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If you're 62 or older, there's a pass that pays for itself the second time you use it. The America the Beautiful Senior Pass costs $80 as a one-time purchase and covers entrance for you and everyone in your vehicle at more than 2,000 national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other federal recreation sites, for the rest of your life.
Most parks charge $20 to $35 per carload just to get in the gate. Two or three trips and the pass has already paid for itself. After that, it's free.
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The lifetime pass is worth buying now.
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What the Pass Actually Covers
The Senior Pass gets you into every site that charges a per-vehicle entrance fee: national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, among others. If a site charges per person instead of per vehicle, the pass covers you and up to three additional adults.
It also gets you a 50% discount on some amenity fees, things like camping, boat launches, and guided tours run by the federal site itself, though not on fees charged by a separate concessioner. Read the specific park's fee page before you assume a discount applies.
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Getting the Pass Without Overpaying
The lifetime pass costs $80. An annual version costs $20 if you'd rather test it out before committing. Buy either one in person at a staffed federal recreation site, or order online through the USGS store, the official seller. You'll need to show proof of age and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
Watch for third-party websites that charge a markup to "process" your pass. You don't need a processing service. Buying directly from the USGS store or in person costs exactly $80 or $20, nothing more.
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Bring Someone Along
Because the pass covers your whole vehicle, it's built for company. A grandchild's first hike, a friend who's never seen a real waterfall, or a weekly walking habit all cost the same $0 in entrance fees once you're through the gate. If you've been meaning to start a walking group or coffee group, a nearby park with a paid-off pass is an easy place to start one.
If travel is more your speed than a local trail, the pass works the same way three states away as it does ten minutes from home. Plan around it instead of paying full price and wondering why you didn't ask first.
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In person at a staffed site, or online at the USGS store.
Confirm its entrance fee structure and any amenity discounts before you go.
The pass covers your whole car, so bring a passenger or two.
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Common questions
How much does the National Park Senior Pass cost?
The lifetime version costs $80 as a one-time purchase. An annual version costs $20 if you'd rather try it before committing. Both are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 62 and older, and both come from the official USGS store or in person at a staffed federal recreation site, no markup required.
What does the Senior Pass actually cover?
It covers entrance for you and your vehicle at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. At sites that charge per person instead of per vehicle, it covers you and up to three additional adults. It also gets a 50% discount on some amenity fees, like camping and boat launches, run directly by the federal site.
Does the Senior Pass discount apply to everything in a park?
No. The 50% amenity discount applies to fees the federal site charges directly, such as some camping and boat launch fees. It doesn't apply to fees charged by a separate concessioner operating inside the park, like a lodge or guided tour company. Check the specific site's fee page before you count on a discount.
Where do I buy the National Park Senior Pass?
Buy it in person at any staffed federal recreation site, or order online through the USGS store, the official seller. You'll need to show proof of age and citizenship or permanent residency. Avoid third-party websites that charge extra to "process" the pass. It costs exactly $80 or $20 through the official channels, nothing more.
