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Yellowstone National ParkFishing Bridge over Yellowstone River
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Yellowstone National Park
Fees, Reservations, & Permits
 

The entrance fee is $25 for a private, noncommercial vehicle; $20 for each snowmobile or motorcycle; or $12 for each visitor 16 and older entering by foot, bike, ski, etc. This fee provides the visitor with a 7-day entrance permit for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Remember to keep your admission receipt in order to re-enter the parks. Snowmobile operators must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license.

Advance reservations are not needed to enter the park. Annual or Lifetime Passes are possible alternatives to the above fees.

Park Annual Pass

The $50 park annual pass provides entrance to pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Pass is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Purchase your pass at one of the park’s entrances.

Interagency Annual Pass

The $80 Interagency Annual Pass provides entrance or access to pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single, private non-commercial vehicle at most federal recreation sites across the country. Pass is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. The pass is not valid for Expanded Amenity fees such as camping or parking at Mt Rushmore. Purchase your pass at one of Yellowstone’s entrance stations or online at http://store.usgs.gov/pass.

Interagency Senior Pass

The $10 Interagency Senior Pass (62 and older) is a lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Pass is available only in-person at entrances or visitor centers.

Interagency Access Pass

Free lifetime pass available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who have been determined to be blind or permanently disabled. Pass is available only in-person at entrances or visitor centers. Learn more about the Access Pass.

The above passes replace the Golden Eagle, Golden Age and Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass.  These passes will remain valid until they expire or are lost or stolen.

Commercial Visitors

Commercial bus tours are subject to a separate fee schedule based upon the seating capacity of the bus.

Seating Capacity Fee
Sedan 1-6 passengers $25, plus $12 a person
Van 7-15 passengers $125 (no per person fee)
Minibus 16-25 passengers $200 (no per person fee)
Motorcoach 26 or more passengers $300 (no per person fee)

Non-Commercial Groups (examples - boy/girl scouts, church groups, clubs)

Non-commercial groups entering the park in a bus or vehicle with a capacity of 15 persons or more, will be charged $12 for each person on board.

Exceptions:

•Anyone who is 15 or younger is exempt from paying an entrance fee.

•Passes may be used for entry as defined on the back of the pass.

•In many cases the driver will have been hired for transportation only and is exempt from paying the entrance fee.

The total fee charged will not exceed the equivalent commercial fee for that type vehicle.

Academic Fee Waivers

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), Public Law 108-447, provides the National Park Service statutory authority to allow "outings conducted for non-commercial educational purposes by schools or bona fide academic institutions" to obtain a waiver of park entrance fees. Commercial enterprises are not eligible for fee waivers, but school groups using a commercial vehicle for transportation only may apply for a fee waiver.

Fee Waiver Application

Yellowstone and Grand Teton participate in the Congressionally authorized Federal Recreation Lands 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 the fees are used to accomplish projects the parks have been unable to fund through yearly Congressional allocations. Projects include the protection of the parks' road investment through overlays, patching, chipseal, drainage, and erosion control; enhancement of accessibility for the physically challenged to park resources and buildings; increased monitoring and mitigation activities for park resources; upgrading of park campgrounds and amphitheaters; rehabilitation of park structures; and repair of failing elements in utility systems parkwide. Funded projects increase the quality of the visitor experience and enhance the protection of park resources.

Lodging Reservations
Camping Information

 Lake Hotel in Yellowstone National Park.
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Reservations for Lodging and Camping in the Park
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Mammoth Terraces.
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Lake Trout Illustration  

Did You Know?
Lake trout are an invasive species of fish that is decimating the native cutthroat trout population in Yellowstone Lake.

Last Updated: April 17, 2009 at 15:20 EST