Lassen Volcanic is Cashless As of April 8, 2023, Lassen Volcanic National Park operates a cashless fee collection system. Please be prepared to pay entrance fees with card or show a valid digital pass or America the Beautiful Federal Lands pass.
When did the park start cashless operations?Cashless operations at Lassen Volcanic began April 8, 2023. Why did the park change to cashless operations?Reducing cash collected in fee operations allows a park unit to be a better steward of our visitors’ dollars. It allows Lassen Volcanic National Park to:
What entrance stations are cashless?All park entrance stations are cashless. What if I only have cash?The Lassen Association, a park partner, is now an approved third-party vendor for Lassen Volcanic National Park. Visitors are able to purchase Lassen's $30, 7-day Vehicle Passes at either of their locations via cash or credit card. Locations include the bookstore inside the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (Southwest Entrance) or inside the Loomis Residence at the Loomis Plaza (Northwest Entrance). Can I use contactless payments (e.g., Apple Pay or my pre-paid Wallet phone app)?Yes, you can use Apple Pay and other contactless payments systems at entrance stations. Can I use a personal check or cashier’s check?No. Only credit, debit, and other forms of electronic payment will be accepted at entrance stations and campgrounds. Can I purchase a pass before I get to the park?Yes. Visitors can purchase 7-day and annual park passes through recreation.gov. Can I show a digital copy of my pre-paid entrance pass at park entrance stations?Yes. Can I still use cash inside Lassen Volcanic National Park?No, cash is not accepted at entrance stations. However, gift shops, bookstores, and restaurants may accept cash, cards, and other forms of payment. What advantages does this have to the park visitor?Uniform cashless policies should decrease wait times and reduce errors around making change. What are entrances fees used for?Entrance fees are an important source of revenue used to improve the visitor experience in national parks, including road and facility repairs and maintenance, trail improvements, accessibility improvements, visitor and resource protection services, and more. How are commercial tours affected?Commercial tour operators should pay for fees with a credit card. Can visitors pay cash at park campgrounds?No. Sites are reservable in advance at recreation.gov. For first-come, first-serve campsites (Southwest Walk-in and Juniper Lake), camping fees must be paid by credit card via self-serve envelopes or recreation.gov’s Scan and Pay function. Can visitors pay cash at Warner Valley Campground?Warner Valley campground is managed by park concessionaire Snow Mountain, LLC. Learn more about how to reserve or pay for a campsite at lassenlodging.com. How can visitors pay for a wilderness permit to camp in the park’s backcountry?Visitors must purchase a wilderness permit through recreation.gov prior to their trip. Wilderness permit requests and/or fees are not accepted in person, over the phone, through the mail, or via email. Can I still use cash in the park to pay for food?Yes. You will be able to use cash at all park partner-managed business such as gift shops, restaurants, and bookstores. Can I still use cash to pay for items at the bookstores/gift shops?Yes. This cashless transition includes only park entrance fees, campground fees, and backcountry camping fees. How can I provide comments about this change?You may contact us by mail, email, or phone (intermittent). The superintendent’s office receives all submitted comments.
Plan Your Visit
Key Information
Choosing an Entrance PassDo 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. 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.
Entrance PassesStandard Entrance Pass$10.00–$30.00
Lassen Volcanic National Park charges different entrance fees based on mode of transportation and group type, or: how you arrive at the park, and whether you are a part of a commercial tour group.
For VehiclesIf you enter the park in a motorized vehicle, your entrance pass covers both you and your passengers. Your passengers do not need a separate pass. Costs for vehicles with more than 15 passengers are listed below under Organizations and Businesses. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov. In-person Purchase Locations
Discounted entry fee during winter. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov. In-person Purchase Locations
Admits one private, non-commercial motorcycle and its riders. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov. In-person Purchase Locations
Discounted entry fee for winter. Admits one private, non-commercial motorcycle and its riders. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov. In-person Purchase Locations
For Individuals without a VehicleIf you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass. Per-person entrance fee used to admit one person on foot or bicycle. Also used for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov. In-person Purchase Locations
Discounted entry fee for winter. Per-person entrance fee used to admit one person on foot or bicycle. Also used for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov. In-person Purchase Locations
For Organizations & BusinessesPark entrance fees are waived for eligible academic groups with approved fee waiver application. Applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to park visit. More informationValid for up to 7 consecutive days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The entry fees are based upon the total seating capacity of vehicles regardless of the actual number of passengers. Annual or lifetime passes are not accepted. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The entry fees are based upon the total seating capacity of vehicles regardless of the actual number of passengers. Annual or lifetime passes are not accepted. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The entry fees are based upon the total seating capacity of vehicles regardless of the actual number of passengers. Annual or lifetime passes are not accepted. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The entry fees are based upon the total seating capacity of vehicles regardless of the actual number of passengers. Annual or lifetime passes are not accepted.  Annual Entrance - Park$55.00 This multi-park annual pass is valid for one year from month of purchase at four NPS units: Lassen Volcanic
and Crater Lake national parks, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, and Lava Beds National Monument. This pass admits one vehicle and all occupants or one motorcycle and riders or the pass holder and 3 others on bicycle and foot. In-person Purchase Locations
America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by
Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
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 PassIn Person (Recommended)Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites. Order Online, Receive by MailTo 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. 2025 Free Entrance Days in the National ParksCome 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:
Your Fee Dollars at WorkManaging public lands requires a major financial investment. General tax revenues provide most of that investment for Lassen Volcanic National Park. Entrance fees from those who directly use the park for recreation provide additional support for maintaining park services and facilities. Eighty percent of the fees collected at Lassen are returned to the park for specific projects. Each time you pay a park entrance fee, you are making a direct investment in your park. Learn more about projects funded by your fee dollars. General QuestionsIf you have questions about fees or passes, please email us at lavo_fees@nps.gov or call the fees office at 530-595-6121. Please read this entire page before contacting us, as many of your questions may already be answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Last updated: May 12, 2025