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.
Alerts
- ClosurePark Bookstore Update
The park bookstore is currently transitioning to a new partner. The park is working to identify and establish a new bookstore provider, and additional information will be shared as it becomes available. Due to this transition, a bookstore with items for purchase will not be in service until a new partner is established. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
- CautionNPS ↗Navigation
Please do not rely upon GPS digital navigation systems to find your way to Craters of the Moon. Please note that the Robert Limbert Visitor Center at 1266 Craters Loop Road is located just off U.S. Highway 20/26/93 and is not accessed via any unpaved roads.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleThis 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. | $20 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $15 | |
| Per PersonThis per-person fee provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. Youth age 15 and under are free. | $10 | |
| Education/Academic GroupsClasses 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. | Free | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| SedanThis per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. | $25 | |
| Motor CoachThis per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. | $100 | |
| VanThis per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. | $40 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkAnnual 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. | $35 | |
Credit cards are the only form of payment accepted at the automated fee machine and the entrance booth. If you would prefer to pay with cash, please first stop by the visitor center to obtain an entrance voucher for cash payment.
Hours
| Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve | Daily · All Day |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Lava Flow Campground | 42 sites | |
| $15 a night · Sites are only available on a first come - first served basis. Campsites can be claimed at any time through a self-registration process. · 42 first-come | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Robert Limbert Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
When open, stop by the visitor center for maps and the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association bookstore, and of course: your passport stamp!
Explore
Things to do
- Visit Craters in Winter
Tour a lava wonderland blanketed in snow. Winter visitors can enjoy skiing the groomed park road or venture into the park on snowshoes.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Devils Orchard30-45 Minutes
Enjoy an easy, 0.5 mile walk through an open limber pine woodland.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Craters Junior Ranger15-30 Minutes
Earn your Junior Ranger badge for Craters of the Moon while learning about the park by completing this fun activity book.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Spatter Cones10-15 Minutes
Take a short walk to view some of the park's mini-volcanoes up close and personal.
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore a Cave60-90 Minutes
Explore Craters' dynamic underground world of lava tubes.
Opens on the Park Service site - Stargazing at Craters of the Moon
See the night sky like never before! The natural darkness of Craters of the Moon lends to superior stargazing opportunities.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 11Hide
- Backpack the Craters of the Moon Wilderness
Immerse yourself in the solitude of the Craters of the Moon Wilderness.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the North Crater Trail90-120 Minutes
This strenuous 3.5-mile trail drops into the mouth of North Crater.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Broken Top Loop60-90 Minutes
Find a variety of unique volcanic features on this moderate-difficulty 1.8 mile loop.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Up Inferno Cone30-45 Minutes
Climb a short but very steep trail to the top of a volcanic cone for awe-inspiring views.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Tree Molds Trail60-90 Minutes
This 2-mile trail winds through the Craters of the Moon Wilderness and features molds of ancient trees encased in lava.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
News
- Four southern Idaho national parks welcomed a combined total of more than 430,000 recreation visits in 2025 ↗2026-05-21
Four southern Idaho national parks welcomed a combined total of more than 430,000 recreation visits in 2025, including a record number of recreation visits to the Minidoka National Historic Site.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Craters of the Moon National Monument Draft MMP Amendment and Environmental Impact StatementU. S. Department Interior and Bureau of Management, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
- Natural Resource Condition Assessment: Craters of the Moon National Monument and PreserveJohn Erixson and Mark Corrao, 2013Find at Bookshop.org
- Mammal Inventory of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve 2003: Upper Columbia Basin NetworkErica Madison and Thomas Rodhouse, 2013Find at Bookshop.org
- Upper Columbia Basin Network Limber Pine Community Dynamics 2011 Annual Monitoring Report: Craters of the Moon National Monument and PreserveDevin Stucki and Thomas Rodhouse, 2013Find at Bookshop.org
- Monitoring the American Pika in the Pacific West Region: Crater Lake National Park, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Lava Beds National Monument: Standard Operating ProceduresNational Park Service, 2013Find at Bookshop.org
Local history books for Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Full checklist: 215 birds, 65 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barn Owl · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-Eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Saw-Whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-Tailed Hawk · Rough-Legged Hawk · Sharp-Shinned Hawk · Short-Eared Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · northern harrier · northern pygmy-owl
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Blue-Winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Common Goldeneye · Double-crested Cormorant · Eared Grebe · Great Blue Heron · Green-Winged Teal · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Ring-necked Duck · Ruddy Duck · Snow Goose · Trumpeter Swan · Tundra Swan · Virginia Rail · Western Grebe · White-faced Ibis · sandhill crane · wood duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · California Gull · Caspian Tern · Forster's Tern · Franklin's gull · Greater Yellowlegs · Killdeer · Least Sandpiper · Long-billed Curlew · Long-billed Dowitcher · Ring-Billed Gull · Spotted Sandpiper · Willet · Wilson's Phalarope · Wilson's Snipe · solitary sandpiper
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Greater Sage Grouse · Mourning Dove · Ring-Necked Pheasant · Rock Dove · Ruffed Grouse · dusky grouse
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis' Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-Naped Sapsucker · Red-breasted Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker · red-headed woodpecker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-Throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Bushtit · American Crow · American Goldfinch · American Grey Flycatcher · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Black Rosy-finch · Black-Throated Sparrow · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-Headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Canvasback · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Vireo · Cedar Waxwing · Chipping Sparrow · Chukar · Clark's Nutcracker · Cliff Swallow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Raven · Common Redpoll · Common Yellowthroat · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-Eyed Junco · Dusky Flycatcher · Eastern Kingbird · Eurasian Whimbrel · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-Crowned Sparrow · Gray Catbird · Gray Partridge · Gray-crowned Rosy-finch · Green-Tailed Towhee · Hammond's flycatcher · Harris' Sparrow · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Juniper Titmouse · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · MacGillivray's Warbler · Mallard · Marsh Wren · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Northern Shrike · Northern Waterthrush · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Oregon Junco · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Red Crossbill · Red-Breasted Nuthatch · Red-Winged Blackbird · Redhead · Rock Wren · Ruby-Crowned Kinglet · Sage Thrasher · Sagebrush Sparrow · Sand Martin · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Snow Bunting · Song Sparrow · Sora · Spotted Towhee · Steller's jay · Swainson's Thrush · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's warbler · Tree Swallow · Varied Thrush · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-Green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub-Jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-Breasted Nuthatch · White-Throated Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-Headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler · black-billed magpie · black-throated gray warbler · bobolink · bohemian waxwing · chestnut-sided warbler · common poorwill · golden-crowned kinglet · grasshopper sparrow · great-tailed grackle · lark bunting · northern goshawk · white-crowned sparrow · winter wren · yellow-breasted chat
Small mammalsBeaver · Columbian Ground Squirrel · Craters of the Moon Chipmunk · Deer Mouse · Dusky Shrew · Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel · Great Basin Pocket Mouse · Least Chipmunk · Long-Tailed Vole · Merriam's Shrew · Montane Vole · Mountain cottontail · Northern Grasshopper Mouse · Ord's Kangaroo Rat · Pika · Piute ground squirrel · Red Squirrel · Sagebrush Vole · Snowshoe Hare · Townsend's ground squirrel · Vagrant Shrew · Western Harvest Mouse · Western Jumping Mouse · Yellow-Bellied Marmot · black-tailed jack rabbit · bushy-tailed woodrat · northern pocket gopher · porcupine · pygmy rabbit · white-tailed jack rabbit · yellow pine chipmunk
PredatorsBadger · Black Bear · Common Otter · Coyote · Gray Wolf · Raccoon · Red Fox · Striped Skunk · bobcat · long-tailed weasel · mountain Lion · short-tailed weasel · western spotted skunk · wolverine
Hoofed mammalsMoose · Mule Deer · Pronghorn · Rocky Mountain elk · White-tailed deer · bighorn sheep · elk
BatsBig Brown Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Little Brown Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Townsend's big-eared Bat · Western small-footed myotis · Yuma Myotis · silver-haired bat
Also on the checklistdomestic cat
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
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.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Craters Of The Moon?
Entrance is $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per person on foot or bike. This per-vehicle fee applies to private, non-commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Craters Of The Moon?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Craters Of The Moon-only annual pass is $35.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Craters Of The Moon takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Craters Of The Moon free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Craters Of The Moon?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Craters Of The Moon. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Craters Of The Moon open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Craters Of The Moon?
Yes. The Park Service lists 1 campground in Craters Of The Moon: Lava Flow. 1 is first-come, first-served.
Do any Craters Of The Moon campgrounds have hookups or showers?
No. None of the 1 listed campgrounds report showers, electric hookups, or a dump station.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Craters Of The Moon include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Lava Flow is $15 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Craters Of The Moon right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Park Bookstore Update; Navigation.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Craters Of The Moon?
260,418 recreation visits in 2025, number 159 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Craters Of The Moon?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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