Many travelers wonder whether the $80 National Parks Annual Pass is a good investment. That really depends on your travel plans and how many parks you plan to visit. With a few pass options available, you might find out that you qualify for a discounted or a free pass so keep reading. Let’s start with what a pass gets you.
A National Parks Annual Pass provides access to all National Parks and many other monuments and recreational sites. It also offers discounts on camping and other services, for a period of a year, or if you’re a senior, a lifetime. The access and discounted fees are available to the pass owner and all other occupants of the same vehicle, as long as the pass owner is present. A single pass covers up to 8 people in a single vehicle or up to 4 on a commercial guided tour. If you group is traveling in more than one vehicle, you will need to get as many passes as you have vehicles.
These days the most popular National Parks cost upwards of $35 to enter. If you’re planning on visiting more than 2 parks on your trip, including one on one of our tours, the regular $80 annual pass more than pays for itself, considering it’s good for a year, and is most definitely worth it.
Do I need to get my National Parks Annual Pass online?
No! You do not need to get your National Park Annual Pass ahead of time online. If you get it ahead of time it will be more expensive because you will be paying a $10 handling fee. You can easily buy your annual pass at the entrance booth of the very first National Park you visit. Also, by not buying it ahead you’re not stuck with a pass you don’t need in case your travel plans change. However, that being said, there is a small number of federal areas that are included in list of covered areas, that are unable to issue certain types of passes, like the military passes, on the spot. Check this list before you head out to make sure the areas you’re visiting can issue the pass you want to get.
What are the different types of National Park entry passes?
Annual pass ($80 annual)
These passes are valid for one year and are available to anyone, of any age, from any country. This pass does not need to be purchased ahead of time. You can get this pass at the first entrance booth you come to. This pass will cover up to 8 occupants of one vehicle where per vehicle fees are charged. Or, up to 4 people where per person fees are charged like on one of our tours.
4th Graders (free annual)
Do you have a 4th grader in your family? Your 4th grader is eligible for a free annual pass! However, unlike all other passes these are only valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year and summer, September – August. You must have a printed voucher, on paper (not digital), from the Every Kid Outdoors website to be able to receive this free pass. This pass does not need to be purchased ahead of time. You can get this pass at the first entrance booth you come to. This pass will cover up to 8 occupants of one vehicle even if they are over 10 years of age (and hopefully someone is! :)) where per vehicle fees are charged. Or, up to 4 people on a guided commercial tour.
Senior pass ($80 lifetime or $20 annual)
Are you a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. and you are 62 years or older? If you meet these criteria then you are eligible for an $80 Senior lifetime pass or a discounted $20 Senior Annual pass. This pass does not need to be purchased ahead of time. You can get this pass at the first entrance booth you come to. This pass will cover up to 8 occupants of one vehicle even if they are not over 62 or U.S. citizens where per vehicle fees are charged. Or, up to 4 people on a guided commercial tour.
Access pass (free lifetime)
Are you a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U. S. and have a permanent disability? If you meet this criterion then you are eligible for a free lifetime pass. This pass does not need to be purchased ahead of time. You can get this pass at the first entrance booth you come to. This pass will cover up to 8 occupants of one vehicle even if they are not disabled or U.S. citizens where per vehicle fees are charged. Or, up to 4 people on a guided commercial tour.
Military annual pass (free annual)
Are you a current U.S. Military personnel or a dependent with a U.S. Department of Defense CAC identification or DD Form 1173 dependent identification? Do you classify as follows: current member of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard, dependent of current U.S. military members with DD Form 1173, U.S. Military Cadets, U.S. Active Reservists (Do not need to be deployed)? Then, you are eligible for a free annual pass. This pass does not need to be purchased ahead of time, you can get it at the first entrance booth you come to. This pass will cover up to 8 occupants of one vehicle even if they are not military or U.S. citizens where per vehicle fees are charged or, up to 4 people on a guided commercial tour.
Please keep in mind that unfortunately foreign military members (Including those stationed in the U S and have a CAC card), NOAA) employees, PHS members, Inactive U S Reservists, Civilian military contractors, Civilian military employees, U.S. military veterans, U.S. military retirees do not qualify for this pass.
Vets (free lifetime)
Are you a veteran, first of all, thank you! Second of all, congratulations – you are now entitled to a free lifetime pass. Please inquire whether you need to get this pass ahead of time, since not all passes can be simply purchased at the entry station. Some require additional paperwork and need to be purchased ahead of time.
250+ Hours Volunteer (free annual)
If you’ve volunteered 250 or more hours to NPS then you are eligible for a free annual pass. This pass can only be issued by the Federal Volunteer Coordinator/Manager who can verify that the volunteer has accrued 250 hours and not at any entrance booth. However, this pass like others will cover up to 8 occupants of one vehicle where per vehicle fees are charged or, up to 4 people on a guided commercial tour.
What are some other things I should know
- If you get your pass on the first of the month it will be valid through the end of that month the following year effectively giving you 13 months of use!
- Save your receipts! If you pay a single entry fee and get so inspired that you all of a sudden decide to quit your job and travel all of the National Parks for the next year, with your receipt you can apply the money you spent on entry to one of the parks to the purchase of the annual pass within 7 days of purchase.
- The annual pass allows for two owner signatures so effectively two people can be owners of a single pass and they can use it separately, even if the other person is not present.
- If you lose your pass, keep in mind, they are not replaceable in any way – not with a receipt, not with a picture, not with any amount of begging so keep your pass, especially any paid for lifetime pass, in a secure place while you travel!
Use your pass on our 3 in 1 See The Best Of Moab In A Day Guided Sightseeing Tour of Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point Parks!
