If seeing the Grand Canyon, walking the forests of the Pacific Northwest, or camping under the stars in Big Bend is still on your list, there’s a pass that makes it all much more affordable.
It’s called the America the Beautiful — National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. For Americans aged 62 and older, the lifetime version costs just $80. That’s a one-time fee that never expires.
Who Qualifies?
Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is 62 or older is eligible. You can choose between a single-year pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80.
To put that in perspective: entrance fees at many national parks run $30 or more per vehicle. The lifetime pass pays for itself in just a few visits.
Nina Gralak, a retired Nevada resident who travels the country by RV, has used hers extensively.
“With entrance fees to many national parks costing $30 or more, the pass quickly pays for itself. For seniors, it is a great value and a good way to see many beautiful sites and parks around the USA.”
What Does the Pass Cover?
The pass covers entrance fees and standard day-use fees at sites managed by six federal agencies: the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
That adds up to more than 1,000 federal recreation sites, including all 63 national parks, national forests, national monuments, and wildlife refuges.
Each pass covers the entry fee for one private vehicle, or up to four individuals if you’re paying per person rather than per vehicle.
The savings go beyond entrance fees, too. The lifetime senior pass often provides a 50% discount on certain amenity fees, things like camping, swimming, and boat launch access.
Nina Gralak mentioned that the discount even applied somewhere she didn’t expect it.
“In addition to not paying entrance fees, we receive discounts on national park campgrounds as well as Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. On my last trip, my husband and I visited Fort Davis on our way to Big Bend and were surprised to find that they also accepted the pass.”
What’s Not Included?
There are a few things the pass won’t cover. It does not apply to privately run or concessionaire-operated campgrounds and facilities, such as those managed by Aramark in Yosemite or Xanterra in Death Valley.
It also won’t cover special day-use permits or backcountry permits that some popular parks require.
And importantly, the pass does not cover state parks. If you’re planning to visit places like Goblin Valley in Utah or Eldorado Canyon in Colorado, you’ll need to buy a separate state park pass.
How to Get Yours
You can pick up the pass in person at any of the more than 1,000 federal recreation sites. Just bring a passport or driver’s license showing your age and U.S. residency.
Where you buy it matters a little. If you purchase at a non-national-park site, 80 to 100 percent of the money stays at that location to fund visitor programs. If you buy at a national park entrance station or visitor center, the funds go to the National Park Foundation Endowment, the congressionally authorized philanthropic partner of the National Park Service.
Prefer to skip the trip to the park? You can also buy a digital version (annual or lifetime) at recreation.gov. The digital pass loads right onto your phone and works immediately.
Whether you’re dreaming of sunrise over Mount Rainier or a closer look at Denali, the $80 lifetime pass makes those bucket-list moments a lot easier to afford. For anyone 62 or older, it’s one of the best travel values out there.
