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Crater Lake National Park entry requirements

No timed-entry or vehicle reservation is needed to enter Crater Lake in 2026. Entrance is $30 per vehicle in peak season, $20 off-season. Check any visit date against the official 2026 rules.

The 2026 season at Crater Lake

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

No reservation is required to enter Crater Lake National Park in 2026.

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

  1. Park entrance

    Required

    You must pay the park entrance fee or show an accepted pass.

    • On January 1, 2026 the seasonal rate applies: $20 — Winter entrance rate (Jan 1, 2026 – May 21, 2026).
    • Outside that window the standard rate is $30 per private vehicle.
    • $20 per private vehicle January 1 - May 21, 2026, good for 7 days. Motorcycle $15. Per person on foot or bicycle $15. Snowmobile $15 through June 15. The summer rates ($30 vehicle / $25 motorcycle) begin May 22, 2026. Annual park pass $55.
    • An America the Beautiful pass covers this entrance fee. It does not cover any reservation or permit below.
    • Crater Lake charges seasonal rates. Summer (May 22 - Oct 31): vehicle $30, motorcycle $25. Winter (Nov 1 - May 21): vehicle $20, motorcycle $15. Per person on foot or bicycle is $15 year-round; youth 15 and under free. A snowmobile pass is $15 (Nov 1 - Jun 15). All passes are good for 7 days.

  2. Timed entry

    Not applicable

    Crater Lake National Park has no timed-entry system.

  3. Vehicle, road, or corridor

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • East Rim Drive closed from Park Headquarters to Phantom Ship Overlook for the rehabilitation project. East Rim Drive from North Junction to Phantom Ship Overlook is open. Pinnacles Road and Crater Peak trailhead are reachable only by hiking or biking during the closure. Sun Notch Trail cannot be reached at all while the closure is in place.
    • Rim Drive and North Entrance Road close for winter on November 1 or earlier. Munson Valley Road (Hwy 62 and the Annie Spring entrance to Rim Village) is open year-round, with intermittent snow closures. OR Hwy 62 through the park is open year-round. When closed and snow-covered, Rim Drive becomes a ski and snowshoe route; the North Entrance Road is groomed for snowmobiles.

  4. Shuttle

    Not applicable

    Crater Lake National Park has no shuttle system.

  5. Your campground or lodging

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • Mazama Campground loops A and B running first-come, first-served. Lost Creek Campground is closed.
    • Crater Lake Lodge and Mazama Village Cabins open, booked through the concessioner. The lodge is typically open mid-May through early October; it is not a year-round option.

  6. Selected activity

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • Crater Lake boat tours cancelled for 2026 and 2027, and the Cleetwood Cove Trail is closed. Trolley tours around Rim Drive still operate, run by Crater Lake Trolley, and are unaffected by the boat-tour cancellation.

Fees and passes

Private vehicle$30
Motorcycle$25
Per person, on foot or bicycle$15
Valid for7 days
Park annual pass$55

Crater Lake charges seasonal rates. Summer (May 22 - Oct 31): vehicle $30, motorcycle $25. Winter (Nov 1 - May 21): vehicle $20, motorcycle $15. Per person on foot or bicycle is $15 year-round; youth 15 and under free. A snowmobile pass is $15 (Nov 1 - Jun 15). All passes are good for 7 days.

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 $55 Crater Lake annual pass is also valid at Lava Beds National Monument, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Whiskeytown NRA. No pass opens a closed road: East Rim Drive construction and the Cleetwood Cove closure apply regardless of pass.

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.

  • Annie Spring (south) and North entrance stationsCrater Lake entrance fee, seasonal summer and winter rates · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  • Annie Spring (south) and North entrance stationsWinter entrance rate (private vehicle) · Nov 1, 2026 – May 21, 2027
  • Annie Spring (south) and North entrance stationsWinter entrance rate (private vehicle), January 1 - May 21, 2026 · Jan 1, 2026 – May 21, 2026

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

  • Crater Lake entrance fee, seasonal summer and winter ratesNot covered by an in-park booking. A Mazama Campground site or a Crater Lake Lodge room does not include the entrance fee; you still pay at the gate.
  • Winter entrance rate (private vehicle)Not covered by an in-park booking. A Mazama Campground site or a Crater Lake Lodge room does not include the entrance fee; you still pay at the gate.
  • Winter entrance rate (private vehicle), January 1 - May 21, 2026Not covered by an in-park booking. A Mazama Campground site or a Crater Lake Lodge room does not include the entrance fee; you still pay at the gate.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for Crater Lake?
No. Crater Lake National Park does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. You still pay the entrance fee ($30 per vehicle in peak season, $20 off-season) or show an accepted pass.
Is there an entrance fee at Crater Lake?
Yes. A private vehicle pass is $30 per vehicle in peak season, $20 off-season. 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

  • Crater Lake entrance feePay at an entrance station or buy a digital site pass on Recreation.gov in advance. No release date applies.
  • Winter entrance ratePay at an entrance station or buy a digital site pass on Recreation.gov in advance. No release date applies.
  • Winter entrance ratePay at an entrance station or buy a digital site pass on Recreation.gov in advance. No release date applies.

Official booking and park information

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 2026-07-30 · applies to Park entranceRe-verified 2026-07-30, all six rates read off the same fee table: "Private Vehicle (May 22-Oct 31) $30.00"; "Private Vehicle (Nov 1-May 21) $20.00"; "Motorcycle (May 22-Oct 31) $25.00"; "Motorcycle (Nov 1-May 21) $15.00"; "Per Person $15.00" (valid 7 days, children under 16 free); "Annual Entrance - Park $55.00". The page states no $100 non-U.S.-resident fee.
  • Fees & Passes - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Crater Lake entrance feePrivate Vehicle (Nov 1-May 21) $20.00 - This is the winter entrance fee. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Good for 7 days.
  • Fees & Passes - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-30 · applies to Winter entrance rateRe-verified 2026-07-30: "Private Vehicle (Nov 1-May 21) $20.00" - This is the winter entrance fee. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Good for 7 days. "Motorcycle (Nov 1-May 21) $15.00". "Per Person $15.00" is listed once with no season split, so it is the same in winter as in summer.
  • Fees & Passes - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-31 · applies to Winter entrance rateRead 2026-07-31: "Private Vehicle (Nov 1-May 21) $20.00"; "Motorcycle (Nov 1-May 21) $15.00"; "Snowmobile (Nov 1-Jun 15) $15.00"; "Per Person $15.00" (listed once, with no season split); "Annual Entrance - Park $55.00". All passes are valid for 7 days. The published Nov 1 - May 21 window runs across the turn of the year, so January 1 through May 21, 2026 is charged at the winter rate.
  • Current Conditions - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to East Rim Drive closed from Park Headquarters**East Rim Drive from Park Headquarters to Phantom Ship Overlook is currently CLOSED for Road Construction.** ... There will be no access to the Crater Peak and Sun Notch trailheads, as well as no access to Vidae Falls and nearby picnic area, during the construction period.
  • Current Conditions - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Rim Drive and North Entrance Road closeNorth Entrance Road ... Nine miles (14.5 km) to North Junction; in preparation for winter it closes on November 1, or earlier if snowfall is significant. ... West Rim Drive ... In preparation for winter it closes on November 1, or earlier.
  • Boat and Trolley Tours - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Crater Lake boat tours cancelled for 2026***Due to major rehabilitation work on the Cleetwood Trail and lakeshore facilities, boat tours will not be available in 2026 or 2027. There will be significant improvements to the trail and marina area as a result of this important project.***
  • Current Conditions - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Mazama Campground loops A and B runningCrater Lake Lodge and the Cabins at Mazama Village are OPEN for the season. Mazama Campground has loops A&B open on a first come first served basis. Go to ExplorCraterLake for information about reservations and operations in 2026.
  • Current Conditions - Crater Lake National ParkNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Crater Lake Lodge and Mazama Village CabinsCrater Lake Lodge and the Cabins at Mazama Village are OPEN for the season. ... The lodge is typically open mid-May through early-October and is managed by Explor Crater Lake.

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 2026-07-31

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from Crater Lake, not by editorial preference.