Lake Mead costs $25 per car
Lake Mead National Recreation Area charges $25 for a private car. The pass covers everyone in the car and is good for 7 days. People on foot or bike pay $15 each, and motorcycles pay $20. A Lake Mead annual pass costs $45. The $80 America the Beautiful pass also covers entry.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area fees in 2026
| Private vehicle, everyone inside | $25, good for 7 days |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | $20, good for 7 days |
| Per person on foot or bike | $15, good for 7 days |
| Lake Mead annual pass | $45 |
| America the Beautiful annual pass (US residents) | $80, good at every national park |
| Family of 4 in one car, 7 days | $25 |
|---|---|
| 2 adults hiking or biking in | $30 |
America the Beautiful passes are accepted here. This park is cashless, so bring a card. Boats pay a separate lake use fee. The $45 Lake Mead pass works only at Lake Mead. Sources: National Park Service, Lake Mead National Recreation Area fees and passes; National Park Service Data API, fees and passes for every park (pulled September 26, 2026).
Other park fees in Arizona and Nevada
Planning more than one park? Here is what each one charges in 2026.
| Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | $30 per car |
|---|---|
| Montezuma Castle National Monument | $10 per person |
| Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | $25 per car |
| Death Valley National Park | $30 per car |
| Grand Canyon National Park | $35 per car |
| Petrified Forest National Park | $25 per car |
| Saguaro National Park | $25 per car |
What this price covers
What the park says: Lake Mead National Recreation Area has entrance and lake use fees. The Lake Mead Annual Entrance Pass and Lake Mead Annual Vessel fees can be paid and purchased for online or at one of our entrance stations.
About the main pass: Admits a private non-commercial vehicle for 1-7 days.
About the annual pass: This pass admits the passholder only into Lake Mead National Recreation Area AND NOT other federal lands. The interagency passes allow access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Which pass is best for you? A single visit costs $25 for your whole car. The park annual pass costs $45 and only works here. The $80 America the Beautiful pass works at every national park for 12 months, and covers everyone in one car, or the pass holder plus 3 adults where the fee is per person. US residents 62 and older can buy a $20 annual or $80 lifetime senior pass instead. US military members can get a free pass.
The entrance fee does not cover camping, tours, lodging or shuttles run by private companies.
What changes your price
- How you arrive. One car pays $25 for everyone inside. Walkers and cyclists pay $15 each.
- How often you come. The park annual pass costs $45.
Ways to pay less
- Visiting 4 or more parks that charge about $25 this year? The $80 America the Beautiful pass costs less.
- Coming back to Lake Mead? The $45 annual pass pays off on your second visit in 12 months.
- Buy a digital pass on Recreation.gov before you go. Signal can be weak near park entrances.
- Bring a credit or debit card. Cash is not accepted.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the National Park Service. We pulled the fee data for every park from the official NPS Data API on September 26, 2026, and each park's own fees page shows the same numbers. Where we show a total, we only add up the park's own fees. We do not add our own guesses. Fees can change, so check the park's page before you go.
Common questions
How much does it cost to get into Lake Mead National Recreation Area?
$25 per car, good for 7 days.
Does the America the Beautiful pass work at Lake Mead?
Yes. The $80 annual pass covers the entrance fee.
Do foreign visitors pay more at Lake Mead?
No. Lake Mead is not one of the 11 parks with the $100 non-resident fee.