One of the Best Deals in America: The National Park Pass

I’ll not mince words: I’m a huge fan of the National Park Pass! The value of this pass is almost too good to be true if you plan on doing any national park sightseeing.

You may see the pass referred to by two other names: the U.S. Park Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass. Rest assured, they’re all the same pass. So, whether you call it the National Park Pass, the U.S. Park Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass, you get the same great benefits.

In this post, I’ll tell you all about why you must purchase this pass for your outdoor adventures across America.

Updated June 2024

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission. This occurs at no added cost to you.

Benefits of the National Park Pass

The main benefit of the National Park Pass is that for only $80 it grants you one year’s access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country. These sites include national parks, national wildlife refuges, national battlefields, national monuments and federal recreation areas.

Even if you only expect to visit a handful of these locations over the course of a year, the value of the National Park Pass quickly becomes evident when you start to look at costs.

Consider a trip through Utah and Arizona to trek around the Grand Circle. Each of the national parks on this route have entrance fees ranging from $20 to $35. It doesn’t take a calculator to see that you’d be paying much more than $80 if you visit all the parks on this drive.

You don’t need me to tell you how helpful the National Park Pass can be now that you see how costs quickly add up when visiting two or more national parks. Besides saving money on a trip like I described above, now you have the option of visiting more parks for the rest of the year with no additional fees!

Not every recreation area included in the pass costs as much as national parks. However, unless you know for certain that you will only be visiting one such location throughout the whole year, I still urge you to consider purchasing the National Park Pass.

You never know where you might go the rest of the year. Once you start seeing our nation’s gorgeous landscapes, it’s hard not to want to start seeing more and more!

What the National Park Pass Does Not Include

The National Park Pass is not recognized in all outdoors destinations in America. The most obvious examples are state- or city-owned lands. As these types of parks are not federally owned, the National Park Pass does not grant admission to them.

While this seems obvious enough, there can be some unexpected scenarios that come up. For example, Horseshoe Bend outside of Page, AZ is part of Glen Canyon Recreation Area. However, the parking lot to visit this location is on city land. So, if you drive into Horseshoe Bend, you will have to pay to park since the lot is city property even though the destination is federal land. While these scenarios are not very common, make sure you research where you’re heading ahead of time to avoid any unexpected fees.

Another type of destination that will not honor these passes are those owned by Native Americans. Like state- or city-owned lands, these are owned by whatever tribe owns the land rather than the federal government.

One last consideration with the National Park Pass is what it does not include once you’re in the park. While the pass gets you into the park, it does not pay for any premium amenities including camping, parking, boating, or special tours. If you want to do any of these activities, you will have to pay the fees associated with them.

Also, consider that many national parks do not have entrance fees, like New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. Again, try to figure out your plans for the year to see if the cost of a National Park Pass will be worth it.

How to Buy a National Park Pass

The process for buying a National Park Pass is very simple. All you have to do is go to their online store to make your purchase. If you forget, you can also purchase them as you enter the park.

Asides from that qualification, that’s really the only thing you need to know. Anyone, whether they are a U.S. citizen or not, can purchase a pass, and passes are deliverable outside of the country for international visitors.

Once you make your purchase, it can take 5-7 business days to ship to America, 5-9 business days for Canada and 10-15 business days for international deliveries.

If you can, try to purchase a pass at the beginning of the month to maximize how much time you can use your National Park Pass. The expiration date is a year from the month you purchase it, not the day.

More Important Info to Know About the National Park Pass

As with anything, there are a few stipulations to be aware of with the National Park Pass. However, these are all relatively straightforward and by no means should preclude you from purchasing a pass.

Price Per Car Vs Per Individual

In a nutshell, some parks charge per vehicle (regardless of how many people are in the vehicle) whereas some charge per individual. For parks that charge per vehicle, one National Park Pass will allow for up to 15 people to enter the park as long as it is a non-commercial vehicle (i.e. tour buses) and the pass holder is physically in the vehicle.

Parks that charge per individual are a little different. In these parks, one pass will grant access to vehicles that contain up to four adults including the pass holder. Any additional adults will have to pay the park’s admission fee. Adults are considered anyone over the age of 16. Anyone under 16 are allowed into parks free of charge.

Have a Physical Pass When Entering

To use your National Park Pass, you must have the actual pass in hand or else you will have to pay the required fees. They will not accept any digital information or receipts.

You may find some information online saying that some people were able to get into parks without their pass by telling the ranger at the entry gate that they forgot their pass, but this happening for you is highly variable on many factors including how busy the park is on a given day or simply how that ranger is feeling when you arrive.

No Refunds

There are no refunds on National Park Passes regardless of the situation. It doesn’t matter if it has been stolen or if you simply decide you don’t need the pass after making your purchase.

Keep this in mind so you make sure to store your pass in a safe location where you won’t misplace it.

Reservation Systems

Many national parks are beginning to institute reservation systems for entry. In these instances, the National Park Pass does not grant you access without a reservation. Make sure to research ahead of time if the park you’re visiting requires a reservation for entry or for any of its trails so you can plan accordingly.

Other Varieties of Park Passes

In addition to the National Park Pass, there are five other population-specific passes that grant access to the same recreational areas at great values.

You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to qualify for each of these passes. Further, these passes can only be purchased in person at recreation sites. Call ahead of your visit to ensure they have passes available.

All these passes benefit the individual and anyone accompanying them in a private, non-commercial vehicle.

For more info on these passes, visit the U.S. Park Pass website.

Senior Annual Pass

These passes are similar to the standard National Park Pass with one huge perk: It is only $20! That is a huge discount for those individuals who are 62 and over.

Senior Lifetime Pass

The Lifetime Pass is an even better value than the Annual Pass. For the cost of $80, you get unlimited access to federal recreation areas. There is no expiration date on these passes, so you can visit any of these recreation areas for the entirety of the rest of your life.

Like the Annual Pass, these are available for individuals who are 62 and over.

Access Lifetime Pass

Access Passes are free passes that grant individuals with permanent disabilities access to any federal recreation area. Your disability must be determined by a medical professional in order to qualify.

Military Pass

Military Passes are free for individuals currently serving in United States Armed Forces. These passes last for a year from when they are obtained. You must show your current military ID when purchasing these passes.

Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families

Starting in 2020, veterans and Gold Star Families have been able to have entry fees waived. For veterans, you have to show some proof of your veteran status. This proof can be your Department of Defense Identification Card, Veteran Health identification Card, Veteran ID Card or your veteran’s status on a government-sponsored ID card.

Gold Star Families need to print and fill out a Free Access Voucher offered by the National Park Service.

Resources to Book Your National Park Trips

Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your next trip!

Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out my travel essentials pages for more of my recommendations.

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