Lava Beds National Monument
Hours
See this week's hours below.
- Entrance fee
- $25 · private vehicle
- Phone
- 5306678113
- Address
- 1 Indian Well HQ, Tulelake, CA 96134
About Lava Beds
Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 800 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites, and a high desert wilderness experience await you!
Hours
Lava Beds National Monument
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The visitor center is typically only closed on Christmas Day but will sometimes temporarily close in the winter due to weather or maintenance. Temporary closures are usually posted as an alert and/or on our social media. For visitor center hours please the Visitor Center section below.
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Entrance fees
| Private Vehicle | $25 | Park Entrance is $25 per vehicle and is good for 7 days. |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | $20 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Per Person | $15 | Park Entrance is $15 per person and is good for 7 days. |
An America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee at every site that charges one.
Getting there
Lava Beds is a truly remote park, in a corner of California most people never visit. Most roads into this area wind through mountains, and along rivers, and travel may take longer than expected. Services are few and far between and winter driving conditions can be encountered anytime between fall and spring.
Weather
Park elevations range from 4,000 to 5,700 feet. Cold weather is possible any time of year, and snow has been recorded in all months. Winter daytime highs average 40°F; lows average 20°F. Morning fog is frequent from autumn through spring. Summer daytime highs average 75° to 80°F; lows average 50°F. Occasional thunderstorms occur in summer.
Things to do
Astronomy, Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Backcountry Hiking, Biking, Birdwatching, Bookstore and Park Store, Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Caving, Cross-Country Skiing, Food, Front-Country Hiking, Group Camping, Guided Tours, Hiking, Junior Ranger Program, Museum Exhibits, Park Film, Picnicking, RV Camping, Road Biking, Scenic Driving, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Shopping, Skiing, Stargazing, Wildlife Watching.
Source: National Park Service data feed, checked September 24, 2026. Hours shown are the Park Service's posted standard hours plus any date changes it lists. Official page for Lava Beds ↗