Pen y Pass is the highest and most popular car park on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), sitting at 359 metres at the top of the Llanberis Pass, right at the start of both the Pyg Track and the Miners’ Track. It holds only around 100 vehicles, and on a clear day in season it can fill before 8am, turning away everyone who arrives after. From late March to early November it runs on a pre-booking system rather than turn-up-and-pay, managed through JustPark. If you don’t book, or can’t get a slot, the alternative is to park at Nant Peris instead and take the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service the rest of the way, a park and ride link built specifically to take the pressure off Pen y Pass.

Pen y Pass Car Park at a Glance

Address	Pen y Pass, Nant Peris, Gwynedd, LL55 4NY (also given as LL55 4NU)
Capacity	Around 100 vehicles
Elevation	359 metres, the highest car park on the mountain
Serves	Pyg Track and Miners’ Track trailheads
Booking system (2026)	Pre-booking required, in place until 1 November 2026
2026 prices	£25 up to 8 hours; £35 for 8–12 hours; £45 full day
Payment	Card only; no cash accepted
Alternative	Park at Nant Peris, take the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus

How the Pen y Pass Booking System Works

Seasonal switch: Pen y Pass operates two different systems depending on the time of year. Roughly from late March to early November, in the busy walking season, it’s pre-booking only: you reserve a space online in advance, and you cannot simply turn up and pay at the barrier. Outside that window, over winter, it reverts to ordinary pay-and-display, first come, first served.

How to book: Bookings are made through JustPark, linked from the Eryri National Park Authority’s own Pen y Pass page. You’ll need to give your vehicle’s registration number, which is checked against the booking on arrival, so make sure it matches whichever car you actually drive on the day.

Book ahead: Bookings generally need to be made at least four hours before your arrival slot, specifically to prevent people simply turning up on the off-chance. Popular days, weekends, bank holidays and clear-weather forecasts in particular, can sell out well in advance, so don’t leave this until the morning of your walk if you can help it.

No extensions: Because space is so limited, an existing booking can’t be extended if you’re running late coming down the mountain. Short overstays of a few minutes aren’t penalised, but plan your booked window with a sensible margin for a slower-than-expected day.

Vehicle limits: Standard spaces take vehicles up to 5 metres long. Larger vehicles, up to 8 metres, can sometimes be accommodated, but only by contacting Eryri National Park Authority directly in advance rather than booking online as normal; there are no dedicated motorcycle spaces, and motorcyclists can’t share a car space.

Pen y Pass Parking Prices (2026)

Duration	Price
Up to 8 hours	£25.00
8–12 hours	£35.00
Full day	£45.00

These are the current prices published by Eryri National Park Authority; parking charges are reviewed annually, so always check the official Pen y Pass page for the live figure before booking. Most walkers tackling the Pyg Track, the Miners’ Track, or a Snowdon Horseshoe route via Crib Goch will need the 8-to-12-hour band rather than the cheapest 8-hour ticket, so budget accordingly.

The one mistake people make: assuming they can park on the road if the car park itself is full or they haven’t booked. The approach roads to Pen y Pass from both directions have a strict, actively enforced parking ban, and cars have been towed in the past for causing an obstruction and a hazard to other road users. Don’t gamble on roadside parking as a backup plan; it isn’t one.

No overnight stays: Camping and motorhomes overnight aren’t permitted at Pen y Pass under any circumstances.

The Alternative: Nant Peris Park and Ride

If Pen y Pass is fully booked, or you’d simply rather not pay £25 upwards and take the risk of a sold-out car park, the recommended alternative is to park at Nant Peris instead and use the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus (formerly branded the Snowdon Sherpa) for the final stretch up to Pen y Pass.

Nant Peris car park: About 3 miles below Pen y Pass, significantly cheaper than parking at the top, and doesn’t require advance booking, making it the simpler option if you’re deciding at short notice.

The bus link: Routes S1 and S2 run roughly half-hourly between Llanberis, Nant Peris and Pen y Pass, and extra journeys are added between Nant Peris and Pen y Pass specifically at weekends, bank holidays and on weekdays through the school summer holidays, to cope with the extra demand. On the very busiest weekends, an additional shuttle (historically numbered S5) has run at up to 15-minute intervals to keep the link moving. Exact route numbers and frequencies are reviewed each season, so check the current Sherpa’r Wyddfa timetable before you travel.

Weekend drop-off only: On the busiest weekends, Pen y Pass car park itself is sometimes restricted to a drop-off point for buses and taxis only, specifically to push visitors toward parking lower down and using the bus, so check current restrictions if you’re hoping to be dropped off there by car.

The Wider Sherpa’r Wyddfa Network

Sherpa’r Wyddfa isn’t just a Pen y Pass shuttle; it’s a purpose-built network connecting all the main Yr Wyddfa trailheads to the surrounding towns, useful if you’re travelling without a car at all:

• S1: Caernarfon – Llanberis – Nant Peris – Pen y Pass – Capel Curig – Betws-y-Coed
• S2: Bangor – Llanberis – Pen y Pass – Betws-y-Coed – Llanrwst
• S4: Caernarfon – Waenfawr – Rhyd Ddu – Beddgelert – Nant Gwynant – Pen y Pass, connecting the Snowdon Ranger, Rhyd Ddu and Watkin Path trailheads

According to Eryri National Park Authority, this network is the recommended way to reach the Watkin Path trailhead at Nant Gwynant specifically, since parking there is extremely limited and regularly full by 7.30am, causing serious congestion in the small community around it.

Fares: A day ticket historically covered unlimited hop-on, hop-off travel across the network for a single fare, with cheaper concession and family options, and single fares available for shorter hops; exact current prices are set each season, so check the official Sherpa’r Wyddfa site or buy on board.

Timetables: Available on the official Sherpa’r Wyddfa website, or via Traveline Cymru for wider journey planning.

Prices and booking arrangements last checked: September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book parking at Pen y Pass in advance?

Yes, during the main season, roughly late March to early November. Pen y Pass runs on a pre-booking-only system through JustPark during this period; you can’t just turn up and pay. It reverts to ordinary pay-and-display over winter.

How much does Pen y Pass car park cost?

In 2026, £25 for up to 8 hours, £35 for 8 to 12 hours, or £45 for a full day. Charges are reviewed annually, so check the official Eryri National Park page for the current price before booking.

What happens if Pen y Pass car park is full or fully booked?

Park instead at Nant Peris, about 3 miles below, and take the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus (routes S1 or S2, with extra journeys at busy times) the rest of the way to Pen y Pass. Roadside parking on the approach is strictly banned and enforced, so it isn’t a workable backup plan.

What is the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus?

Sherpa’r Wyddfa, formerly branded the Snowdon Sherpa, is a network of bus routes connecting Yr Wyddfa’s main trailheads, including Pen y Pass, Llanberis, Nant Gwynant and Rhyd Ddu, to nearby towns such as Caernarfon, Bangor and Betws-y-Coed.

Can you park on the road near Pen y Pass if the car park is full?

No. There’s a strict, actively enforced parking ban on the roads leading to Pen y Pass from both directions, and vehicles causing an obstruction have been towed in the past. Use the Nant Peris park and ride instead.

Planning a wider trip through North Wales? Several of our guides, including Cadair Idris and Betws-y-Coed, sit on or near the Sherpa’r Wyddfa and TrawsCymru bus networks. Browse more Plan Your Trip guides, or return to the Wales hub.