Lake Mead National Recreation Area has entrance and lake use fees. Passes can be purchased at the entrance stations or online. You may also purchase passes by printing out a mail-in form.
Current entrance station locations are:
Boulder Beach, East Lake Mead Blvd., Lake Mead Parkway, Cottonwood Cove, Temple Bar, Northshore Road, Willow Beach, Katherine Landing
Helpful hint- help us help you
We are required to check ID with all passes, so please have your ID out and ready with your pass when you enter the park. This will help us help you.
If you happen to lose or forget your pass, we will ask you to pay the entrance fee. We don’t have the ability to look up passes, and the receipt for the pass does not take the place of the pass. We cannot issue refunds later after your pass is found. Please double check that you have your pass prior to making the trip out. This will help us help you.
Current pass holders can enter the park through the far right-hand lane of the entrance station. Lake Mead charges entry fees per vehicle, so if there is a pass present in the private vehicle, that pass can be used for the whole vehicle entrance fee.
Per person fees are only charged for certain commercial or group entry or cases in which a person is not in a motorized vehicle (walking, biking, etc). In the event a party is walking together, passes are valid for the passholder + 3 persons age 16 or older. Any individual entering the park under the age of 16 is admitted for free.
2018, Private (non-commercial), Entrance, Vessel and Camping Fees
Entrance, vessel and camping fees are effective Jan. 1, 2017. See Commercial Tour Category (bottom of page) for commercial fees.
Entrance Fees
Annual Vehicle, Motorcycle or Individual
$40
Valid for one year from month of purchase
Daily Vehicle
$20 per vehicle (covers all passengers)
Valid for seven consecutive days
Daily Motorcycle
$15
Valid for seven consecutive days
Daily Individual
(walking, cycling)
$10
Valid for seven consecutive days
Vessel Fees
Annual Vessel Sticker
$50 per vessel
Senior/Access $25
Valid for calendar year
Daily Vessel Pass
$16 per vessel
Senior/Access $8
Valid for seven consecutive days
Camping Fees
Group Camping
$80 (12-30 people, reservations only
Per group/per night
Call 702-293-8906 for reservations
Regular Camping
$20 per site (Senior/Access $10)
Per site/per night
Lake Mead - Annual Pass
-$40 Annual Pass. Good for one year from month of purchase
-Available to everyone
-Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle. In cases where per person fees are charged, pass is valid for the passholder + 3 Adults. Purchase the pass at Lake Mead National Recreation Area entrance stations or headquarters. Purchase pass online
America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass
A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. A pass covers entrance and standard amenity fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free. (USDA, FS, NPS, FWS, BLM, BOR, ASACE)
For Pass Program Definitions and more detailed information, please visit This Page for more information.
America the Beautiful - Annual Pass
- $80 Annual Pass. Good for one year from date of sale
- Available to everyone
- Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR passholder and 3 persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. Children under 16 admitted free. Purchase the pass at Lake Mead National Recreation Area entrance stations or headquarters.
America the Beautiful - U.S. Military Pass
- Free
- Available to U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard and also Reserve and National Guard members.
- Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR passholder and 3 persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. Children under 16 admitted free
Purchase the pass at Lake Mead National Recreation Area entrance stations or headquarters by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173)
America the Beautiful - Senior Pass
- $20 Annual Pass. Good for one year from date of sale.
- Available for seniors 62 years old and over
- Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR passholder and 3 persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. Children under 16 admitted free.
- May provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. Only the passholder can receive the discount.
- $80 Lifetime Pass
- Available for seniors 62 years old and over
- Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR passholder and 3 persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. Children under 16 admitted free.
- May provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. Only the passholder can receive the discount.
In order to meet requirements set by legislation passed by Congress in December 2016, the price of the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass was increased from $10 to $80. The change took effect August 28, 2017. Pass holders are given lifetime access to more than 2,000 sites and parks.The fee increase will support critical investments in maintenance projects at national parks and federal recreational lands nationwide.
The legislation requires that the price of the lifetime Senior Pass be the same as the Interagency Annual Pass, which is currently $80. The legislation also introduces a new annual Senior Pass that can be purchased for $20. Seniors who purchase annual Senior Passes for four years can trade them in for a lifetime Senior Pass at no additional charge.
America the Beautiful - Access Pass
- Free
- Available for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.
-Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR passholder and 3 persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. Children under 16 admitted free.
- May provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. Only the passholder can receive the discount.
Purchase the pass at Lake Mead National Recreation Area entrance stations or headquarters or through the mail ($10 processing fee) using this application form (PDF). Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.
America the Beautiful - Volunteer Pass
- Free
- For volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the interagency Pass Program.
Contact us at Lake Mead National Recreation Area for more information about volunteer opportunities or visit Volunteer.gov.
Every Kid in a Park Fourth Grade Pass
- Free
- Available for U.S. fourth grade students.
- Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR passholder and 3 persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged.
Fourth grade students must present a valid voucher printed from the www.everykidinapark.gov website. Voucher can be exchanged at any fee collecting park for an annual pass.
Fishing & Hunting License Fees
Hunting and fishing is regulated by each state located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
To fish within the states of Nevada or Arizona, you must carry with you a valid fishing license. If your license is for Arizona, and you plan to fish from a boat or other craft on lakes Mead and Mohave, or on the shoreline of Nevada, then you must have a "use stamp" from Nevada (and vice-versa).
For more detailed informaiton about fishing license and information please visit our Fishing Page.
For more detailed information about a hunting license please visit our Hunting Page.
2018 Campground Fees
2017 campground fees are $20 per site ($10 with the Interagency Senior and Access passes) and are payable immediately upon occupying a campsite. Fees are posted at the entrance to the campground. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations. Check-out time is noon.
Group campsites fees are $80 per night (15 person minimum - 30 person maximum per site) are located at the Boulder Campground. Camping fees are posted at the campground kiosk. Reservations are required. Please call (702) 293-8906, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The group campground is for tent camping only with limited vehicle parking. Group campground accommodations include a common area restroom, picnic tables, firepit and limited shaded areas.
For more information about camping please visit ourCamping Page.
2018 Boating and Watercraft Fees
Boaters can purchase a Lake Mead Annual Vessel Pass for $50 for their motorized vessel or $16 for a 1- to 7-day pass. Non-motorized vessels do not require a Lake Mead Vessel Pass. Purchase Annual Boat Pass Online
Other Fees:
In addition some watercraft are required to purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) decal for their craft, which is NOT AVAILABLE at the park. You must purchase prior to arrival through the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). This is a requirement regardless of whether you launch from Nevada or Arizona. Watercraft registered in Arizona are exempt for the decal requirement within the Lake Mead NRA. All non-registered vessels must display an AIS decal.
To purchase this decal please visit the NDOW website at www.ndowlicensing.com (service fees apply) OR Toll Free at (866) 703-4605 (service fee applies)
- Ely: 1218 North Alpha St., (775) 289-1655 Ext. 21
- Reno: 1100 Valley Road, (775) 688-1500
- Elko: 60 Youth Center Road, (775) 777-2300
- Winnemucca: 815 E. 4th St., (775) 623-6565
- Fallon: 380 West B St., (775) 423-3171
**Closest location to Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
2018 Commercial Tour Category
Entry is valid for seven (7) days, only for the same vehicle and the same group. Fees will be levied on vehicle capacity and are not pro-rated for those passengers who may be exempt from fees, such as passport holders or those under the age of 16. This was calculated into the fees coordinated with the National Transportation Association and the National Bus Association in conjunction with national tour meetings. Commercial tour rates:
Sedan (1-6 persons) $ 25.00
Van (7-15 persons) $ 50.00
Mini-Bus (16-25 persons) $ 60.00
Motor Coach (26+ persons) $150.00
While in the park our official concessionaires offer additional opportunities and services for additional fees and costs. Please visit our Directory of Concessionaires page to view our current park concessionaires which has contact and services information.
