Fees & Passes

 

Isle Royale National Park is Cashless for Entrance Fees

Isle Royale National Park no longer accepts cash for park entrance fees. Only credit card transactions will be accepted. Rock Harbor Lodge and its stores in Rock Harbor and Windigo accept both cash and credit card payments.

 

Entrance Fee Basics

 

Daily Entrance Fees

• Isle Royale National Park charges a $7 per person daily entrance fee to enter or remain within the park per calendar day.
• This includes the day you arrive and the day you depart the park.
• Children 15 and under are exempt from daily entrance fees.

Isle Royale Season Pass

If your daily entrance fee costs exceed $60, or you're taking more than one trip to Isle Royale in a given season, consider the Isle Royale Season Pass. 

• The Isle Royale Season Pass costs $60.
• With the Isle Royale Season Pass, entrance fees for up to 3 adults (16 and up) traveling with the pass holder (4 total) for all visits during the park season (April 16 through October 31) will be waived.

Federal Land Passes (annual, military, veteran, senior, access)

If you are traveling to more than one National Park or federal lands in the following twelve months, consider a Federal Lands Pass. 

• Federal Lands Passes (annual, military, veteran, senior, access, and volunteer) are accepted at Isle Royale.
• With a Federal Lands Pass, daily entrance fees will be waived for the pass holder and up to 3 adults (16 and up) traveling with the pass holder (4 total).

 

Paying Your Fees

• Pay entrance fees online before coming to Isle Royale National Park to avoid wait times on-island.
  • If you already have a federal lands pass (annual, militatry, veteran, senior, access), there is nothing you need to do in advance. Bring your pass with you to the Island.
• If not paid in advance, entrance fees can be processed at the Rock Harbor, Windigo, or Houghton visitor centers. Fee payments can only be made during the following fee collection hours.
  • Rock Harbor fee hours: 11:00am - 2:30pm EST
  • Windigo fee hours: 10:30am - 2:00pm EST
  • Houghton fee hours: hours vary depending on season.

 

What If I Forgot My Pass?

To waive entrance fees with a Federal Lands Pass or Isle Royale Season Pass, said pass must be presented on-island.

• Forgotten passes cannot be looked up.
• If you forget to bring your pass with you, entrance fee payment will be required upon arrival to Isle Royale.

 

Passes and Payment

• 

  Federal Land Passes

  Learn about the different types of Federal Lands Passes.

• 

  Pay Fees Before You Go

  Pay entrance fees ahead of time to avoid wait times on-island.

• 

  Isle Royale Season Pass

  The Isle Royale Season Pass is one of the many ways to cover park entrance fees.

• 

  Entrance Fee FAQs

  Frequently asked questions about park entrance fees.

• 

  Entrance Fee Refunds

  Learn how to get a refund for park entrance fees.

 

Other Fee Information

• 

  Academic Fee Waiver

  Learn if you qualify for an academic fee waiver and how to apply.

• 

  Special Permit Fees

  Learn more about group camping fees and other special permits.

• 

  Your Dollars at Work

  Learn how your dollars impact the park.

 

Trip Planning

• 

  First Timer Guide

  Start planning your trip.

• 

  RANGER III Main Page

  Return to all RANGER III menu options.

• 

  Group Camping

  Groups of 7 or more people need a group camping permit and advance reservations.

 

Key Information

1. Get an entrance pass

   All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

   Pass	Price
   Standard Pass	$7.00
   Annual Pass	$60.00
   America the Beautiful Pass (includes Senior Passes)	FREE–$80.00

   Help me choose an entrance pass

2. Plan to go cashless

   This park does not accept cash.

Choosing an Entrance Pass

Do you have or qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful Pass?

If you already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, that's the only entrance pass you need. Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass.

America the Beautiful Pass

How often do you plan to visit national parks in the next 12 months?

If you don't qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful pass, we recommend choosing an entrance pass based on your trip plans.

I'm visiting...	We recommend
This park, once	Standard Pass
This park, multiple times	Annual Pass
More than one national park or federal recreation site	America the Beautiful Pass

Entrance Passes

Isle Royale Season Pass, Federal Lands Passes, and 4th Grade Passes are accepted.

• Standard Pass
• Annual Pass
• America the Beautiful Pass

Standard Entrance Pass

$7.00

Daily Entrance Fees: $7 per person per day to enter or remain in the park. Children 15 and younger are exempt.

For Individuals

All visitors over the age of 16 need an entrance pass, including vehicle passengers. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.

Per Person (Apr 16-Oct 31)

$7.00

$7 per person per day to enter or remain in Isle Royale National Park. Children 15 and younger are exempt. Visiting Park Headquarters in Houghton, MI does not require a fee.

In-person Purchase Locations

• Rock Harbor Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Windigo Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Houghton Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

More information

Show less about Standard Entrance Pass

Annual Entrance - Park

$60.00

Isle Royale Season Pass: $60 valid from April 16 through October 31 of the year indicated. Pass covers fees for the pass holder and up to three adults traveling with the pass holder (four total).

In-person Purchase Locations

• Rock Harbor Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Windigo Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

• Houghton Visitor Center

  Credit/Debit Only

Show lessabout Annual Entrance - Park

America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by

• National Park Service
• US Fish & Wildlife Service
• US Forest Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• US Army of Corps of Engineers

Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
One private vehicle fee
or
Four per person fees

Type	Available to	Price
Annual Pass	Everyone	$80.00
Senior Annual Pass	US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old	$20.00
Senior Lifetime Pass	US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old	$80.00
Military Annual Pass	Current US military and dependents	Free
Military Lifetime Pass	Gold Star Family members and veterans	Free
Access Pass	US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability	Free
4th Grade Pass	US 4th graders	Free
Volunteer Pass	Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours	Free

America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.

How to Get an America the Beautiful Pass

In Person (Recommended)

Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.

Purchase and pickup locations

Order Online, Receive by Mail

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Online Store . Online orders are for physical passes, not digital passes, and may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. We recommend ordering at least three weeks in advance of your visit, or picking up a pass in person instead.

Close

2025 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

• Thursday, January 9 — National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter Jr.
• Monday, January 20 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Saturday, April 19 — First Day of National Park Week
• Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
• Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day