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–$30.00
    Annual Pass $55.00
    America the Beautiful Pass (includes Senior Passes) FREE–$80.00

    Help me choose an entrance pass

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

$15.00–$30.00

Visitors have multiple entrance fee and pass options depending on how they arrive and if they are part of a commercial tour group or not. The most common entrance fee is the Private Vehicle Pass, valid for 7 days. This covers the cost for anyone who is riding in the vehicle. In addition to the 7-day passes, the park also has an annual pass good for 1 year and honors federal interagency passes, including the America the Beautiful Pass.

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.

7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Joshua Tree Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Cottonwood Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • North Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • West Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

7-day entrance permit, per motorcycle.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Joshua Tree Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Cottonwood Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • West Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • North Entrance 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.

7-day entrance fee, per person on foot or bike.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Joshua Tree Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Cottonwood Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • West Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • North Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$55.00

This pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. It covers the entrance fee to Joshua Tree National Park for the pass signee and accompanying passengers entering in a single, non-commercial vehicle. Joshua Tree Annual Passes are available at park entrance stations and visitor centers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Joshua Tree Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Cottonwood Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • West Entrance Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • North 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:

 

Electronic Passes

Purchase digital park entrance passes above or on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Buying your pass ahead of time may help expedite your trip into the park. Once purchased, passes for Joshua Tree National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited or non-existent in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone (so you can access it even if there is no wi-fi or cell service) is highly recommended.

The America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes, such as the Annual, Access, Military, or Senior pass, can be obtained online or at a park entrance station or visitor center upon arrival.

 

Buying a Pass in Person

In addition to recreation.gov, you can buy a park pass at:

  • North Entrance Station (near the town of Twentynine Palms) - debit or credit cards only
  • West Entrance Station (near the town of Joshua Tree) - debit or credit cards only
  • Cottonwood Visitor Center (near the South Entrance) - cash or card
  • Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center (6533 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms, CA) - cash or card
  • Joshua Tree Visitor Center (6554 Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree, CA) - cash or card
  • California Welcome Center (56711 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA) - cash or card

Your Fees Benefit the Park

Eighty percent of entrance fee dollars collected in Joshua Tree National Park stay in the park, funding important maintenance projects and visitor services. Learn more about how recreation fees support the operation of your national park.

 

Commercial Tour Group Fees

  • 1-6 Passenger Capacity $15 per passenger or $50, whichever is less
  • 7-15 Passenger Capacity $50.00
  • 16-25 Passenger Capacity $60.00
  • 26 + Passenger Capacity $150.00
Road-based commercial tour companies must obtain a Road-based Commercial Use Authorization. Travel agencies that organize and book tour groups that will enter the park as part of business operations require a Commercial Use Authorization Permit. Find out more about Commercial Use Authorizations and permits.
 

Non-Commercial Groups

Groups entering in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 passengers or more will pay an entrance fee of $15 per person on board, with the following exceptions:

  • Anyone who is 15 years old or younger is exempt from paying any entrance fee.
  • Passes may be used for entry as defined on the back of the pass.
  • In many cases the driver will have been hired for transportation only and is exempt from paying the entrance fee.
  • The total fee charged will not exceed the equivalent commercial fee for that type of vehicle.
Are you planning an educational trip for a school group? Find out if the group is eligible for an academic fee waiver.
 

Activity Fees

  • Camping fees vary by campground.
  • Ranger-led Keys Ranch Tours require advance reservations and cost $10-20 per visitor.
  • For filming, photography, weddings, or other special event activities, please check out the Permits and Reservations page, fees vary depending on the special use activity.

Last updated: November 15, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597

Phone:

760 367-5500

Contact Us