Most of the sites managed by the National Park Service are free to visit, but some require an entrance pass. You may also need a reservation at a few high-traffic sites.
Frequent visitors, seniors, military, and others may save money on entrance fees with an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, also known as an America the Beautiful or interagency pass. Review all pass options below and decide which pass is best for you.
Entrance Pass Comparison
National parks that charge an entrance fee require visitors to purchase or obtain a standard pass, park-specific annual pass, or America the Beautiful pass. Visitors only need one of these.
-
Standard Pass
- For one national park
- For 1–7 days
- Directly funds the park
Recommended for
One trip to one park
-
Annual Pass
- For one national park or park group
- For 1 year
- Directly funds the park
- Not available for every park
Recommended for
- Multiple trips to one park
- One or more trips to one park group
-
America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
- Covers entrance fees and standard amenity fees (day-use fees) at Federal recreational sites, including national parks
- 1 year and lifetime options
Recommended for
- Seniors, military, visitors with permanent disabilities
- One or more trips to multiple parks
Reservations and Timed Entry
When planning a visit to a national park, check if you need a reservation. Some national parks use a timed entry system to manage vehicle traffic. Other parks use tour reservations to manage access to a building or natural feature. Reservations are typically made available through recreation.gov on a rolling basis. If you need a reservation, we recommend making it well in advance.
America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by
- National Park Service
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- US Army of Corps of Engineers
Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
One private vehicle fee
or
Four per person fees
| Type | Available to | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Pass | Everyone | $80.00 |
| Senior Annual Pass | US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old | $20.00 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass | US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old | $80.00 |
| Military Annual Pass | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass | US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.
How to Get an America the Beautiful Pass
In Person (Recommended)
Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.
Order Online, Receive by Mail
To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Online Store . Online orders are for physical passes, not digital passes, and may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. We recommend ordering at least three weeks in advance of your visit, or picking up a pass in person instead.
Visiting soon? Pick up a pass when you arrive.
America the Beautiful Passes ordered online through the USGS Online Store may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Get your pass at one of over 1,000 purchase and pickup locations to avoid the wait.
Senior Passes
US citizens and permanent residents ages 62 and older can purchase an annual America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for $20.00, or a lifetime version for $80.00. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.
- 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.
- Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must show proof of eligibility.
Senior Annual Pass
$20.00
Senior Lifetime Pass
$80.00
Golden Age Passports and Golden Access Passports
Golden Age Passports and Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass.
We encourage you to exchange your Golden Age/Golden Access Passport for a current Senior Lifetime Pass for free. You can exchange in-person at sites that issue passes. Please bring your old pass and photo identification with you.
Annual Passes and Park Groups
While most annual park passes are limited to one national park, a few sites offer an annual pass valid at multiple national parks, federal recreational lands, or state parks.
- Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Pass
- Valid for 12 months from purchase date. Admits the pass holders and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle (14 max capacity or less) to Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Puʻuhonua ʻO Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
- Southeast Utah Parks Annual Pass
- Valid at Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument.
- Flagstaff Area National Monuments Annual Pass
- Admits the passholder, passenger of one motorcycle, or occupants of a single, non-commercial vehicle at Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monuments for 1 year.
- Northern California/Southern Oregon 4-Park Pass
- The annual park passes offered by Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Lava Beds National Monument are accepted at all four parks.
- Oregon Coast Passport
- The annual Oregon Coast Passport covers entry, vehicle parking, and day use fees at all Oregon state and federal fee sites along the Oregon Coast. Valid for 12 months.
- Assateague Island National Seashore Annual Pass/Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Annual Pass
- Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge honor both site-specific annual passes.
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Annual Pass
- This pass is valid for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument for one year from the month of purchase. The pass admits all passengers in a private vehicle and is non-transferable.
- Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot Annual Pass
- $35 annual pass, good for one (1) year. Will cover the entrance fee at both Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. Available to everyone; good for card holder plus 3 adult guests. Can be obtained in person at Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument, or online at Recreation.gov. Passes are NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
- Great Falls Annual Pass
- Valid for one full year from the month of purchase. Permits access to the Great Falls area of the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland and Great Falls Park in Virginia. 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.
2025 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:
- January 9: National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter Jr.
- January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 19: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 27: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Your Fee Dollars at Work
All the money from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service, and at least 80 percent stays in the park where it was collected. Learn more about how entrance fees are used to improve the visitor experience.
Last updated: January 6, 2025