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Plan Your Visit
Key Information
Choosing an Entrance PassDo 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. 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.
Entrance PassesStandard Entrance Pass$30.00
Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is administered by Big Bend National Park. All park visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass upon entering Big Bend National Park. No cash is accepted; credit/debit card only. No refunds are given due to inclement weather.
For more information on entrance fees and passes for Big Bend National Park, please visit:
https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Big Bend participates in the congressionally authorized Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Under this program, parks keep 80% of all fees collected; the remaining 20% will be deposited in a special account to be used in parks where fees are not collected. Funds generated by these fees are used to accomplish projects that parks have been unable to fund through yearly congressional allocations.
For VehiclesIf 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. Entrance Fee to Big Bend National Park.
This fee includes all occupants of a private, non-commercial vehicle and is valid for 7 days In-person Purchase Locations
For Individuals without a VehicleIf 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. America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by
Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
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 PassIn Person (Recommended)Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites. Order Online, Receive by MailTo 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 ParksCome 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:
NPS Photo / T. VandenBerg The Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River does not have an entry fee, however, if you float the portions of the Wild & Scenic River inside Big Bend National Park, you will be charged for entry into the National Park. A backcountry use permit is required for all river use. Day-use river permits are free, while overnight or multi-day river trips have a permit fee of $10 per night. For additional information about entrance fees or park passes, please visit Big Bend National Park's Fees & Passes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Last updated: May 18, 2023