Fees & Passes

Plan Your Visit

Key Information

  1. Get an entrance pass

    All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

    Pass Price
    Standard Pass $15.00–$25.00
    Annual Pass $45.00
    America the Beautiful Pass (includes Senior Passes) FREE–$80.00

    Help me choose an entrance pass

  2. Plan to go cashless

    This park does not accept cash.

Choosing an Entrance Pass

Do you have or qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful Pass?

If you already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, that's the only entrance pass you need. Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass.

America the Beautiful Pass

How often do you plan to visit national parks in the next 12 months?

If you don't qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful pass, we recommend choosing an entrance pass based on your trip plans.

I'm visiting... We recommend
This park, once Standard Pass
This park, multiple times Annual Pass
More than one national park or federal recreation site America the Beautiful Pass

Entrance Passes

Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass If you visit Great Sand Dunes more than once in a year, consider purchasing an annual pass to save money. The Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass admits the pass holder(s) and all family members in the vehicle into the park for one year from date of purchase. Interagency national passes are also available at the Entrance Station.

Standard Entrance Pass

$15.00–$25.00

Visitors will be charged only one of the following fees. Entrance fees are charged only when the Entrance Station is open. Entrance passes may also be purchased in advance through recreation.gov .

For Vehicles

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.

Costs for vehicles with more than 15 passengers are listed below under Organizations and Businesses.

Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Passes may also be purchased in advance online through recreation.gov .

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

Motorcycle and riders Valid up to 7 days

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

For Individuals without a Vehicle

If you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.

Entrance Fee for Bicycles or Walk-In Visitors

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

For Organizations & Businesses

15+ passenger vehicle, age 16+

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

This fee is for a commercial group of 1-6 people in a smaller vehicle. Valid for 7 days.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

This fee is for a commercial group of 7-15 persons in a van. Valid for 7 days.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

This fee is for a commercial group of 16-25 persons in a mini-bus. Valid for 7 days.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

This fee is for a commercial motor coach with 26+ capacity. Valid for 7 days.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information
Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00

If you visit Great Sand Dunes more than once in a year, consider purchasing an annual pass to save money. The Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass admits the pass holder(s) and all family members in the vehicle into the park for one year from date of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

A stack of all six versions of the America the Beautiful Pass

Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by

  • National Park Service
  • US Fish & Wildlife Service
  • US Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • US Army of Corps of Engineers

Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
One private vehicle fee
or
Four per person fees

Type Available to Price
Annual Pass Everyone $80.00
Senior Annual Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $20.00
Senior Lifetime Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $80.00
Military Annual Pass Current US military and dependents Free
Military Lifetime Pass Gold Star Family members and veterans Free
Access Pass US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability Free
4th Grade Pass US 4th graders Free
Volunteer Pass Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours Free

America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.

How to Get an America the Beautiful Pass

In Person (Recommended)

Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.

Purchase and pickup locations

Order Online, Receive by Mail

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Online Store . Online orders are for physical passes, not digital passes, and may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. We recommend ordering at least three weeks in advance of your visit, or picking up a pass in person instead.

2025 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

 

Colorado Residents: The 'Keep Colorado Wild Pass' connected with your Colorado vehicle registration is valid only for Colorado State Parks and does not grant admission to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

 
A park ranger inside the park's entrance station greets visitors to Great Sand Dunes with a park map.
Fees are collected when visitors drive into the park. They are greeted by park rangers at the entrance station located one mile south of the visitor center.

NPS/ Sydney Stover

Do I need to buy a pass in advance or make a reservation to visit?

There are no advance reservations, timed entries, or visitor limits at Great Sand Dunes. It is optional to purchase your entrance pass in advance.

When are fees charged at the park?

Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open. Fees can be paid by credit card, debit card, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. Entrance passes may be purchased in advance online.

How are my fee dollars used?

Learn about current projects at Great Sand Dunes that are funded by Your Fee Dollars at Work.

Do schools need to pay an entrance fee?

School groups, and educational organizations whose primary purpose for visiting is education, may qualify for an Educational Entrance Fee Waiver. Please click on the link below to obtain the waiver request form. This waiver is for park entrance fees; Great Sand Dunes does not charge for programs. To learn about free education programs, visit our Education pages.

Send your completed form to the physical address or email listed at the top of the form. For questions, please email the Fee Manager or call 719-378-6352.

Educational Entrance Fee Waiver Request Form (pdf, updated April 8, 2024).

 

Questions or Comments?

Questions about entrance fees at Great Sand Dunes may be directed to the Fee Supervisor, 719-378-6352 or send an email.

Last updated: April 8, 2024

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Visitor Center
11999 State Highway 150

Mosca, CO 81146

Phone:

(719) 378-6395
General Park and Preserve information: (719) 378-6395 Emergencies (Police, Fire, Medical): Dial 911. Non-emergencies (Police, Fire, Medical): call (719) 589-5807

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