Capitol Reef National Park
Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles.
Photo: NPS Photo / NPS
About Capitol Reef National Park
Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles.
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UTdrive time
UTdrive time
UTdrive time
UTdrive time
AZdrive time
AZdrive time
Driving times from Capitol Reef National Park, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Entrance fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$20.00An entrance fee is charged per vehicle.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$15.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$10.00Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Commercial Entrance - Per Person
$10.00Commercial 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). Tours with vehicle capacity of 15 or less should apply for a CUA in the "Guided Interpretive Tours" category. Tours of this size fall under the Guided Activities entry fee structure.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$100.00Commercial 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). Vehicle capacity of 16 seats or greater: $100.00 entrance fee
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$100.00Commercial 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). Vehicle capacity of 16 seats or greater: $100.00 entrance fee
Commercial Entrance - Per Person
$10.00Guided 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. Guided activity groups are charged the per person fee of $10.00 per client, excluding the trip leader or guide. If a client has an America the Beautiful Resident pass (annual, senior, access, etc.) it covers 4 people in the group. (Non-resident annual passes cover only the pass owner.)
Hours
Capitol Reef National Park
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
Weather is posted daily; check at the park visitor center for weather updates. Do not enter into narrow canyons if there is a threat of rain or if rain has been falling in the area. Rain and snow may also make dirt roads impassable to vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to enter Capitol Reef National Park?
- Entrance to Capitol Reef National Park starts at $10. See the fees section above for each pass and vehicle type.
- What is there to do at Capitol Reef National Park?
- Popular activities include Arts and Crafts, Arts and Culture, Astronomy, Backcountry Camping, Backcountry Hiking, Biking.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Capitol Reef National Park?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Bryce Canyon National Park (2 h 50 min), Arches National Park (3 h 28 min), Natural Bridges National Monument (3 h 29 min), Cedar Breaks National Monument (3 h 37 min), Pipe Spring National Monument (4 h 18 min), Old Spanish National Historic Trail (4 h 22 min).