How much does it cost to get into Yellowstone? As of November 2026, a 7-day Yellowstone entrance pass costs $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per person if you enter on foot, bicycle, or skis. Non-US residents age 16 and older pay an extra $100 unless covered by an annual pass.
How much does it cost to get into Yellowstone?
The standard Yellowstone entrance fee is $20 to $35, depending on how you enter the park. As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone fees page lists these standard entrance passes:
| Entrance type | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $35 | One private, non-commercial vehicle with 15 seats or fewer, plus all passengers, for 7 consecutive days |
| Motorcycle | $30 | Up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers, for 7 days |
| Snowmobile | $30 | Up to 2 snowmobiles with up to 4 total passengers, for 7 days |
| Per person | $20 | Visitors age 16 or older entering on foot, bicycle, skis, or similar non-vehicle travel |
That 7-day window starts on the day you buy the pass. Roll in on a Monday afternoon, and your pass runs for seven consecutive days from that purchase date. You can leave and re-enter during that period.
Kids under 16 do not need their own entrance pass, as of November 2026. If you’re driving a normal private vehicle, your passengers do not each need to buy a separate entrance pass.
Do you need a reservation to enter Yellowstone National Park?
No, Yellowstone does not require vehicle reservations to enter the park. As of November 2026, the National Park Service says an entrance pass is required, but vehicle reservations are not needed.
You can buy a pass ahead of time to save a few minutes at the gate, or you can buy one at an entrance station when you arrive. The official Yellowstone fees page lists the North, Northeast, East, South, and West entrance stations as in-person purchase locations, with cash or credit/debit accepted.
Don’t confuse “no vehicle reservation” with “everything is open.” Yellowstone is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, but most park roads do not stay open to regular vehicles all year. As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone road status page says the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance is the only road generally open year-round to regular vehicles; most other roads close to regular vehicles from early November to late April.
Which Yellowstone pass should you buy?
Buy the cheapest pass that matches your trip, unless you’ll visit more federal recreation sites within the year. Here’s the straight read.
- One Yellowstone trip by car: Get the $35 private vehicle pass.
- Two or more Yellowstone trips in 12 months: Consider the $70 Yellowstone annual pass, available to US citizens and residents as of November 2026.
- Yellowstone plus other national parks or federal lands: Consider an America the Beautiful Pass.
- Non-US resident visiting major US parks: Compare the per-visit nonresident fee with the Non-Resident America the Beautiful Annual Pass before you buy.
As of November 2026, Yellowstone lists the Resident America the Beautiful Annual Pass at $80 and the Non-Resident Annual Pass at $250. The same page lists discounted or free pass options for eligible US seniors, current US military and dependents, veterans, Gold Star Family members, US citizens and residents with permanent disabilities, US 4th graders, and federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours.
Bring the actual pass and photo ID. Yellowstone says annual passholders must be present with identification, and the park cannot accept a receipt or photo of a lost or stolen pass in place of the pass itself.
Does the Yellowstone entrance fee cover Grand Teton too?
No, Yellowstone and Grand Teton charge separate entrance fees. This catches travelers who enter or exit Yellowstone through the South Entrance, because that route connects directly with Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming.
As of November 2026, Yellowstone’s fees page says trips through Yellowstone’s South Entrance to Jackson pass through Grand Teton, and each park charges its own entrance fee. If you plan to visit both parks, this is where an America the Beautiful Pass can make sense.
What extra costs should hikers and campers expect?
Day hiking does not require a Yellowstone backcountry permit, but overnight backcountry camping does. As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone backcountry camping page says a backcountry permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in Yellowstone’s backcountry, and permits are not required for day hiking.
Backcountry camping has its own fee structure. As of November 2026, Yellowstone lists a $10 non-refundable Early Access Lottery application fee, plus a $5 per person, per night recreation fee and a $10 reservation fee for permits secured through Recreation.gov or in person at a backcountry office.
For backpackers, the money is only one piece of the plan. Yellowstone’s backcountry rules also require you to camp in your assigned site on the listed dates, and food storage is serious business in grizzly country. The park says food and scented items must be secured by hanging them from food poles, which requires at least 35 ft [10.7 m] of rope, or by using approved hard-sided bear-resistant food containers.
How do you pay the Yellowstone entrance fee?
You can pay online before you arrive or at an entrance station. Buying ahead is cleaner if you’re arriving during a busy summer morning, but it is not the same as reserving a vehicle entry slot.
- Choose your pass: private vehicle, motorcycle, per-person, Yellowstone annual, or America the Beautiful.
- Buy online if you want the fastest gate stop, or plan to buy at the entrance station.
- Save your pass where you can reach it quickly, not buried under the cooler.
- Bring photo ID if you are using an annual pass.
- Check the road status before you drive, especially from early November through late April.
If you’re entering after a long drive, keep the pass holder awake and handy. Rangers need to see the pass, not a passenger’s vague memory that “it’s somewhere in the glove box.”
Do fishing or boating cost extra in Yellowstone?
Yes, fishing and boating have separate permits. As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone fishing page says anglers age 16 or older must have a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit; state fishing licenses are not valid and are not required.
Yellowstone fishing permit fees, as of November 2026, are $40 for 3 days, $55 for 7 days, and $75 for the season. Children 15 or younger may fish without a permit under direct supervision of an adult with a valid park fishing permit, or they may get a free permit signed by a responsible adult.
Boating also has rules and fees. As of November 2026, the official Yellowstone boating page says all watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, inflatable boats, and angler float tubes, must pass an aquatic invasive species inspection and receive a permit before launch.
- Non-motorized boating permit: $20 for 7 days or $30 for the season.
- Motorized boating permit: $40 for 7 days or $60 for the season.
- Cold-water reality: Yellowstone says lake water can be in the 40s Fahrenheit [4-9°C] in June and may only reach the 60s [16-21°C] by late summer.
- Required gear: Every vessel must carry a US Coast Guard-approved wearable PFD for each person on board.
What rules affect the real cost of a Yellowstone trip?
The entrance fee is the simple part. The real cost comes from choices: where you sleep, whether you fish or boat, whether you visit Grand Teton too, and whether your timing forces longer drives around seasonal road closures.
Build your budget around these checkpoints:
- Entrance pass: $20 to $35 for a standard 7-day pass, as of November 2026.
- Nonresident fee: Non-US residents age 16 and older pay an added $100 unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass, as of November 2026.
- Backcountry overnight permit: Required year-round for overnight backcountry stays.
- Fishing permit: Required for anglers age 16 and older.
- Boat permit and AIS inspection: Required before launching any watercraft.
- Separate parks: Yellowstone and Grand Teton charge separate entrance fees.
- Seasonal roads: A closed road can add hours, fuel, and sometimes another night outside the park.
One more rule with no price tag but big consequences: wildlife distance. Yellowstone tells visitors to stay at least 100 yards [91 m] from bears and wolves, and 25 yards [23 m] from all other wildlife. That costs nothing. Breaking it can cost you far more than money.
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FAQ
Can you enter Yellowstone for free?
Sometimes, but don’t count on it without checking the current NPS fee-free dates. As of November 2026, Yellowstone lists annual fee-free entrance days, but other fees such as reservations, permits, camping, fishing, or boating may still apply.
How long is a Yellowstone entrance pass good for?
A standard Yellowstone entrance pass is good for 7 consecutive days. As of November 2026, the private vehicle pass covers one private, non-commercial vehicle with 15 seats or fewer and all passengers.
Do kids need to pay to enter Yellowstone?
No, children under 16 do not need an entrance pass. As of November 2026, per-person entry fees apply to visitors age 16 or older entering without a vehicle, such as on foot, bicycle, or skis.
Can I buy a Yellowstone pass at the gate?
Yes, you can buy an entrance pass at Yellowstone entrance stations. As of November 2026, Yellowstone also encourages buying an entrance pass before arrival to save time.
Does the Yellowstone entrance fee include camping?
No, the entrance fee does not include camping. Overnight backcountry camping requires a separate permit year-round, and frontcountry campgrounds or lodging have their own reservation systems and fees.
Is Yellowstone open all year?
Yes, Yellowstone is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Road access changes by season, and as of November 2026, most park roads close to regular vehicles from early November to late April.