Curt Gowdy State Park charges $7 per Wyoming vehicle or $12 per nonresident vehicle for day use; no timed-entry ticket is needed.
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A day at Curt Gowdy State Park starts with a simple permit rather than a reserved admission slot. Searches for Curt Gowdy State Park tickets usually lead to the same practical answer: pay the daily-use vehicle fee when you arrive, or use a valid Wyoming State Parks annual day-use pass.
The permit covers entry to the park’s trailheads, picnic areas, and reservoir access areas for the day. Camping, reservable shelters, fishing licenses, and some rentals carry separate charges, so choosing the right permit depends on whether you are stopping for a hike or staying overnight.
Do You Need To Reserve A Ticket?
Curt Gowdy State Park does not use timed admission for ordinary day visits. Day-use visitors can pay at the Granite fee booth or use the park’s self-pay stations when the booth is closed.
Ahead-of-time reservations matter for campsites, cabins, shelters, Hynds Lodge, and the amphitheater. Standard hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, paddlers, and picnickers need a valid day-use permit, not an attraction time slot.
For current ticket listings connected with the park and nearby activities, check the available options here:
Curt Gowdy State Park Entry Fees And Permit Options
Curt Gowdy entry fees are charged by residency and how you enter. Vehicle fees apply once per vehicle, while people arriving on foot, bicycle, horseback, or a similar nonmotorized method pay the corresponding rate per person.
| Permit Option | What It Covers | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming resident daily use | One vehicle for one day | $7 |
| Nonresident daily use | One vehicle for one day | $12 |
| Wyoming resident walk-in, bicycle, or horseback entry | One person for one day | $7 |
| Nonresident walk-in, bicycle, or horseback entry | One person for one day | $12 |
| Wyoming resident annual day-use pass | One registered vehicle for the calendar year | $48 |
| Nonresident annual day-use pass | One registered vehicle for the calendar year | $96 |
| Additional resident vehicle annual pass | A second qualifying vehicle on the same account or address | $24 |
| Additional nonresident vehicle annual pass | A second qualifying vehicle on the same account or address | $48 |
Wyoming State Parks lists these rates on its official 2026 permits and fees page. Resident pricing requires proof of Wyoming residency, and annual passes are tied to a specific vehicle.
A resident annual pass costs less than seven separate day visits. A nonresident pass equals eight $12 visits and begins saving money on the ninth visit.
How To Pay At The Park
Curt Gowdy State Park accepts day-use payments through staffed and self-service locations. The Granite fee booth sells day permits when staffed, while the visitor center handles annual permit sales and reservation questions.
- Cash self-pay is available near the flagpole at the visitor center.
- Credit-card kiosks are available on the visitor center’s lower floor and near the Granite and Crystal fee booths.
- Annual passes can be purchased online, by phone at 877-WYO-PARK, or in person at a park or approved selling agent.
- An online annual-pass confirmation can be printed and used for entry while the windshield sticker is in transit.
The visitor center is generally open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while fee-booth staffing varies. Carrying a card or small bills makes arrival easier when a staffed window is unavailable.
Camping, Fishing, And Extra Charges
A day-use permit does not by itself reserve a campsite or authorize fishing. Overnight visitors need a campsite or lodging reservation, and anglers need a valid Wyoming fishing license in addition to park entry.
The 2026 reservation system lists Curt Gowdy campsites at about $18.20 per night for Wyoming residents and $32.16 for nonresidents, per vehicle. The campground rate includes the day-use component and taxes but excludes the reservation charge and 2.5% convenience fee shown during checkout.
A reservation covers one vehicle. Additional vehicles must pay the applicable fee at the park rather than relying on the first vehicle’s reservation.
Curt Gowdy’s main reservation season runs from May 15 through September 30. Campsite availability, water service, and facility access change outside the warm-weather season, so overnight visitors should confirm the live park status before driving in.
Separate charges: Shelters, cabins, Hynds Lodge, the amphitheater, equipment rentals, and fishing licenses are not included in the standard day-use permit.
Planning A Day At Curt Gowdy
Curt Gowdy State Park sits about 24 miles from both Cheyenne and Laramie along Wyoming Highway 210, also called Happy Jack Road. The park contains Granite, Crystal, and North Crow reservoirs, plus a large trail network used for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and winter recreation.
Granite Reservoir is the main hub for boating and fishing, Crystal Reservoir has a 15-horsepower boat limit, and North Crow is a less-developed day-use area without tables, drinking water, or comfort stations. A single vehicle permit lets day visitors move among park areas, subject to posted access and seasonal closures.
Cheyenne offers the broadest nearby choice of lodging and is convenient for travelers arriving from Interstate 25. Compare current stays before an early trail or reservoir start:
Which Permit Should You Buy?
The right Curt Gowdy permit depends mainly on visit frequency and whether you will sleep in the park. Most out-of-state travelers making one day trip should buy the $12 nonresident daily-use permit on arrival.
- One Wyoming day trip: Pay $7 for the resident vehicle permit.
- One out-of-state day trip: Pay $12 for the nonresident vehicle permit.
- Seven or more resident visits: The $48 annual day-use pass usually costs less.
- Nine or more nonresident visits: The $96 annual pass starts beating separate daily permits.
- Overnight stay: Reserve the campsite or lodging unit and check the final vehicle total before payment.
- Fishing day: Carry both the park permit and the required Wyoming fishing license.
For a normal hike, ride, picnic, or reservoir visit, skip the search for a timed ticket. Arrive with the correct resident or nonresident day-use fee, display the permit as directed, and keep any camping or fishing documents separate.
References & Sources
- Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails.“2026 Wyo Parks Fee Schedule.”Lists current resident, nonresident, daily-use, annual-pass, and camping fee rules.