Fees, Passes, and Permits

An Iron Ranger fee box sits on the left while off to the right is the Delaware river

NPS Fee Program

Information on fees, pass sales, permits, and registration for special use areas within the park

 
Happy kayakers enjoying the Delaware River on a summer day. NPS Photo Courtesy of Kent Sweigert
Kayakers enjoy the Delaware river. Most boat launches within the park are expanded amenity areas that charge a small fee to park for the day. That fee helps to pay for things like lifeguards at swim beaches, river safety equipment for law enforcement officers, and more maintenance staff.

NPS Photo Courtesy of Kent Sweigert

Fees and Passes

Park Entrance Fees

The great thing is that there are no entrance fees for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, but we do have special areas within the park for picnicing and swimming that are considered Expanded Amenity Areas because of the additional services offered in these locations, such as Lifeguards at the swim areas, and special areas to grill.

Expanded Amenity Fees are charged April through October at the following developed areas in the park.

  • Turtle Beach (NJ)
  • Milford Beach (PA)
  • Dingmans Access (PA)
  • Bushkill Access (PA)
  • Smithfield Beach (PA)

Expanded Amenity Fee Schedule


No fee is charged for those who are dropping off or picking up people from the river access ramps and those walking through Smithfield Beach on McDade Recreational Trail. Expanded Amenity Fees are not covered by America the Beautiful Annual Pass. However, holders of the America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes, and National Park Service Golden Age and Golden Access Passes are eligible for a 50% discount on the Expanded Amenity Fees.

Some Important Pass Information:

  • Private vehicle (up to 7 persons): $10.00 per vehicle
  • Vehicles with 8 or more adults (age 16 or older): $2.00 per person
  • Pedestrian (age 16 or older): $2.00 per person

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Season Passes


Season passes for Delaware Water Gap NRA can only be purchased by mail at this time due to Covid-19 restrictions. Holders of the America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes and National Park Service Golden Age and Golden Access Passes are eligible for a 50% discount on season passes.

Completed pass application forms can be mailed to the following address:

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Attn: Fee Operations
P.O. Box #2
Bushkill, PA 18324

Below is a list of the prices for the 2021 season:

  • Season Pass: $45
  • Second Season Pass registered to the same name and address: $25
  • Third Season Pass registered to the same name and address: $12.50

Download the Annual Park Pass Application Form Here



America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass


If you plan to visit other parks with an entrance fee, check out the America the Beautiful Pass Program

Did you know there are days during the year where parks waive entrance fees? Here is a list of Free Entrance Days in the national parks for 2021.

For more information America the Beautiful Passes and how to get one please visit the U.S.G.S website at:


USGS Store. Your one stop shop for the America the Beautiful Pass, Access Pass, Gold Star Families, and Veteran Pass Information

For More Information

Please call (570) 426-2434 if you need additional information about fees and passes. If we are unable to take your call, please leave us a message with your contact information, and we will return your call as soon as we are available to do so. We appreciate your interest in your park. Have a fun and safe visit!

 

Learn and Explore

Every Kid Outdoors Passes for 4th and 5th Graders

Go to a national park for free? Sure!


How would you like to bring the family to a national park for free? If you are in the fourth or fifth grade, then we have something special for you. The Every Kid Outdoors Pass.
 

How It Works

Many 4th graders missed out on using their Every Kid Outdoors Annual 4th Grade Pass during the 2019-2020 school year. A new voucher is now available for 5th grade students for the rest of the school year!

With this voucher, 5th graders and their families will have free access to national parks and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior from October 28, 2020 through August 31, 2021.

This Program then renews for the 2021/2022 school year, so fourth and fifth graders can bring their immediate families to any national park across the country for free thru the entire 2021/2022 school year. Check back for program updates. Have fun exploring your parks!

Get Your Voucher

  1. Download the 5th grade voucher (535KB PDF).

  2. Print the voucher and keep it in a safe place until you are ready to use it.

  3. Plan your visit to a national park, wildlife refuge, or other federal land (see more below).

  4. Show your voucher to a ranger when you enter. If there is no ranger, leave it on the dashboard of your car.

Plan Your Visit

Currently, the 5th grade voucher is valid on Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer lands, which include:

For Parents

See our rules and instructions before you visit.

Questions


Email us with questions about the 5th grade voucher.



 

Every Kid Outdoors

 

Learn and Explore

Permits

Do You Need a Permit? 


If you were looking for information on permitted activities in the park, then you are in the right place. Below you will find information on our commercial vehicle permit requirements with links to download the application form.

To your right are links to information on other permitted activities allowed within the recreation area. There, you will find information on getting a permit for the following activities:
 
  • Agriculture Permits
  • Baptisms
  • Commercial Filming and Photography (Examples where permits are required)
  • Competitive Events
  • First Ammendment Activities
  • Funeral Ash Spreading
  • Weddings
 

Commercial Vehicle Program


All commercial vehicles may travel on U.S. Route 209 between the following points without a permit:
 

 

  • Milford to the Delaware River Bridge leading to U.S. Route 206 in New Jersey

  • Mile 0 of U.S. Route 209 in Bushkill to Bushkill Falls Road

     

Background:
 


In January 2018, Congress passed Public Law 109-156, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act. Until September 30, 2021, the Act allows the utilization of US 209 between US 206 in Milford and Bushkill Falls Road in Bushkill for permitted commercial vehicles with four or fewer axles.

Commercial vehicles that are eligible for a permit must be:

 

  1. owned and operated by a business located in the recreation area or one or more of the adjacent municipalities, or

  2. necessary to provide services to businesses or persons located in the recreation area or one or more of the adjacent municipalities.
     

The adjacent municipalities are defined by law as: Delaware Township, Dingman Township, Lehman Township, Matamoras Borough, Middle Smithfield Township, Milford Borough, Milford Township, Smithfield Township, and Westfall Township in Pennsylvania.

Annual permits cost $200.00 per vehicle. Permits are valid for a calendar year and expire on December 31 at 11:59:59 pm. All revenue received from permits are used for both the administration and the enforcement of the program.

 

The following vehicles may use Highway 209 without a fee or permit requirement:

 

  • Local school buses

  • Fire, ambulance, and other safety and emergency vehicles

     

Click here to download the 2021 application for a commercial vehicle permit.

 

Commercial vehicle permit applications can be mailed along with proof of insurance and a check or money order of $200.00 USD (per vehicle) to:

 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Attn: Commercial Vehicle Permit Coordinator
P.O. Box # 2
Bushkill, PA 18324


 

Permit Information

 

Learn and Explore

Need More Information?

Want to know more about permits in the park? 

If you would like to know more information about permits at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the National Park Service in general, then click the links to your right.

More About Permits

Last updated: October 1, 2021

Contact the Park

Mailing Address:

1978 River Road
Bushkill, PA 18324

Phone:

(570) 426-2452

Contact Us

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