Families and groups
Leans DIY on entry cost
One $20 vehicle fee covers everyone in the car, so a party of five pays $4 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
Capitol Reef: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Capitol Reef charges $20 per private vehicle, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). The $80 America the Beautiful pass beats paying at the gate after 4 visits. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $5 each to enter, which favors driving yourself. May is busiest, with 16% of 2025 recreation visits.
Our verdict, from the fee data
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $20 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 | $20 | $20 |
| 2 people | $20 | $10 |
| 4 people | $20 | $5 |
| 6 people | $20 | $3.33 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $20. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20 | An entrance fee is charged per vehicle. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10 | Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians. |
| Commercial Entrance - Per Person | $10 | Commercial Road-Based Tours are required to obtain a Commercial Use Authorization before visiting Capitol Reef. When visiting the park, the tour must then pay the separate entrance fee at the visitor center (or through pay.gov). |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $100 | Commercial Road-Based Tours are required to obtain a Commercial Use Authorization before visiting Capitol Reef National Park. When visiting the park, the tour must then pay the separate entrance fee at the visitor center (or through pay.gov). |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $100 | Commercial Road-Based Tours are required to obtain a Commercial Use Authorization before visiting Capitol Reef National Park. When visiting the park, the tour must then pay the separate entrance fee at the visitor center (or through pay.gov). |
| Commercial Entrance - Per Person | $10 | Guided Activities include all types of guided services, such as bike and motorcycle tours, hiking guides, photography classes, hiking shuttles, and road-based commercial tours with vehicles <16 capacity. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Capitol Reef via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 4 visits at $20 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Capitol Reef also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $35.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. May had 16% of the year; January was the quietest month, with about 8% of the busiest month’s visits.
BusierQuietest month
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 17,002 |
| February | 20,196 |
| March | 104,856 |
| April | 156,599 |
| May | 221,189 |
| June | 167,193 |
| July | 122,287 |
| August | 110,159 |
| September | 182,374 |
| October | 181,747 |
| November | 65,512 |
| December | 39,362 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
2 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026. Showing the most serious first.
Caution Elevated E. Coli levels - Fremont River and Sulphur Creek
Recent water quality testing shows elevated E. coli levels in the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek. A warning advisory has been issued by the Utah DEQ. Use caution if entering the water. Do not get water in your mouth, do not swim. Wash hands with soap and water. Details on nps.gov
Caution Monsoon Season & Flash Floods
Heavy rains can cause sudden flooding, especially in canyons and washes. Do not drive or hike through flood waters. Get to high ground and wait for floods to subside. Some roads may close temporarily; closures are posted at the visitor center. 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
Capitol Reef is a 24 hour park, open all day, every day. The visitor center is open daily, except for some major holidays. Visitor center hours vary, call 435-425-3791 and follow the prompts for current visitor center information.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Arts and Crafts
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Backcountry Camping
- Backcountry Hiking
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Camping
- Canyoneering
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Citizen Science
- Climbing
- Cultural Demonstrations
- First Person Interpretation
- Fishing
- Food
- Front-Country Hiking
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
- Group Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Hiking
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- +18 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Capitol Reef?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for Capitol ReefWho fits what at Capitol Reef
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
Transit is listed
The NPS tags “Off-Trail Permitted Hiking” here. Guided options tagged: Arts and Crafts, Guided Tours, Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) and Horse Camping (see also camping). Confirm routes and seasons on nps.gov.
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 3 self-guided tours, taking 30 min to 2 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 2 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 (5) tag 66 sites as reservable and 11 as first-come; those tags can lag, so confirm on the park page.
Source: NPS alerts and campgrounds, Oct 26, 2026
Season
May is busiest
May drew 16% of 2025 recreation visits; its average high is 74°F at the nearest NOAA station. January was quietest, with an average high of 41°F. Mild months below the average crowd: November and March.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats; NOAA normals 1991–2020 (CAPITOL REEF NP, 2 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 Capitol Reef by car?
The NPS lists $20 per private vehicle (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
When is Capitol Reef busiest?
May had the most recreation visits in 2025 (16% of the year). January had the fewest, so May drew about 13.0 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.