Entrance Fees and Park Passes
Please note that the cost of the Lifetime Senior Pass is being raised from $10 to $80 effective August 28, 2017. The ONLY location at the C&O Canal that the Lifetime Senior Pass can be purchased is at the Great Falls Entrance Station located at 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854. The booth is open 7 days a week, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please read below for more information.
The ONLY location in the park that collects entrance fees are at Great Falls Entrance Station. The entrance station is located at 11710 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, MD 20854. Over 80% of the fees collected are returned to the park for specific projects. All other access to the park is free.
America the Beautiful Passes, Senior Passes, Annual Passes, Every Kid in a Park, Access Passes, and Military Passes may be purchased at the Great Falls Entrance Station. More information on these and other passes can be found by visiting the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program.
Three Day Pass
$10 - per private, non-commercial vehicle (include motorcycles, passenger cars, pickup trucks, RV's and vans).
$5 - per person 16 years of age or older when entering on foot or bicycle
Park passes are valid for the date of purchase plus two days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.
Local Annual Pass
$30 - Valid for one full year from the month of purchase. Permits access to Great Falls Park, Virginia and the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. The annual pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle.
America the Beautiful Annual Pass
$80 - Valid for one full year from the month of purchase. The annual pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle to over 2,500 federal recreation sites.
Senior Lifetime Pass
$10 - Valid for the lifetime of the passholder. This pass is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 62 or older. The pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle. Passes can be purchased in person, online, or through the mail. If you purchase your pass in person, you can only buy a pass for YOURSELF. You cannot purchase a pass for someone who is not present at the time. NOTE: THE PRICE OF THE SENIOR LIFETIME PASS IS BEING RAISED TO $80 EFFECTIVE 8/28/2017.
Active Military Annual Pass
Free - Annual pass available for current U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserve and National Guard. Applicants must show a valid Common Access Card (CAC) or military ID (Form 1173). The pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle.
Access Pass
Free - Available for US. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability. Valid for the lifetime of the passholder. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability. The pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle.
Annual 4th Grade EKIP Pass
Free (for the school year, September-August)- Valid only for 4th grade students. Visit the Every Kid in a Park (EKIP) website and complete and online activity. When complete, print out the voucher and bring it in to the Great Falls Entrance Station to turn in for an EKIP Pass. The pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle. NOTE: The 4th grader who completed the online activity MUST be present to recieve the EKIP pass.
Commercial Tour
$25 - 1-6 passenger capacity plus $3 per person.
$40 - 7- 25 passenger capacity
$100 - 26+ passenger capacity vehicle
Academic Groups (Schools, home-school groups, Colleges and Universities)
Academic groups who are visiting the Great Falls area of park for a ranger led program have an automatic entrance fee waiver. If you are an accredited academic institution or group coming to the Great Falls area of the park for a curriculum based visit, but are not having a ranger led program, you must apply for an academic fee waiver. All materials must be provided in order to be considered. A fee waiver is not guaranteed. Allow up to two weeks for processing. Please email this application to Fee Manager Shaun Lehmann at shaun_lehmann@nps.gov
Non-profit groups (Scouts, church, clubs...)
Vehicles with a passenger capacity of 16 or more persons, $5 per person age 16 and over or commercial rate whichever is cheaper.
Vehicles with passenger capacity of fewer than 16 persons, $10 for the vehicle or commercial rate whichever is cheaper.
The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus two days. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.
