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 $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

Standard Entrance Pass

$25.00

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges a variety of fees, depending on how a visitor arrives at the park, and whether they're part of a commercial tour group or not.

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.

Entrance pass - vehicle 1-7 day.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

  • D. H. Day Campground Group Campground

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Platte River Campground & Ranger Station

    Credit/Debit Only

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.

For Organizations & Businesses

Sedan 1-6 Person Capacity $25.00 + $10.00 Per Person 16 years or older (up to a maximum of $40.00)

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

Van 7-15 Person Capacity $40.00

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

Mini Bus 16-25 Person Capacity $40.00

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

Motorcoach 26+ Person Capacity $100.00

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00

Sleeping Bear Dunes Annual Pass

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Platte River Campground

    Credit/Debit Only

  • D. H. Day Campground

    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:

 
 
 
Graphic with text "Buy your pass online" recreation.gov
Buy Your Pass Online Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov
















Digital Pass

The 7-day pass can be purchased up to six months in advance through recreation.gov.

National Lakeshore 7-day and annual passes can also be purchased at these area businesses.

  • Crystal River Outfitters

  • The Homestead Resort (7-day pass sales only)

  • Indigo Bluffs RV Park and Resort (7-day pass sales only)

  • Leland Lodge

  • Manitou Island Transit (Interagency America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass and Manitou Island Backcountry passes also sold here)

  • Riverside Canoe Trips

PLEASE NOTE - FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PARK PASS MAY RESULT IN A FINE.



School Groups

An Academic Fee Waiver is required for organized groups visiting the Lakeshore for education.Organized, educational groups of children who are less than 16 years of age may enter the park free of charge and do not need a fee waiver. (See section 10.1.1) However, the park requires a waiver application to account for the free entry of adult chaperones and to manage park resources. Adults in personal vehicles with an organized youth group visiting for the sole purpose of recreation are not exempt from the entrance fee.

Commercial Visitors

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

Sedan
1-6 Person Capacity
$25.00 + $10.00 Per Person 16 years or older (up to a maximum of $40.00)

Van
7-15 Person Capacity
$40.00

Mini Bus
16-25 Person Capacity
$40.00

Motorcoach
26+ Person Capacity
$100.00

Passes for motorcoach busses (26+ Person Capacity) is $100.00. Payment must be made at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center or the kiosk station at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Checks can be made out to NPS and MUST include a tax id number.

Credit Cards are also accepted.


Visit the guided tour webpage to schedule a guide for a commerical tour.


Your Fees Benefit the Park

 

Buy a Digital Pass



Last updated: May 31, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

9922 Front Street
Empire, MI 49630

Phone:

231 326-4700

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