170°F
Lava surface
Open
Loop Rd (seasonal)
42 sites
Campground
$20
7-day fee
Dark Sky
Park since 2017
Volcanic Terrain & Heat Safety170°F lava surface▾
Park Entrance & Loop RoadOpen · $20▾
Main Access
Open Year-Round
US-20/26/93, 18 mi SW of Arco, ID
A small, low-traffic monument — there's no entrance-wait concept here like the big national parks. The visitor center and Loop Drive sit right off the highway.
💡 Don't rely on GPS to route you in — some digital maps suggest unpaved backcountry roads. Stick to US-20/26/93.
NPS directions ↗
Loop Drive
Seasonal
7-mile paved loop, mid-April – late November
The scenic Loop Road closes each winter with snow and reopens as conditions allow, typically mid-April. It's the access point for every major trailhead in the park.
💡 Check current road status before visiting shoulder season (Nov, Apr) — closure dates shift year to year.
NPS road status ↗
Cave Access
Free Permit Required
In-person only, at the visitor center
Every lava tube cave (Indian Tunnel, Boy Scout, Beauty, Dewdrop) requires a free permit obtained in person — it protects the park's bats from white-nose syndrome. No online or same-day-online option exists.
💡 You'll be asked to confirm your gear hasn't been in any other cave or mine — decontaminate anything that has.
Cave permit info ↗
Campgrounds42 sites▾
Lava Flow Campground First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites42
Regular Season$15/night (May–Oct)
Shoulder Season$8/night (Apr, Nov)
WinterFree, walk-in only, permit req'd
NotesNo hookups, no showers, no cell service
Campground details ↗
Landmarks & Trailheads7 stops▾
North Loop Stops3 stops▾
North Crater Flow TrailEasy · youngest lava flow in the park~3.5 mi RT
Devils Orchard Nature TrailEasy · paved, wheelchair accessible~0.5 mi loop
Inferno ConeModerate · steep cinder-cone climb, panoramic views~0.4 mi RT
Spatter Cones & Tree Molds3 stops▾
Big Craters / Spatter Cones TrailModerate · small volcanic vents~0.4 mi RT
Tree Molds TrailModerate · lava-cast tree impressions~1.6 mi RT
Broken Top LoopStrenuous · cinder cone & kipuka loop~1.8 mi loop
Caves Area (Permit Required)1 stop▾
Caves TrailModerate · access to Indian Tunnel, Boy Scout, Beauty & Dewdrop caves~1.6 mi RT
Stargazing & Night SkyDark Sky Park▾
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Craters of the Moon was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2017, one of the darkest skies in the Lower 48 — the black lava fields give way to a sky where the Milky Way is easily visible to the naked eye. Rangers occasionally host evening astronomy programs in summer. Best on new-moon nights; bring a red flashlight to preserve night vision, and pack warm layers even in summer, since desert nights cool off fast. NPS plan-your-visit info ↗
Goods & Services1 location▾
Robert Limbert Visitor Center1 location▾
Bookstore & Gift ShopBooks · Maps · GiftsYear-round
Park Contact Information