00 vehicle permit or a fee of $8.00 per person in vehicles with a manufacture's designed capacity of 16 or greater. Age and pass exemptions apply.
A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is required for any commercial tour company, regional shuttle service company, or local transit company that enters the park.
Commercial Vehicles must show their CUA upon every entry to Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon National Park only accepts credit or debit cards for all entrance fees, including commercial tour fees. No Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access, Grand Canyon Park Passes, or America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes, will be accepted and there are no exemptions for age.
Vehicles with capacity of 1-25: will be charged a Flat Fee of $8.00 per person. Those age 15 and under will be exempt from payment of fees.
Vehicles with capacity of 26 or greater: will be charged a flat fee of $300.00.
Clients entering in their own vehicle in vehicle caravan or meet guide in the park: In any instance where the clients enter the park in their own vehicle, each vehicle will be charged the regular, single-vehicle fee ($30 Motorcycles, $35 Vehicle). If one or more group members own an America The Beautiful: Federal Lands Pass, each pass will be accepted for entry of one vehicle.
Do you need a reservation to enter the park? How about for camping?
Do You Need a Reservation?
To enter Grand Canyon National Park
You do not need a reservation at this time.
There is no timed entry at this time.
Camping at Grand Canyon National Park is another story
While we do have a few first-come, first-served sites, and some cancellations at Mather Campground at Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, having a reservation for camping there is highly encouraged.
Reservations are required for the Desert View Campground (April 13 through October 13, 2024).
Reservations are required for the North Rim Campground (May 15 through October 15, 2024).
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship. Access passes are available at Grand Canyon National Park entrance stations.
Pass Usage Information:
Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Digital representations of the pass are not valid or accepted.
Pass is non-transferable.
The Access Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services.
The Access Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass. Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must show proof of eligibility.
Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. Please check photo ID requirements before arriving.
Pass Usage Information:
Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Is valid from the month of purchase till end of the month the next calendar year.
Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Digital representations of the pass are not valid or accepted.
Gold Star Families with a valid Gold Star Family Voucher
US military veterans with a valid, veteran ID
Pass Usage Information:
Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Digital representations of the pass are not valid or accepted.
Cost: Voucher, valid for the duration of the 4th grader's school year though the following summer (September-August) Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six Federal agencies. Admits pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle.
Available for: US 4th graders, including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age, with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper voucher.
NOTE: Digital versions of the paper voucher, such as on smart phones or tablets, are not accepted to exchange for an Annual 4th Grade Pass.
Educators may help students obtain 4th Grade Passes. Learn more at the Every Kid Outdoors website. Educators however, do not qualify for a 4th Grade Pass but may want to get one of the other Interagency Passes.
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents ages 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.
Pass Usage Information:
Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. (NOTE: The Senior Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.)
The Senior Annual Pass is valid from the month of purchase till end of the month the next calendar year and can be used to upgrade to the Senior Lifetime Pass even after pass expiration.
Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass.
Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Digital representations of the pass are not valid or accepted.
Interagency Annual Pass (America the Beautiful Pass)
Cost: $80 annual pass
Available for: Everyone
Pass Usage Information:
Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Is valid from the month of purchase till end of the month the next calendar year.
This pass is non-transferable to another person but two people can own the pass.
Digital representations of the pass are not valid or accepted.
Available to the general public for purchase for unlimited visits to Grand Canyon National Park only. This is an annual pass, valid one year from month of purchase; it is non-transferable.
It admits the pass holder and any accompanying persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or the pass holder and accompanying immediate family (spouse, children, parents) when entry is by other means (train, shuttle, bicycle, or foot).
IN-PERSON PURCHASE LOCATIONS
Grand Canyon South Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Desert View Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
North Rim Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
If you don’t qualify for, or need the above passes, review your additional options below
Standard Entrance Passes
$20.00–$35.00
Admission to Grand Canyon National Park is for 7 days and includes both the South Rim, and during their season, the North Rim. No cash is accepted at the park's 3 entrance stations; credit/debit card only. No refunds are given due to inclement weather. Grand Canyon Annual Passes and America the Beautiful passes are available at all 3 of Grand Canyon National Park's entrance stations.
Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers, up to a 15 person passenger van.
Organized non-commercial groups over 16 passengers require different charges. Commercial groups are not eligible for the vehicle permit.
IN-PERSON PURCHASE LOCATIONS
Grand Canyon South Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Desert View Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
North Rim Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Admits one single, private, non-commercial motorcycle and its passenger(s).
IN-PERSON PURCHASE LOCATIONS
Grand Canyon South Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Desert View Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
North Rim Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Individual ($20 valid for 7 days): for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians.
IN-PERSON PURCHASE LOCATIONS
Grand Canyon South Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Desert View Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
North Rim Entrance Station
Credit/Debit Only
Where to Purchase Your Pass
Authorized Third-party Vendors (Cash or Card)
Locations in the South Rim gateway town of Tusayan and the passes they sell
Westwind Air (Grand Canyon Airport Main Terminal)—$80 Interagency Annual Pass and $35 vehicle pass
Automated Fee Machines (Card Only)
LOCATIONS
Williams, Arizona, Visitor Center (54 miles south)
Valle, Arizona, Chevron Station (28 miles south)
Imax Theater in Tusayan
Imax Theater - Shuttle Bus Stop in Tusayan
Grand Hotel - Shuttle Bus Stop in Tusayan
PRODUCTS
$35.00 vehicle pass
$30.00 motorcycle pass
$20.00 individual pass
$80.00 America the Beautiful Annual Pass voucher (to be redeemed at any of the 3 Grand Canyon National Park entrance stations,
Online
Grand Canyon National Park no longer offers entrance passes online.
For several years Grand Canyon National Park sold digital passes online through Recreation.gov, but no longer does, in order to keep more visitor fees in the park to improve the visitor experience.
Automated fee machine at the Mather Campground Office.
Desert View Entrance Station
North Rim Entrance Station
Automated fee machine at the North Rim Visitor Center.
The Grand Canyon Fee Team
The Grand Canyon Fee Team is made up of over 60 Recreational Fee Technicians from all over the country. With many different people we have many different points of view and are dynamic while sharing the same vision of building public support for the National Park Service and collecting the vital funds that help make the visitor experience special.
We are excited to welcome our visitors and hope that your experience with us is positively remembered for years to come. If you have additional questions prior to your trip please email us here.
