Joshua Tree National Park Entrance Fee and Pass Options (2026)
Joshua Tree National Park charges $30 per vehicle for 7 days; here are the 2026 fees, passes and break-even points.
As of September 30, 2026
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $30 | Valid 7 days, covers all occupants |
| Motorcycle | $25 | Valid 7 days |
| Per person (foot or bike, 16+) | $15 | Under 16 enter free |
| Park annual pass | $55 | 12 months, passholder plus vehicle passengers |
| Nonresident surcharge | None listed for this park | Waived with an annual or interagency pass |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | $80 resident / $250 nonresident | Nonresident card covers a vehicle or passholder plus 3 adults |
| Visits | Single passes | Park pass | Interagency pass | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $30 | $55 | $80 | Single pass |
| 2 | $60 | $55 | $80 | Park pass |
| 3 | $90 | $55 | $80 | Park pass |
| 4 | $120 | $55 | $80 | Park pass |
Sources
Where these numbers come from
Joshua Tree sits in Southern California desert country, and the fee structure is the standard $30-vehicle tier that many western parks share. The park does not appear on the list of eleven parks that add the $100 nonresident charge, so an international visitor pays the same gate price as a local. Desert heat, not crowds, usually shapes when people visit, which means many trips cluster in the cooler months and the pass math below assumes you arrive once or twice a year.
One practical point: a single-park annual pass here costs $55, which is $25 less than the interagency pass. If Joshua Tree is the only fee park you expect to enter this year, the park pass wins as soon as you go twice. If you also plan a road trip that includes Death Valley or another fee site, the interagency card covers all of them and is the better buy.
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does Joshua Tree charge the $100 nonresident fee?
No. The 2026 surcharge applies to eleven named parks, and Joshua Tree is not one of them. Non-U.S. residents pay the regular entrance fee, or they can buy the $250 interagency annual pass.
Is Joshua Tree free on the 2026 fee-free days?
Entrance fees are waived on the eight listed days for U.S. citizens and residents. Nonresidents pay the usual fee on those dates, and other fees such as camping still apply.
Is a Joshua Tree annual pass worth $55?
It pays off on the second vehicle entry within 12 months, because two single-visit passes cost $60. The pass covers the passholder and the passengers in one vehicle.
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