How to Use Your National Park Pass

So you got a National Park Pass? Or you are thinking about it?

Getting a park pass was the best thing we could have done! Seriously the amount of times we have used it far surpass the amount it is worth!

The National Park Pass, also known as the America the Beautiful National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.

What Does the National Park Pass Cover?

A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas. In places where you have to walk up and pay per person, the pass will cover up to four adults. Children age 15 or under are admitted free.

Your pass is valid for 12 months.

Where Can You Use Your National Park Pass?

Your pass is valid at 2,000 federal recreations sites which include national parks, monuments and memorials. Some of the more famous parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Zion are all included with the pass.

To see a full list of parks and filter it to help you plan a trip, check out this link. For a map view of parks, check out this link.

Unfortunately your National Park Pass is not valid at any state parks. However, some states have their own version of park passes for local state parks. If you’re in Arizona and interested in a state park pass, check out this link.

What Is the Cost For a National Park Pass?

There are different types of National Park Passes. And the best part? Some of them are FREE!

An annual pass cost $80. The pass is non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. A park pass can be purchased online, with a shipping fee, or can be purchased at any national park gift shop.

The National Park Pass is valid for one year from the month that you purchase it. When you go online to order it, it will tell you when your pass is set to expire. If you order it in person, they will hole punch the month in which you receive it and that’s how you’ll know when it expires.

You can only use a physical pass, no digital version of your pass will be accepted. After purchasing, the pass will be sent to you. It becomes active once you sign the back of it. It does not come assigned to anyone and it has space to put two pass holder names, so share it with your friends and family!

Special Passes

Senior citizens can get a special annual pass for only $20! However, a lifetime Senior Pass can be purchased for $80. US citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older are eligible for the Senior Pass. They must show proof of age and residency. This pass allows the same benefits as a regular pass.

Do you have a permanent disability (does not have to be 100%)? Then you qualify for a FREE pass. The disability pass is a lifetime pass, known as the Access Pass. To receive this pass you must have documentation of permanent disability and you can only obtain one of these passes in person at a federal recreation site. This pass works just like a regular National Park Pass.

Are you active military? You also qualify for a FREE pass! This pass is only valid for a year. You have to show a military ID to obtain this pass and can only be obtained in person at a federal recreation site. This pass also works like a regular National Park Pass.

As of November 2020, veterans and gold star families qualify for free entry into federal parks. This covers the same as an annual pass (car or 3 additional adults). This is NOT a pass, just free entry. Valid identification will have to be presented. Entrance fee waiver does not cover expanded amenity or other user fees including but not limited to camping, transportation, special recreation permits, or special tours.

Do you have a 4th grader in your family? In 2015, President Obama launched Every Kid in a Park (EKIP)(program has been renamed to Every Kid Outdoors), an initiative to encourage 4th grade children and their families to enjoy our country’s national parks and public lands, for FREE. Pass is valid from September through August of the year that the student is in the 4th grade. This pass is valid for home-schooled and free-choice learners with a printed voucher from the Every Kid in a Park website.

Additional Information

I always like to look on the website of the park I plan to visit prior to my visit (or ask someone who has been there before). This helps me get a general idea of what to expect, such as fees and closures. For example, when visiting the Grand Canyon, the fee is per vehicle, however Montezuma Castle is a per person fee.

There can also be park closures for various reasons. White Sands has closures often because they are close to the White Sands Missile Range. On the contrary, park entrances can also be free! For example, April host National Park Week and on the first day, all parks are FREE! These are things that are useful to know before you make your way out there.

Covid Restrictions

A new thing I started noticing, partly due to Covid, is that parks are beginning to limit the number of daily visitors by requiring reservations. I’ve only seen it with the more popular parks, so if you want to visit those, be sure you check for special reservations or permits.

For any additional questions, check out the website you plan to visit. Each park has their own rules and restrictions. For general questions or more information on the National Park Pass, check out their website here.

Passport Book

For fun, I purchased a passport book. KG likes to tell me that those books are meant for the kids, but I find it fun having one as well! At each park that I visit, I get a stamp just like in a regular passport book. Each park has their own unique stamp and some places have more than one! It’s always fun looking for the stamp and coming out with a new stamp in your book. Additionally, there are stickers and “cancellations” that you can purchase to add to your book; customize it any way you want!

The passport book is split up per region and includes a map as well as a list of all the parks, memorials and monuments in that region. There is also information on each location so you can learn more about it. What a great little book to have around!

Have I convinced you to get a National Park Pass yet? Or to go out and enjoy your pass even more?

XO,

Mayra

To see where I’ve been with our National Park Pass check out this post from White Sands.