Fees & Passes

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The entrance fees you pay when visiting Yellowstone make a difference! Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, national parks keep 80% of all fees collected and use that money to fund critical projects that improve services and protect resources. In Yellowstone, entrance fee revenue provides $8.8 million a year for accessibility improvements, campgrounds, infrastructure, roads, native fish restoration, aquatic invasive species mitigation, and more.

Free Entrance Days

Check out the list of fee-free days coming up this year.

 

Tip about Entrance Passes

To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and to speed up entrance station lines, we encourage you to purchase your pass ahead of time.

 

Buy your Yellowstone entrance pass online at Recreation.gov

Entrance Fees

Whether you're planning a single visit or coming back multiple times a year, enjoy the convenience of purchasing a Yellowstone National Park site-specific digital pass on Recreation.gov before you arrive. You have immediate access to your digital pass and can easily download it on your phone or tablet. Your pass will also be emailed as a PDF and can be printed out for display when you arrive.

Learn more about your pass options, find the right Yellowstone National Park pass for you, and buy your pass online.

Visitors entering Yellowstone's South Entrance will be traveling through Grand Teton National Park first; separate entrance fees are charged.

The following passes are sold at all entrance stations.

Seven-day Passes

Good for entry into Yellowstone National Park for seven days from the date of purchase.

• Private, non-commercial vehicle: $35
• Motorcycle or snowmobile: $30
• Individual (by foot, bicycle, ski, etc.): $20/person

Annual Pass

Annual pass providing free entrance into Yellowstone National Park for one year (valid through the month of purchase). On a snowmobile, this pass admits the signer(s). When traveling by snowcoach or shuttle, this pass admits a signer and up to three additional persons (16 and older) for a total of four people.

• Yellowstone National Park Annual Pass: $70.00

Regulations and Exceptions

• All passes are non-transferable.
• All snowmobiles must be on a guided tour or permit.
• School groups and other bona fide national and international academic institutions may be eligible for an Academic Fee Waiver.
• Anyone age 15 or younger is exempt from paying entrance fees.
• Passes may be used for entry as defined on the back of the pass.
• Anyone traveling through the park for business or commercial purposes needs a commercial travel permit.

Non-Commercial Buses/Vans

Non-commercial groups (e.g. church groups, scouts) traveling in vehicles with a capacity of 16 people or more pay $20/person.

Commercial Tours

Based on CDC guidance, The Department of the Interior and National Park Service (NPS) have determined that the physical distancing standards outlined in the DOI COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan are not practicable on park transportation systems. The National Park Service (NPS) has recently issued new guidance requiring the lifting of social distancing measures on transportation systems.

Effective June 3, 2021, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks will no longer require strict physical distancing standards on park transportation systems. Park transportation systems may return to full capacity operations as soon as practicable. While some practices that promote physical distancing may be appropriate to continue (such as designating an entry and exit door for vehicles with multiple doors), practices that limit capacity, such as closing alternate rows of seating or limiting occupancy, are not required.

Public Transit Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies maintaining six feet of physical distance from others who are not part of your household as a sound public health practice and while this remains accurate, the CDC recognizes that "distancing may be difficult to impossible on flights" and that "travel by bus, train, vessel, and other conveyances pose similar challenges." As a result, the CDC ordered and requires that masks be worn on transportation systems, however, physical distancing is not required.

All commercial operators are independently responsible for understanding and complying with the most current applicable laws, regulations, orders, ordinances and other requirements and for conducting their operations in a manner that is safe and protects the health of employees, customers and the public.

This guidance could change if COVID-19 conditions become less favorable. Operators are responsible for staying up-to-date on the latest guidance.

If you are a Road-Based Commercial Tour operator and would like to receive communication from the park about operational changes, please email us your business name, contact name, address, phone number, and email address.

Commercial bus tours pay fees based on the seating capacity of the vehicle. The following fees cover entry to Yellowstone:

• Commercial Sedan (1-6 seats): $25, plus $20/person
• Commercial Van (7-15 seats, regardless of occupancy): $125
• Commercial Mini Bus (16-25 seats, regardless of occupancy): $200
• Commercial Motor Coach (26 or more seats, regardless of occupancy): $300

Commercial entry good for seven days as long as it's the same passenger group.

 

Every Kid Outdoors

Every Kid Outdoors connects fourth graders and their families to public lands. Complete a fun activity and get your voucher for free admission today. 

 

Federal Lands Passes

Federal lands passes are accepted and sold at Yellowstone entrance stations.

Note about Winter Use in Yellowstone

On a snowmobile, annual/lifetime passes admit the signer(s). When traveling by snowcoach or shuttle, passes admit a signer and up to three additional persons (16 and older) for a total of four people.

 

 

New passes added this year include:

• 5th Grade Pass for US students in fifth grade: Free
• Gold Star Families and Military Veterans: Free