Entrance Fee
$20.00
/ Entrance - Private Vehicle
Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center: 8:00AM - 4:30PM
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About the 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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What to See & Do
Stargaze
Capitol Reef protects extremely dark night skies, and is a wonderful place to stargaze.
Bicycle Touring
Bicycling touring in Capitol Reef offers opportunities to explore paved and unpaved roads throughout the park. Explore colorful canyons, beautiful vistas of red rock country, and the verdant Fruita Historic District by bicycle.
Watch the Sunset
Watch the sunset from various scenic points in Capitol Reef. Take an easy stroll or a strenuous hike as the sun goes down. Don't forget to bring a headlamp.
Visit the Petroglyph Panel
From 600 to 1300 C.E., native people of the Fremont Culture made their home at Capitol Reef. Petroglyphs carved into the Wingate sandstone remind us of their time.
Scenic Drive Tour
Take Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive, and experience colorful cliffs and deep narrow canyons from the comfort of your vehicle.
Hike in the South (Waterpocket) District
Get to know the South (Waterpocket) District on foot by hiking an easy trail or strenuous backcountry route. Many of these hikes are accessible only by unpaved roads.
Self-Guided Tours
Scenic Drive Tour
The Scenic Drive is an 8-mile (13 km) paved road. Allot 2 hours roundtrip to drive the Scenic Drive and the two dirt spur roads that lead into deep canyons, Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. These dirt spur roads are usually suitable for passenger vehicles and small RVs up to 23 feet in length. Roads may close due to snow, ice, and flash flooding. An entrance fee is charged for the Scenic Drive. Pay at the self-pay station at Stop 1 or purchase a pass for all federal lands at the visitor center.
Utah Highway 24 Tour – Eastbound
Utah State Route 24 is the main driving route in Capitol Reef National Park, crossing the park for 15 mi (24 km) from west boundary to east boundary. It passes through the Fruita Historic District, where Scenic Drive branches off to the south. You will experience 280 million years of Earth history written in the rocks as the road cuts through a cross section of the Waterpocket Fold. The wide range of landscapes supports diverse ecosystems and has served as a home to human cultures for millennia.
Utah Highway 24 Tour – Westbound
Utah State Route 24 is the main driving route in Capitol Reef National Park, crossing the park for 15 mi (24 km) from west boundary to east boundary. It passes through the Fruita Historic District, where Scenic Drive branches off to the south. You will experience 280 million years of Earth history written in the rocks as the road cuts through a cross section of the Waterpocket Fold. The wide range of landscapes supports diverse ecosystems and has served as a home to human cultures for millennia.
Visitor Centers
Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center
Capitol Reef National Park visitor center sits at the intersection of UT-24 and the Scenic Drive.
Where to Stay
Primitive campsites at Cathedral Campground
It is located approximately halfway on the Cathedral Valley Loop Road. About 36 miles (57.9 km) from the visitor center, this primitive, no-fee campground has 6 sites, each with a picnic table and fire grate. There is a pit toilet, but no water available. The campground is open year-round; however, visitors should check road conditions with the Capitol Reef Visitor Center prior to planning an overnight stay. The campground is at ~7,000 feet (2,133 m) in elevation, No reservations; first-come, first-served.
Primitive campsites at Cedar Mesa Campground
It is located approximately 23 miles (37.0 km) south of Utah State Highway 24 on the Notom-Bullfrog Road and is at 5,500 feet (1,676 m) in elevation. This primitive, no-fee campground has five sites, each with a picnic table and fire grate. There is also a pit toilet, but no water is available. The campground is open year-round, but visitors should check with the Capitol Reef Visitor Center for road conditions prior to planning an overnight stay. No reservations; first-come, first-served.
Group Campsite
The Group Campsite is a secluded site located near the Fruita Campground and can accommodate a maximum of 40 people. It may be reserved through www.recreation.gov up to one year in advance. The Fruita Group Campsite is open from mid-April to mid-October. It is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday nights for maintenance. The nightly rate is $125.
Fruita Campground
The 71 site Fruita campground is the only developed campground in the park, offering picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms, water and a dump station. A $25 nightly fee is charged. It is open year-round. Campsites are reservable year-round; visit www.recreation.gov to make a reservation. Reservations are accepted 6 months ahead of time. The busy season is mid March through October when the campground is typically fully booked. In the winter, there is less demand and it is easy to secure a campsite.
Backcountry Camping
A free backcountry permit, available at the visitor center, is required for camping outside of campgrounds. Capitol Reef offers many hiking options for serious backpackers and those who enjoy exploring remote areas. For more information on possible backpacking routes, route descriptions and maps are available on our hiking and backpacking page.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
From I-70: Take exit 149, then take UT-24 west toward Hanksville; continue for 43.8 miles (70.5 km). Turn right to continue on UT-24 west and continue for 37.3 miles (60 km). From I-15: take exit 188 then US-50 east toward Scipio. Left on UT-50; continuing 0.7 miles (1.1 km). Turn right onto US-50 east; continue for 24.4 miles (39.3 km). Turn right onto UT-260 south and continue 4.2 miles (6.8 km), then right on UT-24 for 71.3 miles. UT-12: North on highway 12 to Torrey, UT. Right onto UT-24.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Capitol Reef National Park — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard 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.)
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$35.00Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle or motorcycle and all its occupants or riders.
Operating Hours
Capitol Reef National Park
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.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Photos
A hiker stands beside Hickman Bridge, a natural sandstone bridge
Exposed layers of rock in the Waterpocket fold
Cliffs known as "The Castle" tower above the Capitol Reef Visitor Center
Fruit tree with peaches in front of red sandstone cliffs
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
2-4 days
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Planning Capitol Reef
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.