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 all 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 Senior Pass, what the recent changes mean for you, and how the additional funds benefit the national parks.

The 2019 Interagency Annual Pass appears with a mountain, water and night sky.
2019 The America the Beautiful-The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass

Manish Mamtani, Acadia National Park, 2017 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner.

Annual Pass

The 2019 Interagency Annual Pass-Military appears with a mountain, water and night sky.
2019 Interagency Annual Pass - Military

Manish Mamtani, 2017 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner

Free Annual Pass for U.S. Military

Two children fishing at a lake with mountains in the background.
September 1, 2018 - August 31, 2019 - 4th Grade Pass

Two kids fishing at a lake on the San Juan National Forest in Colorado. /S. Dingman Photo

Annual 4th Grade Pass

The 2019 Interagency Annual Senior Pass with a green tree frog
Lifetime Senior Pass and 2019 Annual Senior Pass

Lifetime Senior Pass - Yellowstone National Park/Lori Wilkinson

2019 Annual Senior Pass - Acadia National Park/Manish Mamtani, 2017 Share the Experience Photo Contest

Senior Pass

The 2019 Access Pass pass showing a great gray owl flying
2019 Access Pass

Steven Koehler, Yellowstone National Park

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)
The 2019 Volunteer Pass appears with a rocky mountain, water and night sky
2019 Volunteer Pass

Manish Mamtani, 2017 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.

Last updated: March 4, 2019