Families and groups
Leans DIY on entry cost
One $35 vehicle fee covers everyone in the car, so a party of five pays $7 each to enter. A per-seat tour price has no such discount, so compare it with your whole-car cost.
Source: NPS fees, Oct 26, 2026
Utah · National Park
Bryce Canyon: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Bryce Canyon charges $35 per private vehicle, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). Visitors 16 and older who live outside the US pay an extra $100 unless they hold a pass. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $8.75 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
Our verdict, from the fee data
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $35 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $35 | $35 |
| 2 people | $35 | $17.50 |
| 4 people | $35 | $8.75 |
| 6 people | $35 | $5.83 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $35. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35 | Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20 | Admits one individual with no car to the park - typically used for bicyclists and walk-ins. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. |
| Nonresident | $100 | Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Bryce Canyon National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Bryce Canyon via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Visiting from outside the US? Bryce Canyon is one of 11 parks that charge non-US residents aged 16+ a $100 nonresident fee on top of the regular entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250. Source: nps.gov passes, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 3 visits at $35 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Bryce Canyon also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $70.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. September had 13% of the year; January was the quietest month, with about 15% of the busiest month’s visits.
BusierQuietest month
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 39,682 |
| February | 45,010 |
| March | 106,961 |
| April | 199,394 |
| May | 242,406 |
| June | 249,662 |
| July | 234,414 |
| August | 230,476 |
| September | 265,048 |
| October | 202,248 |
| November | 87,263 |
| December | 64,803 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
3 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 1 closure. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Trail Closures Due to Recent Rains
Wall Street and the Bryce Connector Trail (Bryce Point to Peekaboo Loop Trail) are closed until further notice. Other park trails are open, but hikers are urged to use caution. Freezing temperatures overnight can make rockfall more likely during the day. Details on nps.gov
Caution Current Fire Restrictions
Fires are only allowed in established fire pits. Details on nps.gov
Information Dump Station Closed for Season
The dump station has closed due to early freezing temperatures. Please make other arrangements. Drinking fountains are also in the process of being winterized for the same reason. Please plan appropriately. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
Bryce Canyon National Park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Astronomy
- Backcountry Camping
- Backcountry Hiking
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Citizen Science
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Dining
- Food
- Front-Country Hiking
- Group Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Park Film
- Picnicking
- RV Camping
- Road Biking
- +6 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Bryce Canyon?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for Bryce CanyonWho fits what at Bryce Canyon
Built from NPS and NOAA data, not opinion. “Leans” is a plain reading of the fee model, not a recommendation.
Seniors (62+)
A senior pass cuts DIY cost
US residents aged 62 and over can buy an annual pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80. The NPS API we use has no per-park accessibility data, so check the park page for trail and shuttle accessibility before choosing.
Source: nps.gov passes, Oct 26, 2026
Visitors without a car
Check transit first
The NPS data we pulled lists no shuttle or transit service for Bryce Canyon. It does tag Guided Tours, Horse Trekking, Junior Ranger Program and Self-Guided Tours - Auto. If you will not have a car, confirm how to get around before assuming DIY works.
Source: NPS activities, Oct 26, 2026
First-timers
Start at a visitor center
The NPS lists 1 visitor center, 1 with passport stamps. It also publishes 2 self-guided tours, taking 1 h to 6 h, which cost nothing beyond entry.
Source: NPS visitor centers and tours, Oct 26, 2026
Short visits
Entry validity not listed
NPS self-guided tours here run up to 6 h. January was the quietest month in 2025, which helps if you only have a day.
Source: NPS fees and IRMA Stats, Oct 26, 2026
What to book ahead
Check reservations early
The NPS campground listings (2) tag 195 sites as reservable and 99 as first-come; those tags can lag, so confirm on the park page.
Source: NPS alerts and campgrounds, Oct 26, 2026
Season
September is busiest
September drew 13% of 2025 recreation visits; its average high is 70°F at the nearest NOAA station. January was quietest, with an average high of 37°F.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats; NOAA normals 1991–2020 (BRYCE CANYON NP HQRS, 6 km away)
Parking and shuttles
No related alerts
No active NPS alert mentioned parking, shuttles or timed entry on Oct 26, 2026. Parking can still be scarce at peak times; see the park page.
Source: NPS alerts, Oct 26, 2026
Questions
How much does it cost to enter Bryce Canyon by car?
The NPS lists $35 per private vehicle (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
Is there an extra fee for visitors from outside the US at Bryce Canyon?
Yes. Bryce Canyon is one of 11 parks where non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a $100 nonresident fee on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass (NPS, checked Oct 26, 2026).
When is Bryce Canyon busiest?
September had the most recreation visits in 2025 (13% of the year). January had the fewest, so September drew about 6.7 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
More parks in Utah
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.