Fees & Passes

Plan Your Visit

Key Information

  1. Get an entrance pass

    All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

    Pass Price
    Standard Pass $30.00
    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
More than one national park or federal recreation site America the Beautiful Pass

Entrance Passes

Standard Entrance Pass

$30.00

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is administered by Big Bend National Park. All park visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass upon entering Big Bend National Park. No cash is accepted; credit/debit card only. No refunds are given due to inclement weather. For more information on entrance fees and passes for Big Bend National Park, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/fees.htm Big Bend participates in the congressionally authorized Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Under this program, parks keep 80% of all fees collected; the remaining 20% will be deposited in a special account to be used in parks where fees are not collected. Funds generated by these fees are used to accomplish projects that parks have been unable to fund through yearly congressional allocations.

For Vehicles

If 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.

Entrance Fee to Big Bend National Park. This fee includes all occupants of a private, non-commercial vehicle and is valid for 7 days

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Maverick Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Persimmon Gap Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Panther Junction Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Chisos Basin Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

For Individuals without a Vehicle

If 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.

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

A stack of all six versions of the America the Beautiful 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.

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:

 
Lower Canyons Campsite
Lower Canyons Campsite

NPS Photo / T. VandenBerg

 

The Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River does not have an entry fee, however, if you float the portions of the Wild & Scenic River inside Big Bend National Park, you will be charged for entry into the National Park. A backcountry use permit is required for all river use. Day-use river permits are free, while overnight or multi-day river trips have a permit fee of $10 per night.

For additional information about entrance fees or park passes, please visit Big Bend National Park's Fees & Passes.

Last updated: May 18, 2023

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River
c/o Big Bend National Park
PO Box 129

Big Bend National Park, TX 79834

Phone:

(432) 477-2251

Contact Us