Do I need a reservation for Capitol Reef?

No. Capitol Reef National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. You still pay the entrance fee ($20 per vehicle) or show an accepted pass.

Is there an entrance fee at Capitol Reef?

Yes. A private vehicle pass is $20 per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass is accepted for the entrance fee, and does not cover any reservation or permit.

Capitol Reef reservations & entry requirements, 2026

The 2026 season at Capitol Reef

This is what applies across the published season. Use the date checker below for a specific day.

No reservation is required to enter Capitol Reef National Park in 2026.

An entrance fee or accepted pass is required on every visit, separately from anything below.

Park entrance
Required
You must pay the park entrance fee or show an accepted pass.
- Private vehicle: $20, valid for 7 days.
- Motorcycle: $15.
- Per person on foot or bicycle: $10.
- An America the Beautiful pass covers this entrance fee. It does not cover any reservation or permit below.
- Capitol Reef is one of the cheapest national park entrance fees. The fees page says only 'An entrance fee is charged for Capitol Reef National Park' and does NOT state that the fee is limited to the Scenic Drive, so no fee-zone claim should be made from this source. No non-US-resident surcharge is listed.
Timed entry
Not required
Nothing here is required in 2026.
- No reservation or timed-entry ticket is needed to enter Capitol Reef.
Vehicle, road, or corridor
Not required
Nothing here is required in 2026.
- Scenic Drive - currently closed beyond Grand Wash Road. No permit is required to drive the Scenic Drive - only the park entrance fee. Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge spurs are usually suitable for passenger cars and RVs up to 27 feet, when open.
- Cathedral Valley Loop - high-clearance 4WD, river ford, seasonal and weather dependent. No permit is required to drive the loop; backcountry camping there does require a permit. Polk Creek Road is open only from mid-June to late October due to snow and mud.
Shuttle
Not applicable
Capitol Reef National Park has no shuttle system.
Your campground or lodging
Not required
Nothing here is required in 2026.
- Fruita Campground reservation.
Selected activity
Required all year
2 separate requirements apply all through 2026.
- Backpacking permit
  Dates
  Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  Hours
  All day
  Fee
  None
  Opens
  No advance booking
  Applies to Capitol Reef backcountry
  - Backcountry permits are free, per the Fees & Passes page.
  - Not needed for day hiking.
- Canyoneering and climbing permit
  Dates
  Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  Hours
  All day
  Fee
  None
  Opens
  No advance booking
  Applies to Capitol Reef canyons and climbing routes
  - Canyoneering/rock climbing permits are free, per the Fees & Passes page.

Fees and passes

Entrance fee rates at Capitol Reef National Park
Private vehicle	$20
Motorcycle	$15
Per person, on foot or bicycle	$10
Valid for	7 days
Park annual pass	$35

Capitol Reef is one of the cheapest national park entrance fees. The fees page says only 'An entrance fee is charged for Capitol Reef National Park' and does NOT state that the fee is limited to the Scenic Drive, so no fee-zone claim should be made from this source. No non-US-resident surcharge is listed.

An America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. It covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover a timed-entry permit, a vehicle reservation, a parking tag, a shuttle ticket, or an activity permit.

The Capitol Reef annual pass is $35 and admits one vehicle including motorcycles and all occupants. Backpacking, canyoneering and climbing permits are free but still required, so a pass is not a substitute.

Fee-free days

Feb 16, 2026
May 25, 2026
Jun 14, 2026
Jul 3, 2026
Jul 4, 2026
Jul 5, 2026
Aug 25, 2026
Sep 17, 2026
Oct 27, 2026
Nov 11, 2026

From 2026 a fee-free day waives the entrance fee for U.S. residents. Other visitors still pay it. A fee-free day never waives a reservation, a permit, or a booking fee unless the park says so.

Rules that apply to one area only

These do not apply to the whole park. Where you go changes the answer.

Capitol Reef backcountryFree backpacking permit for overnight backcountry trips · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
Capitol Reef canyons and climbing routesCanyoneering and rock climbing permits are now required (free) · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

Nothing at Capitol Reef changes based on whether you have an in-park campground or lodging booking.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for Capitol Reef?: No. Capitol Reef National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. You still pay the entrance fee ($20 per vehicle) or show an accepted pass.
Is there an entrance fee at Capitol Reef?: Yes. A private vehicle pass is $20 per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass is accepted for the entrance fee, and does not cover any reservation or permit.

Official links, coverage, and sources

When reservations are released

Capitol Reef entrance fee

Official booking and park information

Official park alerts and conditionsnps.gov(opens in a new tab)Alerts override anything on this page.
Official fees and passesnps.gov(opens in a new tab)

What this does not cover

Road, weather, and fire closures that change day to day. Check the park’s alerts page.
Backcountry and wilderness permits beyond the headline permits listed above.
Commercial use authorizations, filming permits, and group-size rules.
Availability. We tell you what is required, not whether anything is left.
Individual campsite and lodge availability, which is handled by the booking system.

Effective dates and sources

Fees and passesNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Park entranceAn entrance fee is charged for Capitol Reef National Park. The fee depends on how a visitor arrives at the park, and whether they are part of a commercial or guided tour. ... Private Vehicle $20.00 ... Motorcycle $15.00 ... Per Person $10.00
Fees & Passes - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Capitol Reef entrance feeAn entrance fee is charged for Capitol Reef National Park. ... 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.
Permits & Reservations - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to No reservation or timed-entry ticket is neededThere is no reservation or timed-entry ticket needed to enter Capitol Reef National Park.
Alerts & Conditions - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Scenic DriveScenic Drive: 2WD, closed beyond Grand Wash Road. Capitol Gorge: Closed. (road conditions updated 7/26/26)
Alerts & Conditions - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Cathedral Valley LoopHartnet Road: HC4WD, rutted and rough near campground. River Ford: HC4WD, not deep. Cathedral Valley Loop: HC4WD, very muddy and rutted near the Temples. Notom-Bullfrog: Impassable beyond end of pavement. (updated 7/26/26)
Permits & Reservations - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Backpacking permitA free backpacking permit is required before starting your overnight adventure.
Permits & Reservations - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Canyoneering and climbing permitCanyoneering ... Permits are now required. Rock Climbing and Bouldering ... Permits are now required.
Camping - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Fruita Campground reservationThe 71-site Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef. ... Reservations are available through recreation.gov.

Something wrong here?

Park rules change, sometimes at short notice. If a line on this page does not match what the park publishes, tell us and we will fix it and re-check the source.

corrections@nationalparkentry.com· Last factual change 2026-08-05 · Sources last reviewed 2026-07-26

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from Capitol Reef, not by editorial preference.

Capitol Reef National Park entry requirements