National Parks Pass Planner

What the America the Beautiful Pass Is

The America the Beautiful Pass, officially the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, is a single annual pass that covers entry to federal recreation sites across the United States. It is sometimes called the interagency pass because it is honored by six federal agencies: the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. One pass covers more than 2,000 sites, from the big national parks to national forests, wildlife refuges, and reservoirs.

The standard annual pass costs $80 and is valid for twelve months from the month you buy it. At a park that charges by the vehicle, it admits the pass holder and everyone in a single private vehicle. At a park that charges per person, it admits the pass holder plus three adults; everyone 15 and under is always free.

Pass Types and Prices

There is more than one version of the pass, and several are free if you qualify. The planner above assumes the $80 annual pass, which is the right choice for most visitors, but check the table before you buy in case you are eligible for a cheaper or free option.

What the Pass Covers, and What It Does Not

Knowing the limits before you travel saves disappointment at the gate. The pass is an entry pass, not an all-access pass.

What it covers

• Entrance fees at national parks and monuments that charge them.
• Standard amenity or day-use fees at national forests, grasslands, wildlife refuges, and lands run by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Everyone in your vehicle at drive-in parks, or the holder plus three adults where entry is charged per person.

What it does not cover

• Camping, cabins, and group sites, which are booked and paid separately.
• Guided tours, cave tours, boat launches, and special-use permits.
• Parking fees at some urban federal sites and concession services run by private operators.
• State parks, which are run by individual states and are never part of this federal pass.
• Timed-entry or vehicle reservations. Where a park requires one, you still need to book it even with the pass.

Is the America the Beautiful Pass Worth It?

The math is simple. The annual pass costs $80, and most national parks that charge entry cost $20 to $35 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. That means the pass usually pays for itself in three visits, and often in two if you visit the more expensive parks. Visit a single park once and the day pass is cheaper. Visit three or more parks with fees in a year, or return to one park several times, and the annual pass wins.

The calculator above does this for your exact trip. Add the parks you plan to visit, set how many times you will go, and it compares the total gate price against the $80 pass so you can see the break-even point and your savings at a glance. If you are close to the line, remember that the pass also covers national forests and other federal lands that are easy to forget when you add up a trip.

Where and How to Buy the Pass

You can buy the America the Beautiful Pass three ways:

• In person at the entrance of most national parks and at many federal recreation sites that charge fees. This is the fastest option and you can use it the same day.
• Online from the USGS store at store.usgs.gov or through Recreation.gov. Online orders are mailed, so order two to three weeks before you travel.
• By phone through the USGS, which is useful for the senior and access passes.

Sign the back of the pass as soon as you receive it and carry photo identification, since rangers check that the name matches. The free and discounted passes, such as the senior and access passes, usually have to be bought in person or by mail with proof of eligibility rather than through the standard online checkout.

Which Pass Is Right for You

• Frequent visitors who will see three or more fee parks in a year should get the $80 annual pass.
• Travelers age 62 and over should compare the $20 senior annual pass with the $80 senior lifetime pass. If you expect to keep visiting for four years or more, the lifetime pass is the better value.
• Military members, veterans, and Gold Star families qualify for a free pass and should never pay the $80.
• Families with a current fourth grader can get a free annual pass through Every Kid Outdoors that covers the whole vehicle.
• People with a permanent disability are eligible for the free lifetime access pass.