Grand Canyon Entrance Fees & Backcountry Permit Info

NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED
You do not need a reservation nor is there a timed entry at Grand Canyon National Park.

FREE Entrance Park Days:

Does not include other fees such as tours, lodging, reservations, etc.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• National Park Week
• National Park Service's Birthday
• National Public Lands Day
• Veteran's Day

General Entrance Fees For North & South Rim:

• Grand Canyon National Park Vehicle Permit - $35 (U.S. Dollars).
  Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers, up to a 15 person passenger van. Organized groups are not eligible for the vehicle permit.
• Grand Canyon National Park Motorcycle Permit - $30 (U.S. Dollars)
  Admits one single, private, non-commercial motorcycle and its passenger(s).
• Grand Canyon National Park Individual Permit - $20/person (U.S. Dollars)
  Admits one individual when entering by foot, bicycle, park shuttle bus, Grand Canyon Railway and private rafting trip. Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.

Where To Get Grand Canyon National Park Passes:

Types of Annual National Park Passes:

• America the Beautiful Annual Pass - $80
  This a 12 month pass to all Federal recreation sites that have a fee for entrance.
• America the Beautiful Annual Military Pass- FREE This pass is for active-duty military and their dependents. You must present proper identification.
• America the Beautiful Lifetime Senior Pass - $80
  This is an annual pass to all Federal recreation sites in exchange for 250 cumulative service hours.
• America the Beautiful Annual Senior Pass - $20
  This is a lifetime pass to all Federal Recreation lands that charge a fee for anyone over the age of 62.
• America the Beautiful Access Pass - $10
  This is a lifetime pass for all Federal Recreation sites that charge an entrance fee for residents of the U.S. with permanent disabilities.

Where To Get Annual National Park Passes:

When you need a Backcountry Permit:

1. overnight camping outside of Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, and North Rim Campground
2. overnight camping in all sites at Tuweep Campground
3. overnight camping anywhere on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park between Nov 1 - May 14 (includes ski-camping)
4. off-river camping by river trip participants
5. overnight camping with private stock outside of Mather Campground or outside of North Rim Campground (May 15 – Oct 31)
6. packrafting, other than that which occurs under a river permit

When you DO NOT need a Backcountry Permit:

1. day hikes (this includes nighttime "day" hikes)
2. day stock rides
3. overnight camping at Mather Campground and Desert View Campground (campground reservations for Mather Campground at www.recreation.gov)
4. overnight camping at North Rim Campground between May 15 – Oct 31 (campground reservations at www.recreation.gov)
5. overnight camping with private stock at Mather Campground or (May 15 – Oct 31) North Rim Campground
6. overnight stays at the dormitories or cabins at Phantom Ranch (advanced reservations with Grand Canyon National Park Lodges required)

Cost of Permits:

• Backcountry permit application fee - $10
• Camping permits per person below the rim- $15 (may be increased to $24 per night in 2025)
• Camping permits per person above the rim- $4 (may be increased to $6 per night in 2025)

How to get a Backcountry Permit:

1. Start process 10 days before the 1st of the month that is 4 months prior to when you would like to go.
   Example: For January submit August 20th (Allow at least 3 weeks for processing).
2. Download Permit Request Form Online (PDF File)
3. Submit to the Backcountry Information Center in person, via fax, or by mail (email and phone not accepted).

If You Can't Get a Permit:

There are other ways to get a permit if you are denied. There are a small number of walk-in permits available. These are available at the South & North Rim Backcountry Information Centers and have to be purchased in person and no more than 24 hours ahead of time. Walk-in hours are between 8am and noon (1pm-5pm Mountain Standard Time). You may put yourself on a waitlist during open hours for the next morning which will determine the order in which the permits are given out. You may be on the waitlist for as many days in a row as you would like.

For more information and details, please refer to the Grand Canyon National Park Service website.

Types of River Permits:

• 1 Day Commercial River Trips- These include half and full day trips on smooth water.
• 2-5 Day Non-Commercial River Trips- These are available 1 year in advance and are first come, first serve. They are non-commercial and go between Diamond Creek and Lake Mead.
• Lees Ferry-Diamond Creek Commercial/ Non-Commercial Trips- These include motorized and non-motorized trips and usually take a minimum of 7 days. However, there are options for those that would like to hike in or out at Phantom Ranch.
• 3-18 Day Commercial River Trips- These are guided professionally and offered to the public through 1-2 year in advance reservations.
• 12-25 Day Non-Commercial River Trips-These trips are self-guided and only available to the public through a weighted lottery.

• Special Use Permits
• Filming/ Photography Permits
• Scientific Research Permits
• Commercial Use Authorizations (for Tour Operators)

To aid in your Grand Canyon vacation planning, we've collected a list of the most common average costs for tours, activities, transportation, hotels, campgrounds and dining. It's certainly possible to find lower or higher prices, but this list should give you a ballpark idea.

Tours and Activities:

• National Park (North and South rims) entrance fees - $30 per vehicle
• West Rim entrance package - $46.65 per person
• Helicopter tours - South Rim - $199 per person
• Helicopter tours - West Rim - $299 per person
• Ground tours - South Rim - $72 per person
• Ground tours - West Rim - $110 per person
• Train tours - South Rim - $75 per person
• Air tours - South Rim - $300 per person
• Air tours - West Rim - $265 per person
• Guided day hiking - South Rim - $110 per person
• Guided backpacking for 3 - 7 days - South Rim - $800 - $1500 per person
• River rafting (motor) 1 day - West Rim - $375 per person
• River rafting (motor) 4 day Upper Canyon - $1100 per person
• River rafting (oar) 4 day Upper Canyon - $1750 per person
• River rafting (motor) rafting 5-9 day Lower Canyon - $1700 per person
• River rafting (oar) rafting 5-9 day Lower Canyon - $2500 per person
• Smooth water half day float trip - North Rim - $89 per person
• Smooth water 1 day row trip - North Rim - $161 per person

Shuttles/Transportation:

• Phoenix to Flagstaff shuttle $38 - $42 per person
• Sedona to Flagstaff shuttle $25 per person
• Flagstaff to South Rim taxi/shuttle $42 - $58 per person
• Flagstaff to North Rim taxi $158 - $200 per person
• Flagstaff airport to hotel complimentary shuttle $0)
• Flagstaff city bus (public transportation) $1.25/single ride; $2.50/unlimited rides day pass
• Grand Canyon West park-and-ride shuttle from Meadview $15 per person (reservations required)
• Ground tours - West Rim $110 per person
• Train tours - South Rim $75 per person

Hotel night at the Rim (Peak Season):

• El Tovar Hotel $183
• Bright Angel Lodge $94
• Kachina Lodge $191
• Thunderbird Lodge $191
• Maswick Lodge $92 - $176
• Yavapai Lodge $125 - $166
• Phantom Ranch (with meals) $124
• North Rim Lodge $124 - $173

Hotel night in Surrounding Areas (Peak Season):

South Rim
• Tusayan Hotel/Motel $90 - $190
• Williams Hotel/Motel $60 - $190
• Flagstaff Hotel/Motel $55 - $250
• Sedona Hotel/Motel $75 - $235
• Sedona Resort $150 - $350

West Rim
• Kingman Hotel/Motel $35 - $120
• Laughlin-Bullhead City Hotel/Motel $50 - $120
• Lake Havasu Hotel/Motel $75 - $150

North Rim/Grand Circle
• Jacob Lake (North Rim) Lodge/Motel $90 - $140
• Page/Lake Powell Hotel/Motel $190 - $300
• St. George Hotel/Motel $70 - $150

Campgrounds:

• Trailer Village $35
• Mather Campground $18
• Desert View $12
• North Rim Campground $18 - $25
• Demotte and Jacob Lake Campground North Rim $17
• Indian Garden Campground, Bright Angel Campground, Cottonwood Campground - $10 per permit plus $5 per person per night camped below the Rim, and $5 per group per night camped above the Rim
Reserve campsites here »

Dining (Average Meal per Person):

• Grand Canyon National Park Lodges casual dining (cafeterias, cafes, deli) $6 - $14
• Grand Canyon National Park Lodges upscale dining (lodges, dining rooms) $15 - $35
• Tusayan fast food chains $18