Daily Entrance Fees: $7 per person per day to enter or remain in the park. Children 15 and younger are exempt.
$7 per person per day to enter or remain in Isle Royale National Park. Children 15 and younger are exempt.
Visiting Park Headquarters in Houghton, MI does not require a fee.
Isle Royale Season Pass: $60 valid from April 16 through October 31 of the year indicated. Pass covers fees for the pass holder and up to three adults traveling with the pass holder (four total).
Your entrance fees are used to support park projects like trail maintenance. In 2021, seven miles of the Huginnin Cove Trail were rehabilitated, including erosion control and boardwalk repair.
Margaret Barse
Entrance Fee Basics
Isle Royale National Park charges a $7 per person daily entrance fee to enter or remain within the park per calendar day. This includes the day you arrive and the day you depart the park.
If your daily entrance fee costs exceed $60, or you're taking more than one trip to Isle Royale in a given season, consider the Isle Royale Season Pass. The Isle Royale Season Pass costs $60 and will waive daily entrance fees for up to 3 adults (16 and up) traveling with the pass holder (4 total) for all visits during the park season (April 16 through October 31).
If you are traveling to more than one National Park or federal lands in the following twelve months, consider a Federal Recreation Pass. Federal Recreation Passes (Annual, Military, Senior, Access, and Volunteer) are accepted at Isle Royale. With a Federal Recreation Pass, daily entrance fees will be waived for the pass holder and up to 3 adults (16 and up) traveling with the pass holder (4 total).
Children 15 and under are exempt from daily entrance fees.
Pay in advance at www.pay.gov(avoid congestion and long waits upon island arrival). Isle Royale daily entrance fees, the Isle Royale Season Pass, can be purchased on www.pay.gov. All Federal Recreation passes can be purchased on store.usgs.gov.
Entrance fees and passes can be purchased at Rock Harbor and Windigo upon arrival. Large volumes of visitors arriving and paying fees can create congestion and long wait times.
Isle Royale National Park no longer accepts cash for park entrance fees. Checks are also not accepted on-island. Only credit card transactions will be accepted.
Federal Recreation Passes
NPS Photo
Federal Recreation Passes
All Federal Recreation Passes (Annual, Military, Veteran, Senior, Access, and Volunteer) waive entrance fees for the pass holder and up to 3 adults (16 and up) traveling with the pass holder (4 total).
You must bring your Federal Recreation Pass with you to the park. As part of the permitting process, passes are checked at Houghton, Rock Harbor, Windigo.
The Isle Royale Season Pass costs $60 and will cover up to 3 adults (16 and older) traveling with the pass holder (4 total) for all visits during the entire park season (April 16 through October 31).
You must bring your Isle Royale Season Pass (or proof of payment) with you to the park. As part of the permitting process, passes are checked at Houghton, Rock Harbor, Windigo.
Isle Royale Season Passes can be purchased in advance at www.pay.gov.
Search Isle Royale Season Pass and click on "Continue to Form."
Your printed www.pay.gov receipt will be your pass. Digital proof of payment (such as a screenshot of email receipt) is also accepted. Bring proof of payment with you to the park.
If desired, printed receipts and digital proof of payment may be exchanged for a physical Isle Royale Season Pass upon arrival.
Isle Royale Season Passes may be purchased in-person at the Houghton, Rock Habor, or Windigo Visitor Centers. If purchasing a pass in-person, expect increased wait times.
Commerical filming and still photography is considered a special use within Isle Royale National Park.
The fees you pay while visiting stay in the park and improve and upgrade services and facilities. Every year as many projects as possible are funded and completed. Projects mostly focus on trail, campsite, and dock maintenance, but any project that improves visitor services may be considered. See what your fees have helped to fund over the years.
