US National Park Passes Explained

People interested in visiting most US National Parks and other federal land sites will have to pay an entrance fee. There are actually several different National Parks pass options to choose from. First, if you are not a US citizen you will be assessed a different fee structure than if you are a US citizen. See below for additional information pertaining to non-US citizens. If you are a US citizen there are multiple park pass options for your consideration.

A)    US Citizen:

• A Standard Pass: is good for a singular national park. It is valid for up to 7 days. The money collected directly funds the national park you are visiting. You get one trip to one park.

• An Annual Pass: is good for a singular national park, or “Park Group” for an entire year. See below for more information on “Park Groups.” The money collected directly funds the national park you are visiting. You get multiple trips to one park, or Park Group.
  

o  Park Groups Explained: A couple of national park sites have made available an annual pass option that is valid at more than one national park, federal recreational land, or state park. These include:

• Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Pass – This annual pass admits the pass holders and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle to Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and Puʻuhonua ʻO Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
• Southeast Utah Parks Annual Pass – This annual pass is valid at Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument.
• Flagstaff Area National Monuments Annual Pass – This 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.
• Northern California/Southern Oregon 4-Park Pass - This annual pass is available for Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Lava Beds National Monument.
• Oregon Coast Passport - This annual pass is valid for entry, parking, and day use fees at all Oregon state and federal fee sites along the Oregon Coast.
• Assateague Island National Seashore Annual Pass /Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Annual Pass – Annual pass valid in both locations.
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Annual Pass -This annual pass is valid at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest / Giant Sequoia National Monument.
• Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot Annual Pass -This annual pass is valid for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments.
• Great Falls Annual Pass -This annual pass is valid for access to the Great Falls area of the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland and Great Falls Park in Virginia.

• The America the Beautiful — the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This pass is available in multiple options including:

o  Every Kid Outdoors Pass - this pass is exclusively available to US 4^th Graders and their family. It grants access to over 2,000 federal lands and waters and takes place from September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027. To obtain this free pass, 4^th Graders should head to the Every Kid Outdoors website: https://EveryKidOutdoors.gov. Once at this website you’ll be asked to complete a short education activity and once completed you can download and print a paper voucher that should be brought with you when you visit public lands and waters. A digital pass is also available.

o  Resident Annual Pass – this pass option costs $80 and is valid for one year.

o  Senior Annual Pass – this annual pass is available to US citizens and residents aged 62 & up and costs $20. Applicants must provide proof of age and residency or citizenship. As a result, this pass cannot be purchased as a gift since the eligible recipient needs to demonstrate proof of age eligibility. The pass will not reduce special recreation permit fees of concessioner fees; however, the pass may provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services.  

o  Senior Lifetime Pass – this pass is available to US citizens and residents aged 62 & up and costs $80. Applicants must provide proof of age and residency or citizenship. As a result, this pass cannot be purchased as a gift since the eligible recipient needs to demonstrate proof of age eligibility. The pass will not reduce special recreation permit fees or concessioner fees; however, the pass may provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services.

o  Military Annual Pass – this annual pass is free to current US military and dependents.

o  Military Lifetime Pass – this pass is free to Gold Star Family members and veterans. Veterans are individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves. To show proof of veteran status, you would need to submit one of the following valid, un-expired forms of identification: Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement); Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC); Veteran ID Card; Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver's license or identification card.

o  Access Pass – this annual pass is free to US citizens and residents with a permanent disability of any age. A permanent disability is defined as a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that severely limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. You will need to provide one of the following documents, to prove your eligibility: Statement by a licensed physician that includes: Individual has a PERMANENT disability; Disability severely limits one or more aspects of their daily life; Nature of those limitations. Document issued by Federal Agency such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or Social Security Administration (e.g., Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)).

o  Volunteer Pass – this annual pass is free to federal recreation site volunteers who have completed 250 hours of service.

B)    Non-US citizen:

       -If you are aged 16 and up, you must pay a $100 nonresident fee + the regular entrance fee for the below listed National Parks, unless you opt instead to take advantage of the Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. National Parks include Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Zion.

       -The $100 non-US resident fee at the listed parks also applies to non-residents in commercial tours, commercial use authorization (CUA), and concessionaire tour groups, unless they use the Non-Resident Annual Pass.

       -The “America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass” can be purchased for $250. This pass can be used to cover the members of the visitor’s vehicle, or 2 motorcycles, or the passholder plus 3 more adults in the party where per-person fees are charged. Additional “America the Beautiful” passes are available, but they are for US citizens and residents only.

       -FYI only – “Free admission days” only apply to US citizens and permanent residents. Non-residents must pay entrance fees plus any non-resident fees, unless they have the Non-Resident Annual Pass.

What else do you need to know before you go:

-Check to see if you need a reservation as some National Parks utilize a timed entry system to help manage traffic and people. Reservations are typically made on www.Recreation.gov.  

-Buy your Annual Pass before you get to the National Park. Please don’t add to the amount of time we have to spend waiting in line to get into the National Park. The faster we get through the line – the faster we get into the playground. You can order an Annual Pass online at least 3 weeks in advance of your visit. You can purchase get a digital pass from www.Recreation.gov. Passes are also sold at over 1,000 locations nationwide including outfitter store REI.

-Park passes are non-transferable. At the time of purchase, you will find space on the back of the card for your signature, like a credit card. When you arrive at the National Park entrance station you will present your purchased pass as well as a valid photo ID with each pass. Therefore, a well-intentioned Dad who purchased an Annual Pass cannot “give it to his child to use” if Dad is not going to also be part of the same vehicle & trip.

-Park passes are non-refundable.

-Each year the National Park Service offers free admission to National Parks on select dates. In 2026 the remaining dates include:

·      September 17th – Constitution Day

·      October 27th – Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday

·      November 11th – Veterans Day

Free admission days do not include other fees such as timed entry or reservation fees.

Get out there and enjoy our US National Parks.

Happy Wandering!