At just $80 per year, the America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass grants you free access to over 2,000 Federal recreation areas in the United States, including all 62+ National Parks. Here is everything you need to know about the pass.
Just here for the pass? Skip the reading and buy your National Park Annual Pass now!
The National Park system in the United States is made up of areas of significant historical, geological or natural importance that are protected by the government.
You’ve probably heard of the more popular sites such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park, but did you know there are actually 62 (and counting!) national parks throughout the US? They’re scattered throughout 29 states and 2 territories, so chances are you’re never too far from one of America’s treasures!
From hiking in Yosemite to exploring Grand Tetons to the magical Olympic National Park in Washington state, there is no shortage of adventures to be had in the U.S. National Parks. However, entrance fees can add up quickly if you are planning to visit more than one park.
Enter the America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass.
For just $80 a year, this annual pass offers free admission to 2,000 Federal natural, historical, and recreational sites across the United States, including all 62+ national parks and 556 national wildlife refuges.
So… Is it worth it? We, for one, certainly think so!
Considering the national parks are some of the most beautiful and well-preserved spaces in America, they make for some pretty epic travel destinations (and even more epic photos as you can see!).
Typical entrance fees for U.S. National Parks are $30-$35 per vehicle. At just $80 for the annual pass, that means you only need to visit 3 national parks in a year to make it worth your while.
There are 5 National Parks in the state of Utah alone that should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Tip: Use this National Parks checklist and guide to plan out which parks you don’t want to miss in each state and keep track of your progress!
Whether you’re visiting the U.S. from another country or planning an epic road trip across the country, you can make the most of your trip by hitting up as many national parks as you can fit into your itinerary.
And the best part… you can have a completely different experience at each park depending on the time of year and the season you visit! So we recommend seeing as much of the U.S. National Parks as possible with your National Park Annual Pass. (This is not sponsored, I promise. We really just love national parks that much!).
Tip: Need help planning your cross-country road trip? We’ve got you covered with everything from how to road trip on the cheap to tips on keeping your road trip eco-friendly.
How much does the National Park Annual Pass Cost?
The annual pass costs $80 and is valid for one year from the date you purchase it. You can purchase a pass anytime online or in person at a Federal recreation site and up to 100% of the proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Note: PLEASE be sure to call a site and verify they are still issuing the passes BEFORE you make a special trip to obtain a pass.
The pass is available to anyone 16 years of age or older (children under 16 are always admitted free) and up to 2 persons can “own” the pass by signing the back. You do not need to be related or married to share a national park annual pass, however they are non-transferable. Photo identification will be requested to verify pass ownership.
Special discounts for seniors and military members
U.S. citizens or permanent residents that are 62 years of age or older are eligible for the Senior Pass. The cost is just $20 for an annual pass, or $80 for a lifetime pass which does not need to be renewed annually.
Also, the America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass is free for current U.S. Military and Military Dependents! In order to get your free pass, you must purchase in person at one of the Federal recreation sites by showing a Military ID or Common Access Card.
What does the National Park Annual Pass cover?
The America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass covers free admission to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five Federal agencies: The Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.
This includes all 62 (and counting!) national parks, and all other Federal recreation sites managed by the above agencies. For a list of parks covered by the America the Beautiful pass, check out the National Park Service official website.
At per-vehicle fee areas, an annual pass will admit the pass owner(s) and all passengers in their non-commercial vehicle.
At per-person fee areas, the pass owner and up to 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults in total, will be admitted. After that each additional person will be charged the per-person fee or need to have a separate pass. (Children under 16 are always admitted free into National Parks.)
The annual pass does NOT cover fees incurred for amenities within the parks such as camping, boat launching, parking, special tours, special permits (like backcountry permits) or ferries.
This pass also does NOT include admission to state or local parks that are not managed at the Federal level.
Check out these guides to some of our favorite National Parks covered by the Annual Pass:
- Amazing Things to Do in Glacier National Park
- Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
- Fun Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
- The Mighty 5: Best National Parks in Utah
- Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park
- Las Vegas to Death Valley: The Ultimate Day Trip
- Adventurous Things to Do in Olympic National Park
- Perfect Joshua Tree Day Trip: Tips & Hidden Gems
Tips for visiting the U.S. National Parks
From ultra popular parks like Arches, Yosemite, and Zion to those that are far less crowded, like North Cascades National Park (one of our absolute favorites!), there are so many sights to be seen and adventures to be had in the parks of America.
If you plan to visit any National Parks on your next trip, we’ve got some useful pieces of advice for you!
1. Buy a National Park Annual Pass
I think we’ve covered this one enough!
2. Be prepared to go without cell service
In many National Parks, you’ll have cell service at the Visitor’s Center and in more popular parts of the park. But it is good to be prepared to lose signal. It’s a perfect time to disconnect and go “off the grid”, but you’ll want to at least be prepared.
Download the offline map of the park on Google Maps (see the instructions in our Road Trip Planning Guide) so you have navigation during your visit, and be sure you’ve pinned the locations you want to see. This is one reason having a guidebook can be really handy.
3. Avoid peak weeks
If possible, plan your road trip during the season when school is in session (before June or after the beginning of September). This means you will avoid the huge summertime crowds. September is our favorite month to travel in the USA! But we know it’s not always possible to avoid this time, especially if you have kids or work in a school.
As you’re planning, take holiday weeks into consideration and avoid them if you can. Memorial Day weekend, the week of July 4th, and Labor Day weekend are all very popular times to travel, and National Parks are often at their busiest.
4. Get into the backcountry to avoid the crowds
If you want to avoid the crowds and have a sense of adventure, consider getting into the backcountry, either for a day hike or better yet, for the night. The photo above was taken at Yosemite during a super busy weekend in July. Even though there were tons of people in the park, we saw NOBODY else in this backcountry camping area.
When we were registering with the Park Ranger, he told us only 3% of visitors to Yosemite stay in the backcountry. So even on a busy day, you can avoid the crowds with a little bit of effort and planning!
5. Book your campsites in advance
If you plan to stay in the National Park campgrounds, you’ll want to book in advance, as they fill up quickly (especially in the most popular parks). Booking online will help you avoid disappointment.
Psst! If you are too late and can’t find any campsites inside the National Park don’t fret too much. Download a camping app, like The Dyrt, and you’ll see all available campgrounds nearby.
6. Be prepared to go without your pup
National Parks have strict rules about pets, and dogs are not allowed.
This can be a tricky situation if you’re on a longer road trip with your furry friend, but as long as you’re aware ahead of time, you might be able to make arrangements that will work.
7. Visit the State Parks too
National Parks are amazing and well worth visiting, but they’re not the only parks to put on your itinerary.
Some of our very favorite places in the United States are actually National Forests, State Parks and designated Wilderness Areas. They often are incredibly beautiful and have nice infrastructure, but have far fewer crowds than National Parks. For this reason, State Parks, Wilderness Areas and National Forests often blow our expectations away!
For example, we had an amazing time in Grand Tetons National Park, but we also had high expectations. On the other hand, we were absolutely amazed by two of Wyoming’s other gems: Wind River Wilderness Area and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Had we only stuck with National Parks, we would have missed out on probably our favorite parts of the state.
Plus, they typically have fewer restrictions for pets, so if you’re road tripping with your dog, they can be great destinations. Additionally, the campgrounds in State Parks and National Forests are often less expensive and don’t book up 6 months in advance like they do in National Parks!
Are you planning travel around the U.S.A.?
We have TONS of resources on travel in the US and how to make the most out of your trip. Check out our Ultimate USA Travel Guide for everything you need to know, or read some of our favorite articles below.
- Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
- Adventurous Things to Do in Olympic National Park
- Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
- Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park
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We want to hear from you!
Where are you headed with your America the Beautiful Park Pass this year? Have you ever gotten the pass before? Do you think it was worth it? Let us know in the comments below!
Can 2 people use the same pass in the same time?
Thanks for sharing the informative post. It is very useful and knowledgeable.
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I live in Utah and less than 2hrs away from 3 national Parks. I most definitely say the $80 is very worth it. We love that we can just take off on a week end or get off early form work and pick a park and go for hike.
Wow, I’m so jealous that you live close to 3 National Parks. There is so much to explore in Utah!
I have access pass the America tthe beautiful the national parks and federal recreation lands pass Could I use it any park and
Any states ? Plmk
Hi there! This information is super helpful! I’m planning to make a trip to Saguaro National Park this weekend and wanted to purchase the annual pass in advance of that. How long did it take for your pass to come in? I’m not sure if it’s too late at this point to purchase it online and show them the confirmation once we get there.
We have had the US Park Pass the past two years and will definitely be getting another one when ours expires! We have used it so many times where we didn’t even realize we would need it! National Wildlife Refuges, National Battlefields, etc. We are huge promoters of this pass as well! ?