What is a National Parks Pass? How to Get One and What It Provides

Why You Should Visit National Parks

If you haven’t considered getting a national parks pass or visiting a national park in general we urge you to reconsider. There are many perks to visiting the countless national parks in our country. In most cases, visiting will allow you a chance to enjoy the beauty of nature, which is great for your mental and physical health. Witnessing the vastness of a national park is also a great way to put the world and your problems into perspective and feel at peace. Plus, if you go with your family, you can go hiking, see animals, and make memories that you’ll remember forever. Make it a point to visit at least one national park during your lifetime. Better yet, go over the year!

What Is A National Park Pass?

There are various types of national park passes, and we’ll show you the many options. However, the main idea of the park pass is that, depending on the one you get, you can go into a national park and enjoy your time often without paying additional fees. There are three typical types of passes:

• Standard Pass: You can visit one national park for 1-7 days.
• Annual Pass: Visit one park or a group of parks and get access for a year.
• Passes for Special Groups: Military, seniors, People with disabilities.

With some differences, the passes basically allow you to get into the park either once or several times so you can enjoy the splendor of the natural world.

How To Get A National Park Pass

Where you get your national park pass depends on how you like to shop. If you want to go online, you can get an annual pass and America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series by going online to the USGS National Store. If you’d rather get your pass in person, you can do that too. Where you go will depend on where you live. In many cases, you can get the pass at the national park itself. It’s best to call ahead to ensure they have them. Some parks that will have the pass include Adams National Historical Park, Acadia National Park, and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, among others.

Pass Options: Annual Pass

Children under 16 are usually admitted free to most national parks. However, if you’re over 16, you can purchase the annual pass. This annual pass provides access to 2,000 national parks, which are managed by Federal agencies that help to preserve their beauty. When you buy the pass, you’re not just paying for parking because 100% of the proceeds go to the continued preservation of the park.

Your national park pass can be used at parks that are managed by the:

• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Fish and Wildlife Service
• USDA Forest Service
• National Park Service
• US Army Corps of Engineers

Pass Options: Senior Pass

Senior citizens get a special deal for their national park pass. For about a quarter of the price of the standard annual pass, seniors get an annual pass they can use all year. The pass can be used at all of the same places as the standard annual pass. There is also a Senior Lifetime Pass that can be purchased so visitors can continue to go to parks for the foreseeable future.

To qualify for the senior pass, you must be a U.S. citizen that is 62 years old or older. When you go to purchase your pass online, you will go through an age verification process which is quick and painless. Note that the pass is not transferable if the senior passes away.

Pass Options: Military Pass

One of the reasons why we, as Americans are allowed to travel so freely and enjoy these national parks to our leisure is because of the efforts of the men and women in the U.S. military. Because of that, military members are provided with free park passes. These are open to current members of the Air Force, U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Guard, and Space Force. It’s also available to current military members, cadets, and soldiers who are not currently deployed. To get the pass, proof of service must be provided. There’s also a Military Lifetime Pass that is provided to military veterans and Gold Star families.

Pass Options: Access Pass

Committed to the idea that everyone should be able to enjoy the beauty of national parks regardless of their situation, the association also provides the access pass. This is a free pass that allows a lifetime of park visits to citizens who have been deemed by a medical professional to have a permanent disability. There is not an age limit for this lifetime pass and it allows access to over 2,000 recreation sites. To gain access to the pass, the applicant must show a statement provided by a licensed physician. Disability includes mental, sensory, and physical conditions.

4th Grade Pass

In an attempt to get youngsters excited about the wonder of our national parks, there is now the 4th-grade national park pass. For an entire year, kids in 4th grade and their families get access to the 2,000 national parks. The pass is available for kids and educators, so if teachers want to bring their class, they can for a minimal cost. Just know that you’ll need to bring your physical pass when you visit. Electronic copies will not be accepted. In fact, at some parks, the ranger may exchange your paper pass for a plastic one that doubles as a keepsake.

Pass Options: Volunteer Pass

People who work hard to give back to their community may receive an extra award via a national park volunteer pass. This pass is awarded to volunteers who have completed at least 250 hours of service for federal agencies. As a reward, they get a free annual pass to the 2,000+ national parks within our country. This allows the volunteer to bring along three other adults who also get in for free. It’s a nice little treat for people who give their time in order to make the world a better place.

Free Admission Days

While a national park pass may be appealing to you if you want to visit a national park without the fees, you should be comforted knowing that there are pre-set days throughout the year when you can get in for free. While the free admission dates can differ by year, they are generally as follows:

• January 15 – Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• April 20 – The first day of National Park Week
• June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day
• August 4 – The Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• September 28 – National Public Lands Day
• November 11 – Veterans Day

Your Money Goes To A Good Cause

Whether you buy a national park pass or pay the fee once you arrive at the park, know that your money is being well-spent. Your cash goes to many different initiatives in these parks. Some of it goes to enhance the visitor experience by building new restrooms, cleaning different areas, and fixing damage. Your money also helps to improve the safety of the park by repairing, docks, railings, and accessibility features. Finally, your money helps them to preserve nature and animals in the park. So, your money helps the next visitors to enjoy their trip just as much as you did.