Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$100.00This per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
ID
Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve
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Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve at a glance
- Best time
- April–May, September–October
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Hike the North Crater Trail
- Nearby city
- Arco, ID
Explore this park
About Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve
Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow.
Weather Information
Weather at Craters of the Moon is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. In February, average snow depth ranges from 26 inches at the north end of the monument to just 2 inches at the south end. Intense summer sun bakes the black lava, generating surface temperatures of 170°F and air temperatures in the 90s. Drying winds are a daily occurrence, especially in the afternoon, and may reach 15 to 30 miles per hour.
Entrance Fees
Commercial Entrance - Van
$40.00This per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00This per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$20.00This per-vehicle fee applies to private, non-commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. The fee covers the driver and any passengers.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$15.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$10.00This per-person fee provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. Youth age 15 and under are free.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
FreeClasses or groups from accredited academic institutions may apply for a fee waiver ahead of their visit by contacting the park. Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. Educational groups must apply and meet the two criteria to receive a fee waiver: 1) eligibility and 2) educational purpose and relevance of park resources or facilities. Groups that choose to not make a reservation or apply for an academic fee waiver will be charged the standard entrance fee per vehicle.
Operating Hours
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
The Loop Road is typically open from mid April through late November as conditions allow.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Entrance Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$35.00Annual entrance pass for Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve only. Valid for one year through the month of purchase. This pass can be purchased at the park entrance station.
Common questions
Planning Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
