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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Idaho. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
This 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.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
This per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
This per-person fee provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days. Youth age 15 and under are free.
Classes 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.
This per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
This per-vehicle fee applies to commercial vehicles and provides entrance into the park for seven consecutive days.
Operating Hours
The Loop Road is typically open from mid April through late November as conditions allow.
Activities
Current Alerts
The Craters of the Moon bookstore and museum will be CLOSED on September 30, 2026 due to inventory. Rangers will still be available for cave permits, information, and Junior Ranger activities. Please plan accordingly.
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.
Getting There
Visitor Center and Loop Drive are located 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho on U.S. Highway 20/26/93, 24 miles northeast of Carey, Idaho on U.S. Highway 20/26/93, 84 miles from Idaho Falls, and 90 miles from Twin Falls. Physical address is 1266 Craters Loop Road(Lat/Long: 43° 27.711'N/113° 33.7) Access to the main visitor use area is via a paved highway. Unpaved roads provide additional access to the BLM monument and NPS Preserve but should only be utilized by four wheel drive and high clearance vehicles.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
Annual 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.
Topics & Themes
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…
Hike Devils Orchard
Enjoy an easy, 0.5 mile walk through an open limber pine woodland.
Become a Craters Junior Ranger
Earn your Junior Ranger badge for Craters of the Moon while learning about the park by completing this fun activity…
Visit the Spatter Cones
Take a short walk to view some of the park's mini-volcanoes up close and personal.
Explore a Cave
Explore Craters' dynamic underground world of lava tubes.
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.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Backpack the Craters of the Moon Wilderness
Immerse yourself in the solitude of the Craters of the Moon Wilderness.
Hike the North Crater Trail
This strenuous 3.5-mile trail drops into the mouth of North Crater.
Hike Broken Top Loop
Find a variety of unique volcanic features on this moderate-difficulty 1.8 mile loop.
Hike Up Inferno Cone
Climb a short but very steep trail to the top of a volcanic cone for awe-inspiring views.
Hike the Tree Molds Trail
This 2-mile trail winds through the Craters of the Moon Wilderness and features molds of ancient trees encased in lava.
Visitor Centers
Robert Limbert Visitor Center
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!
Campgrounds
Lava Flow Campground
The Lava Flow Campground is a 42-site campground accessible by automobile from May through November depending on snow conditions. All sites are available on a…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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