America the Beautiful Passes

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series


A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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 (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.

See a list of federal recreation sites (PDF), including national parks, where the passes are issued.

The following passes are available:
five senior birders studying a field guide

Senior Pass Price Increase

Learn more about the upcoming changes to the Senior Pass, what they mean for you, and how the additional funds benefit the national parks.

sunburst at sunrise with river flowing through red rock canyon
2017 The America the Beautiful-The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass

Yang Lu, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, 2015 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner.

Annual Pass

sunburst at sunrise over river flowing through red rock canyon
2017 Interagency Military Pass

Yang Lu, 2015 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner

Free Annual Pass for U.S. Military

2016 4th Grade Pass with five children running on beach with large rocks in background
September 1, 2016 - August 31, 2017 - 4th Grade Pass

Olympic National Park - Photo Credit: J. Ferguson Photos

Annual 4th Grade Pass

two red flowers on cactus
Senior Pass

Cheryl Decker, Grand Staircase Escalante

Senior Pass

  • Cost: $10 lifetime pass (see note in "how to purchase" for more details)
  • Available for: U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.
  • How to purchase:
  • Additional information:
    • The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services.
    • The Senior Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
    • Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.
    • Frequently Asked Questions about the Interagency Senior Pass (USGS website)
wooden boardwalk in swamp with trees
Access Pass

Amanda Grieco, Natchez Trace

Access Pass

  • Cost: Free (see note in "how to obtain" for more details)
  • Available for: U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.
  • How to obtain:
  • Additional information:
    • The Access Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services.
    • The Access Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
    • Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.
    • Frequently Asked Questions about the Interagency Access Pass (USGS website)
sunburst at sunrise over river flowing through red rock canyon
Volunteer Pass

Yang Lu, 2015 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner

Volunteer Pass

  • Cost: Free
  • Available for: Volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program
  • Contact your local federal recreation site for more information about volunteer opportunities or visit Volunteer.gov.


More Information

These six agencies participate in the Interagency Pass Program:

For more information about the terms used (for example, "non-commercial vehicle" or "pass owner," see Pass Program Definitions on the USGS website.

You can also see a list of all federal recreation sites (PDF), including national parks, where the passes are issued.