Rocky Mountain National Park Entrance Fee & Pass Prices 2027

Every vehicle driving Trail Ridge Road passes through a Rocky Mountain National Park entrance station, and a valid entrance pass is required 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no separate toll for Trail Ridge Road itself — the road is inside the park, so your entrance pass is what gets you onto it. This guide lists every current entrance fee and pass price in one place, explains the non-US-resident surcharge, and shows which pass is cheapest for your trip.

Standard entrance fees

Rocky Mountain National Park sells passes in three vehicle categories and two durations. A vehicle pass covers the driver and all passengers — passengers do not need their own pass. A motorcycle pass admits up to two motorcycles with up to four total passengers. Anyone entering on foot or by bike aged 16 or over needs their own individual pass.

These are the prices the park last published (nps.gov, updated December 9, 2025). NPS confirms the coming season's fee schedule each year before opening; as of the time of writing no change had been announced for 2027, so the table above is the figure to plan with. Entrance passes are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Non-US resident fee

Since 2026, each non-US resident aged 16 and over pays a $100 non-resident fee in addition to the standard entrance pass, unless they are admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass. The surcharge applies to individual visitors and to those arriving as part of a commercial, CUA or concessioner tour group. If you hold an Annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass, the non-resident fee does not apply — which can make one of those passes far better value for an international visitor than a standard day pass.

Annual and interagency passes

If you will visit more than once, the annual options quickly beat the daily rate. Everything below also waives the $100 non-resident fee where it applies, because those passes admit the holder regardless of residency.

Commercial tour fees

Tour and shuttle vehicles pay a fee based on passenger capacity — the total seating capacity, not the number of people aboard. Annual and lifetime passes may not be used to cover commercial tours.

Commercial tour fees are valid for the same group for seven days — show your receipt for re-entry.

Free entrance days

Several days each year waive the entrance fee for US citizens and residents. Other charges — including any timed entry reservation fee — still apply. The dates for the 2026 season were Presidents Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (Jun 14), Independence Day weekend (Jul 3–5), the NPS birthday (Aug 25), Constitution Day (Sep 17), Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (Oct 27) and Veterans Day (Nov 11). The 2027 free-day list is normally published with the rest of the season's information the same spring.

Which pass should you buy?

• Visiting RMNP once: the standard vehicle pass — $30 for a day or $35 for a week.
• Visiting RMNP multiple times this year: the $70 annual pass.
• Touring several national parks (US residents): the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass.
• Touring several national parks (international visitors): the $250 Non-Resident America the Beautiful annual pass — the $80 tier is available to US citizens and residents only.
• International visitor without an interagency pass: expect the $100 per-person surcharge on top of the standard pass.
• Aged 62+, military, disabled, or a 4th-grade family: check the discounted or free America the Beautiful passes first.

Do you need a timed entry reservation too?

Yes, in summer. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from late May to mid-October, you also need a free timed entry reservation (a $2 Recreation.gov fee) in addition to your entrance pass. Full details are on our timed entry reservation guide. Outside that window no reservation is required — only the entrance pass.

When the entrance fee applies

A valid entrance pass is required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park 24 hours a day, seven days a week — there is no free hour and no after-hours exemption. It is also required for the park's outlying areas, including (but not limited to) Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet and North Inlet. Whether you are driving Trail Ridge Road end to end or simply walking the shore at Lily Lake, you need a pass.

How to buy your entrance pass

• At the gate: buy in person at the Beaver Meadows, Fall River or Grand Lake entrance stations — card only, no cash.
• In advance online: purchase a digital pass on Recreation.gov before you travel, then simply present it at the booth.
• If you are unsure which pass you need: the National Park Service recommends waiting to buy until you reach an entrance station, where staff can match the pass to your plans. Because passes are non-refundable, it is worth asking rather than guessing.

Refunds, transfers and re-entry

Entrance passes are non-refundable and non-transferable — they cannot be handed to another visitor or vehicle, and there is no refund if weather or road closures cut your visit short. A 7-day pass runs for seven consecutive days from first entry, and re-entry across those days is included. Keep your receipt or digital pass to hand: it is what proves the pass is still valid on a multi-day stay.

Which entrance station to use

• Beaver Meadows — the main east-side station near Estes Park; busiest, and the approach to Bear Lake Road.
• Fall River — also near Estes Park on US 34; usually lighter than Beaver Meadows and the natural start of Trail Ridge Road.
• Grand Lake — the west-side station; the quietest of the three and the gateway to the Kawuneeche Valley end of the drive.

Fees beyond the gate

The entrance pass covers entry to the park but not everything inside it. Campground stays, backcountry permits and other services carry their own fees and are booked separately, most of them on Recreation.gov. Holders of the America the Beautiful Access Pass receive 50 percent off many camping fees, which can matter for a multi-night stay in or near the park. Check the individual service before you book.

Fee-free days: what they do and don't cover

On the park's designated fee-free days, the entrance fee is waived for US citizens and residents — but the waiver is narrower than it sounds. A timed entry reservation and its $2 fee still apply during the summer window, and other charges (camping, permits, tours) are unaffected. In other words, a fee-free day saves the entrance pass, not the reservation. If your visit falls on one of those dates, budget for the timed entry fee all the same and see our timed entry guide to secure your window.

International visitors: what to expect

For visitors from outside the United States, the entrance fee carries a twist. Each non-US resident aged 16 or over pays the $100 non-resident surcharge on top of the standard pass, unless they are admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass. That single rule often decides which pass is worth buying: an international visitor touring several parks is frequently better off with the $250 Non-Resident America the Beautiful annual pass, which waives the surcharge and admits the holder nationwide, than with a $35 weekly pass plus $100 per person. Note that the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass is sold to US citizens and residents only; international visitors buy the $250 non-resident tier, which covers the entire vehicle (or two motorcycles, or the passholder plus three additional adults). A digital America the Beautiful pass can be bought through Recreation.gov and used immediately.

Entrance fees and the seasons

Entrance prices do not change with the season — the same $30 vehicle day pass applies in late May as in September — but the value of a pass does track the seasons. A 7-day pass is the sensible choice during the full-open months from late May to mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road and the visitor centres are operating. In the closed season, when through-access on Trail Ridge Road stops and winter access is limited to the lower elevations, a single-day pass is usually enough. Plan the duration of your pass around how many days you will actually be inside the gate, not how long you are in Colorado.

Quick checklist before you pay

• Decide your vehicle and duration: 1-day or 7-day, vehicle or motorcycle or per person.
• Check whether a discounted or free America the Beautiful pass applies to you (62+, military, disability, 4th grade).
• If you are a non-US resident, compare the annual or interagency pass against the $100 surcharge before buying a day pass.
• Remember the park is cashless — bring a card or buy in advance on Recreation.gov.
• Add a summer timed entry reservation separately if you will arrive between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Entrance fee FAQ

Is there a separate charge for Trail Ridge Road?

No. Trail Ridge Road lies inside Rocky Mountain National Park, so the park entrance pass is all you need to drive it. The only add-on is a timed entry reservation during the summer window.

How long is a 7-day pass valid?

Seven consecutive days from first entry — ideal for a week-long stay that combines Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake and the west side around Grand Lake.

Can I pay cash at the gate?

No — the park is cashless. Use a card or buy in advance online.

Does my pass cover everyone in the car?

A vehicle pass covers the driver and all passengers. Only walkers and cyclists aged 16+ need an individual pass.

Before you go

Confirm the road is open and check conditions before setting out. The seasonal opening schedule explains when Trail Ridge Road typically opens and closes, and our conditions & weather page tracks current status. For trip planning, see the elevation guide, the Million Dollar Highway comparison, and the budget travel guide.