Oregon · National Park
Crater Lake: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Crater Lake charges $30 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). The $80 America the Beautiful pass beats paying at the gate after 3 visits. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $7.50 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $30 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 | $30 | $30 |
| 2 people | $30 | $15 |
| 4 people | $30 | $7.50 |
| 6 people | $30 | $5 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $30. 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 | $30 | This is the summer entrance fee and is charged from mid-May through the end of October. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Good for 7 days. |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20 | This is the winter entrance fee. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Good for 7 days. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Summer rate from mid-May to October 31st. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Winter rate from 11/1 through mid-May. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15 | Admits one individual with no motor vehicle (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Good for 7 days. |
| Entrance - Snowmobile | $15 | Admits one individual on a snowmobile for travel on snow covered North Entrance Road closed to regular vehicle traffic. Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Good for 7 days. |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25 | Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board. In addition to the $25 per vehicle there is also a $15 per passenger charge. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $75 | Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board. |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $100 | Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board. |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $200 | Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Crater Lake 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 3 visits at $30 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Crater Lake also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $55.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. August had 30% of the year; February was the quietest month, with about 2% of the busiest month’s visits.
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 4,958 |
| February | 3,060 |
| March | 5,633 |
| April | 14,832 |
| May | 31,922 |
| June | 73,327 |
| July | 178,886 |
| August | 189,696 |
| September | 107,486 |
| October | 11,422 |
| November | 6,380 |
| December | 4,640 |
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, including 1 closure. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for Rehabilitation
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for construction. This critical project will fully rehabilitate the trail and marina to ensure safe access to the lake, provide a much-improved visitor experience, and protect the environment. Details on nps.gov
Information North Entrance and Rim Drive are CLOSED.
Winter road closures are in effect. The park's North Entrance Road, most of the Rim Drive, Cloudcap and Pinnacles Road are closed to automobiles. The park's West and South Entrances are open. 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
Crater Lake National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Some roads, trails, and facilities, however, are closed seasonally due to snow. North Entrance Road, and West and East Rim Drives close for the season on November 1 (or earlier if there is significant snowfall). Crews begin removing snow from these roads in April, but opening dates vary.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Astronomy
- Auto and ATV
- Backcountry Camping
- Backcountry Hiking
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Boat Tour
- Boat Tour
- Boating
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Citizen Science
- Compass and GPS
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Dining
- Fishing
- Food
- Front-Country Hiking
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Hiking
- +19 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Crater Lake?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for Crater LakeQuestions
How much does it cost to enter Crater Lake by car?
The NPS lists $20 to $30 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
When is Crater Lake busiest?
August had the most recreation visits in 2025 (30% of the year). February had the fewest, so August drew about 62.0 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
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.