How much does it cost to get into Chimney Rock State Park?

Adult day tickets are $17. Youth ages 5–15 pay $8. Children 4 and under are free. Annual passes are $32 for adults, $14 for youth, and $80 for families (2 adults + up to 3 youth).

What time does Chimney Rock State Park close?

The gate closes to new entries at 5:30 PM during main season (March 8 – November 1). The park itself closes at 7:00 PM — that's 90 minutes after the entry cutoff. Arriving at 5:15 PM still gives you nearly two hours inside.

Do you need a reservation for Chimney Rock?

Reservations are recommended but not required for most visits. They're strongly recommended for Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, all of July, and fall foliage weekends in October. If you miss your reservation window, you can still arrive anytime the gate is open. Annual passholders never need reservations.

Is the Chimney Rock annual pass worth it?

The adult pass ($32) pays for itself on the second visit — two day tickets would cost $34. The family pass ($80) beats individual passes for families of 2 adults + 2 or more youth. For 2 adults + 1 youth, individual passes ($78) are actually $2 cheaper than the family pass ($80).

Is there an elevator at Chimney Rock?

Yes. The elevator is included with your ticket and takes you from the visitor level to the summit in seconds. It's fully accessible. Most visitors take the elevator up and use the staircase on the way down, though both work in either direction.

Can you visit Chimney Rock for free?

Children 4 and under are always free. There is no general free admission — it's a state park with a fee. Annual passholders get $2 off each adult and $1 off each child for guests they bring in.

What time should I arrive at Chimney Rock to beat the crowds?

For fall weekends (late September through early November), arrive before 9 AM. The main lot fills by 10 AM on peak fall Saturdays. For summer weekdays, arrival by 10 AM is typically fine. The late-afternoon window (3–5 PM) is underrated — crowds thin and the light in the gorge is better.

Illustrated view looking up through a mountain gorge

Chimney Rock State Park Tickets & Hours (2026)

Hours, ticket prices, the annual pass breakdown, and what most visitors get wrong about the entry deadline

Quick Answer

Adult (16+): $17 per day
Youth (5–15): $8 per day
Under 5: Free
Annual pass: $32 adult / $14 youth / $80 family
Gate opens: 8:30 AM year-round
Entry deadline: 5:30 PM (main) · 4:30 PM (fall/winter)
Park closes: 7:00 PM (main) · 6:00 PM (fall/winter)

Hours

March 8 – November 1

Main Season

Current

Gate opens: 8:30 AM
Last entry: 5:30 PM
Park closes: 7:00 PM

Trail closings

Skyline Trail5:00 PM

Hickory Nut Falls Trail6:00 PM

November 2 – December 31

Fall/Winter Season

Gate opens: 8:30 AM
Last entry: 4:30 PM
Park closes: 6:00 PM

January 1 – March 7: Hours for this period are not published at chimneyrockpark.com. Check the park website or call ahead before planning a visit.

Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Eve:

8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Source lists a single operating window — separate entry deadline not confirmed. Arrive by 2:30 PM to be safe.

Christmas Day: Closed

Road conditions: US-64 (from Hendersonville) and NC-9 (from Lake Lure) are both access routes. Current road status: drivenc.gov — check before driving in winter or after heavy rain.

Verified 2026-08-02 · chimneyrockpark.com

What Your Ticket Covers

Your day ticket gets you into everything the park contains for the day: the elevator to the summit level, the Rock itself, all trails including Skyline and Hickory Nut Falls, and all overlooks. There's no secondary admission charge once you're inside.

The elevator is not an upsell — it's included. It goes from the lower visitor area directly to the summit level in seconds and is fully accessible. Most people take it up and use the staircase on the way back down.

What isn't included: food and drinks at the Sky Lounge Gift Shop & Deli, and anything in the gift stores. Annual passholders get 15% off both.

When to Buy in Advance

Book Chimney Rock Online

Skip the ticket window line on busy fall weekends — arrival-window reservations available on GetYourGuide.

Book Chimney Rock Tickets & Tours on GetYourGuide

This is an affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Reservations are time-slotted into one-hour arrival windows. They're not required, and if you miss your window, you can still walk up anytime the gate is open.

Buy tickets in advance for: Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, Labor Day weekend, every weekend in July, and any weekend from mid-October through early November. Fall foliage turns the gorge orange and gold; those are the most visited weeks of the year. Peak-fall Saturdays can see the main lot full before 10 AM.

Skip the advance ticket for: weekday visits in any season, and most weekends outside of July and October. Walking up is fine.

Annual passholders never need reservations.

Know before you go

Getting In: Parking and Arrival

The main lot sits at the base of the rock, a short walk from the ticket plaza. On fall weekends, the main lot fills fast — plan on parking farther down and taking the shuttle, or arrive early enough to beat it. The shuttle wait is short.

Once through the ticket plaza, you reach the elevator or the staircase. Both go to the same place. The elevator takes seconds; the stairs take a minute or two and serve as a decent warm-up. Park staff are straightforward about directing you.

Road access: US-64 from Hendersonville and NC-9 from Lake Lure are both open. Check drivenc.gov for current conditions before a winter trip or after heavy rain — the gorge roads are mountain roads.

Annual passes

Is a Pass Worth It?

The math is simpler than it looks.

An adult day ticket costs $17. An adult annual pass costs $32. The pass pays for itself on your second visit — two day tickets would cost $34, two dollars more than the pass.

Youth works the same way: $8 day ticket, $14 annual pass. Break-even at the second visit.

The 30-day upgrade window is the detail most people don't know: you can buy a day ticket and upgrade to an annual pass within 30 days of your visit, with your original receipt, at the Ticket Plaza. The upgrade costs $15 for adults and $6 for youth. That's exactly the difference between the day and annual pass prices — so upgrading later costs the same as buying the pass upfront.

Use the calculator below to see which option is cheapest for your group and the number of visits you're planning.

Pass vs. Day Tickets Calculator

All prices from facts.ts — verified 2026-08-02

Adults

Youth (ages 5–15)

Visits this year

Option	Total	Note
Day tickets	$100
Individual annual passes	$92
Family annual passBest	$80	$12 less than individual passes

For 2 visits: Family annual pass

Prices: adult day $17, youth day $8, adult annual $32, youth annual $14, family annual $80.

Annual Pass Benefits Beyond Admission

The pass includes more than free entry:

Unlimited visits for 12 months from your purchase month
$2 off each adult and $1 off each child ticket for friends you bring in
15% off at Cliff Dwellers Gifts and the Sky Lounge Gift Shop & Deli
Access to passholder-only events and discounts on guided hikes and workshops
Partner discounts at other area attractions (published annually as a PDF on the park website)
No reservations required, ever

Ready to Book Your Chimney Rock Visit?

Check GetYourGuide for tickets, guided tours, and timed-entry options.

Book Chimney Rock Tickets & Tours on GetYourGuide

This is an affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get into Chimney Rock State Park?: Adult day tickets are $17. Youth ages 5–15 pay $8. Children 4 and under are free. Annual passes are $32 for adults, $14 for youth, and $80 for families (2 adults + up to 3 youth).
What time does Chimney Rock State Park close?: The gate closes to new entries at 5:30 PM during main season (March 8 – November 1). The park itself closes at 7:00 PM — that's 90 minutes after the entry cutoff. Arriving at 5:15 PM still gives you nearly two hours inside.
Do you need a reservation for Chimney Rock?: Reservations are recommended but not required for most visits. They're strongly recommended for Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, all of July, and fall foliage weekends in October. If you miss your reservation window, you can still arrive anytime the gate is open. Annual passholders never need reservations.
Can you upgrade your Chimney Rock day ticket to an annual pass?: Yes. You can upgrade a day ticket to an annual pass the same day or within 30 days of your visit, with your receipt, at the Ticket Plaza. The upgrade costs $15 for adults and $6 for youth — which is exactly the difference between the day ticket and annual pass prices. There is no published family upgrade rate.
Is the Chimney Rock annual pass worth it?: The adult pass ($32) pays for itself on the second visit — two day tickets would cost $34. The family pass ($80) beats individual passes for families of 2 adults + 2 or more youth. For 2 adults + 1 youth, individual passes ($78) are actually $2 cheaper than the family pass ($80).
Is there an elevator at Chimney Rock?: Yes. The elevator is included with your ticket and takes you from the visitor level to the summit in seconds. It's fully accessible. Most visitors take the elevator up and use the staircase on the way down, though both work in either direction.
Can you visit Chimney Rock for free?: Children 4 and under are always free. There is no general free admission — it's a state park with a fee. Annual passholders get $2 off each adult and $1 off each child for guests they bring in.
What time should I arrive at Chimney Rock to beat the crowds?: For fall weekends (late September through early November), arrive before 9 AM. The main lot fills by 10 AM on peak fall Saturdays. For summer weekdays, arrival by 10 AM is typically fine. The late-afternoon window (3–5 PM) is underrated — crowds thin and the light in the gorge is better.

Last updated: 2026-08-02