Fees & Passes

Fees are collected when visitors drive into the park. They are greeted by park rangers at the entrance station located one mile south of the visitor center.

NPS/ Sydney Stover

Entrance Fees

Visitors will be charged only one of the following fees. Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Fees can be paid by check, credit card, or cash.

How are my fee dollars used?

Learn about current projects at Great Sand Dunes that are funded by Your Fee Dollars at Work.

 

Entrance Fees

Basic Entrance Pass

(good for up-to seven consecutive days)

• Non-Commercial Vehicle and Occupants (normal car): $25
• Oversized Vehicle, 15+ passengers, age 16+ (large van): $15/person
• Motorcycle and Riders: $20

Commercial Tour Entrance Fees

Commercial Tour Fees (tour buses, touring vans, etc.) are charged by the number of passengers:

1-6 passengers = $25 fee
7-25 passengers = $40 fee
26+ passengers = $100 fee

Annual Pass

Learn more about national interagency annual and lifetime passes on nps.gov.

Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass: $45
Interagency Annual Pass (for all federal fee areas): $80
Interagency Senior Annual Pass (62 and older, US citizen): $20
Active Duty Military Annual Pass: Free
Interagency Annual Pass for 4th graders and their families: Free with voucher.

Lifetime Pass

Interagency Senior Lifetime Pass (62 and older, US citizen): $80
Interagency Access Pass (permanently disabled): Free

Entrance Fee-Free Days at Great Sand Dunes in 2020

• Monday, January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Saturday, April 18 – First Day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
• Tuesday, August 25 – National Park Service Birthday
• Saturday, September 26 – National Public Lands Day
• Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day

 

The 2020 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve annual entrance pass can be purchased at the park's Entrance Station.

NPS/ Seth Conner

If you visit Great Sand Dunes more than once in a year, consider purchasing an annual pass to save money. The Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass admits pass holder and all family members in the vehicle into the park for one year from date of purchase. Learn more about passes below.

 

Additional Information about Passes

Great Sand Dunes Annual Family Pass

This pass admits pass holder and all family members in the vehicle into the park for one year from date of purchase.

Active Military

Active members of the military are eligible for a free America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass. See below for information about the pass.

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass

This pass is available to the general public and provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity Fee for a year, beginning from the date of sale. The pass admits the pass holder/s and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults.

Senior Pass

This is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. The pass provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the park. The Senior Pass provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50 percent price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

Access Pass

This is a free lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Documentation is required to obtain the pass. Acceptable documentation includes: statement by a licensed physician; document issued by Federal agency such as the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income; or document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. The pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the park. The pass provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50 percent price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

All National Parks Passes, Golden Access and Golden Age Passports will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. Only paper Golden Age and Access Passports may be exchanged free of charge for new plastic passes.

Questions about entrance fees may be directed to: Fee Supervisor, [phone], or send an email.