Big Bend National Park Entrance Fee and Pass Options (2026)

Where these numbers come from

Big Bend charges $30 per private vehicle for seven days, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per person on foot or bike. The vehicle price admits one non-commercial vehicle carrying up to 15 passengers. The park pass costs $55 for a year and cannot be transferred to someone else. A motorcycle pass admits one motorcycle with up to two people, which is tighter than the two-motorcycle rule at many other parks.

The page lists no separate nonresident charge, so everyone pays the standard rates. Entry itself needs no reservation, but campsites do, and backcountry camping needs a permit at $10 per night. So a three-night backcountry trip adds $30 in permits on top of the gate fee. Cash is not taken; bring a card.

Reservations and payment: No reservations are required to enter. Camping is reserved through recreation.gov, backcountry camping needs a $10 per night permit, and the park takes cards only.

Break-even arithmetic for U.S. residents: at $30 per vehicle, the interagency annual pass at $80 beats single passes once you make 3 entries across federal fee sites, since 3 x $30 = $90. The $55 park pass beats single passes from visit 2: 2 x $30 = $60. Use the pass break-even calculator to plug in your own mix of parks, or the entrance fee finder to compare other parks.

Nonresidents pay the listed gate price with no added surcharge at this park, so a visiting family in one car pays $30. The $250 interagency pass is only worth it if the trip includes many fee sites, because it takes 9 vehicle entries at $30 to equal its price. Keep in mind that other parks on the same trip, such as those on the 11-park surcharge list, can cost much more per person.

Fee-free days in 2026 are Feb 16, May 25, Jun 14, Jul 3-5, Aug 25, Sep 17, Oct 27 and Nov 11, but from 2026 they apply only to U.S. citizens and residents. As of 2026-09-30, the remaining dates this year are Oct 27 and Nov 11. Timed entry and reservation fees can still apply on those days. For nearby options on the same road trip, compare this neighboring park page and this second park page.

Sources

• NPS Big Bend National Park fees
• NPS entrance passes and 2026 free days
• NPS nonresident fees

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.