Fees & Passes

Electronic Passes Available Through Recreation.gov

Purchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Buying your pass ahead of time may help expedite your trip into the park. Once purchased, passes for Joshua Tree National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited or non-existent in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone (so you can access it even if there is no wi-fi or cell service) is highly recommended.

The America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes, such as the Annual, Access, or Senior pass, can be purchased at a park entrance station or visitor center upon arrival.

The following digital park entrance passes are available on recreation.gov:

• Private Vehicle Pass (valid for seven days)
• Motorcycle Pass (valid for seven days)
• Individual Pass (valid for seven days)
• Joshua Tree Annual Pass (valid for one year from month of purchase)

 

Buying a Pass in Person

In addition to recreation.gov, you can buy a park pass at:

• North Entrance Station (near the city of Twentynine Palms) - debit or credit cards only
• West Entrance Station (near the town of Joshua Tree) - debit or credit cards only
• Joshua Tree Visitor Center - cash or card
• Oasis Visitor Center - cash or card
• Cottonwood Visitor Center - cash or card

Your Fees Benefit the Park

Eighty percent of entrance fee dollars collected in Joshua Tree National Park stay in the park, funding important maintenance projects and visitor services. Learn more about how recreation fees support the operation of your national park.

What Kinds of Passes/Fees Are There?

 

Weekly Passes

Entrance Fee - $30.00

7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days.

Motorcycle Entrance Fee - $25.00

7-day entrance permit, per motorcycle.

Individual Entrance Fee - $15.00

7-day entrance fee, per person on foot or bike.

 

Annual and Lifetime Passes

 

Free Entrance Days

Entrance to Joshua Tree and all other national park sites are typically free on these days:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day
• 3rd Saturday of April: First day of National Park Week
• August 4: Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day
• 4th Saturday in September: National Public Lands Day
• November 11: Veterans Day

View this year's fee free days on nps.gov. Other fees, such as camping and Keys Ranch tour fees, will still be charged on Free Entrance Days.

 

Commercial Tour Group Fees

• 1-6 Passenger Capacity $15 per passenger or $50, whichever is less
• 7-15 Passenger Capacity $50.00
• 16-25 Passenger Capacity $60.00
• 26 + Passenger Capacity $150.00

Road-based commercial tour companies must obtain a Road-based Commercial Use Authorization. Travel agencies that organize and book tour groups that will enter the park as part of business operations require a Commercial Use Authorization Permit. Find out more about Commercial Use Authorizations and permits.

 

Non-Commercial Groups

Groups entering in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 passengers or more will pay an entrance fee of $12 per person on board, with the following exceptions:

• Anyone who is 15 years old or younger is exempt from paying any entrance fee.
• Passes may be used for entry as defined on the back of the pass.
• In many cases the driver will have been hired for transportation only and is exempt from paying the entrance fee.
• The total fee charged will not exceed the equivalent commercial fee for that type of vehicle.

Are you planning an educational trip for a school group? Find out if the group is eligible for an academic fee waiver.

 

Activity Fees

Camping fees vary by campground.
Ranger-led Keys Ranch Tours require advance reservations and cost $10 per adult.