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The America the Beautiful Pass, also known as the National Parks & Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass is just as it sounds: an annual pass that allows you to enter any National Park or Federal Recreational Land free of any entrance or day use fees. Sounds great right? However, at $80 a year... is it worth it? If I were to give a yes or no answer, I would be neglecting the various lifestyles of the individuals looking into purchasing the pass. So, lets break down the cost and benefits in order to determine if the annual pass is right for you.
There are actually six different versions of the annual pass, depending on which one best fits your description, the prices may vary from free to the full $80. Review each of the options below to see if you qualify for a cheaper pass than the Regular Annual Pass!
Regular Annual Pass
Cost: $80 a year
* plus a $5 handling fee if purchased online
Benefits:
- Each pass can have two designated owners.
- It allows you to enter every National Park and Federal Recreation Area with no entrance or day
use fees, year-round.
- All proceeds collected go to improving the parks for visitors.
Military Pass
Cost: Free
*$10 fee if the pass is purchased online *Military ID or equivalent is required*
Benefits:
- Available to all those who serve actively or in the reserves of all military branches, as well as all veterans
- Same benefits as Regular Annual Pass (see above)
4th Grade Pass
Cost: Free
* Only available for 4th graders or children of the age of 10
Benefits:
- It is only valid for the fourth grader who owns it. However, if they are visiting with adults
or friends, at a site where the fee is by vehicle, all adults and children are permitted with their
pass. At a site where the fee is by person, three adults and all children under 16 are permitted
with their pass.
- It allows them to enter every National Park and Federal Recreation Area with no entrance or day
use fees, year-round...but only during their fourth grade year.
Senior Pass
Cost: $80 for a lifetime pass
$20 for an annual pass
*plus a $10 handling fee is purchased online or by mail rather than in person
Benefits:
- Available to permanent US residents 62 years or older *documentation of age and residency is required*
- Same benefits as Regular Annual Pass (see above)
- Senior Pass holders may also get discounts on other recreational activities such as camping, boat
launching, guided tours, etc.
Access Pass
Cost: Free lifetime pass
* plus a $10 fee is processed by mail
Benefits:
- Available to permanent US residents who have a permanent disability *documentation of disability is
required*
- Same benefits as Regular Annual Pass (see above)
- Access Pass holders may also get discounts on other recreational activities such as camping, boat
launching, guided tours, etc.
Volunteer Pass:
Cost: Free annual pass
Benefits:
- Same benefits as Regular Annual Pass (see above)
- Available to individuals who have completed 250 volunteer hours in a federal agency that participates in the
annual pass program
Link to choose, sign-up and obtain/purchase the pass that best fits you:
Is the Regular Annual Pass fee worth it for you?
So if you only have the option of purchasing the Regular Annual Pass for $80 a year, is it worth it?
If you travel frequently and have the plan to visit many national parks or federal recreational areas then the $80 will pay for itself very quickly. On the other hand, if you don't travel much and don't have any plans to go to more than a few sites a year, if that, then the $80 may not be worth it. Let me explain...
On average, the entrance fee per vehicle at a national park or federal recreational site is $25, however the range is from $10-35. (Keep in mind this fee usually allows you access for a week.) More populated parks typically have higher fees due to the increased maintenance and employees required to upkeep and run the site, for example Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, etc. Sites that have per person fees can range anywhere from $3-20, but these are not as common or only used if your vehicle capacity is higher than the allowed amount or for non-commercial vehicles such as busloads of groups.
While traveling these fees can add up very quickly. For example, while on a five week road trip Ron and I went to Grand Canyon National Park, Colorado National Monument twice, and Padre Island National Seashore. We initially bought the American the Beautiful Pass for $85 and all together the entrance fees would have added up to $95. So although we only saved $10, the possibilities for savings beyond that are significant.
Ron and I still have our annual America the Beautiful Pass. Since we moved to Colorado we now live within a four hour drive of at least 12 different national parks and federal recreational lands. We often plan trips to go to new places and live so close to some of our favorite sites that it made sense for us to spend $85 initially to save money in the long run. It also takes the hassle out of having to stop and spend more time at the entrance. With the pass you are only required to show park entrance employees your signed pass and license, the process takes no more than 15 seconds.
The best advice I can provide is that when contemplating purchasing the pass, look ahead to the trips you have planned check the prices of their entrance fees. Or if you live locally to some sites, determine the amount you plan to visit. If the total price is higher than the price of the pass then your decision is easy. The website usparkpass.com has a very comprehensive list off all the National Parks included in the pass and their prices (link below).
Link for National Parks Included & Prices: https://usparkpass.com/list-of-national-parks/
Link of all National Parks and Federal Recreation Areas Included:
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/pickup-pass-locations.htm
Odds & Ends to Keep in Mind as an Annual Pass Holder
- Make sure when you obtain your pass to sign the back with the owners names. When arriving at a park, the entrance employee will ask for your pass and your license to make sure the name on the pass matches.
- The pass is valid 12 consecutive months from the month of purchase. It will expire the last day of the month
the following year. Therefore the earlier in the month you purchase, the more use you can get out of the pass. However, keep in mind if the pass is not bought in person, it typically takes 5-10 business days for
passes to come in that were ordered online. Sites that accept the annual pass do not accept receipts, confirmation emails, etc. as proof of having a pass. You must have the physical pass with you upon arrival.
- If you arrive and the entrance office is not open or it is a self-pay station, simply display your pass in your windshield.
- DO NOT LOSE YOUR PASS. In the case of a lost or stolen card, another pass WILL NOT be issued. You will have to sign up for a new one and repay all the applicable fees.
- The pass does not auto-renew. You will have to go back onto the website or visit a visitors center in order to obtain/purchase a new annual pass.
Thank you for reading! Whether or not you deicide to purchase a pass, don't forget to go out and explore anything or anywhere that excites you! (:
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