Free National Park Passes You Might Qualify For
Approximately a quarter of America's national parks offer free admission, including the Great Smoky Mountains, the nation's most-visited park, and the New River Gorge in West Virginia, the newest addition. While driving down Highway 101 in California, you can explore Redwood National Park without encountering an entrance gate. However, access to many parks isn't free unless you qualify for a specific entrance pass.
U.S. military personnel, their dependents, Gold Star families, veterans, disabled individuals, fourth graders, and federal recreation site volunteers might be eligible for a free version of the America the Beautiful pass. This pass grants entry to any national park and is available for anyone to purchase as an annual pass. It also provides access to other sites in the National Park System, including national memorials and monuments like Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents aged 62 and older can obtain the Senior Annual Pass for $20.00. The Senior Lifetime Pass costs $80.00, the same as a regular Annual Pass for others. Additionally, there are select days when you can visit any U.S. national park for free. If you qualify for one of these five passes, you can enjoy free entry to the parks any day of the year.
Members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, or National Guard are eligible for a Military Annual Pass, which is also available to cadets, active reservists, and dependents of military members. The National Park Service (NPS) offers this pass as a thank-you to military personnel. The Military Annual Pass, like other America the Beautiful passes, grants access to any site in the National Park System. You can pick up your pass at a nearby location or order it online through the USGS store for a $10 processing fee, providing government-issued documents showing your military service and current status.
At some NPS sites, such as Maine's Acadia National Park, entrance fees are charged per vehicle, and the Military Annual Pass covers everyone in the vehicle. Other sites, like Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park, charge individual entrance fees, covering the pass holder and up to three additional adults aged 16 or over.
Gold Star families and veterans have lifelong free admission to America's national parks. Gold Star families are defined by the USGS as next of kin to U.S. Armed Forces members who lost their lives in qualifying situations, like wars or military operations. The Military Lifetime Pass is specifically for these families and veterans. To obtain a Military Lifetime Pass, you can follow the same process as for the Military Annual Pass. Veterans can use various forms of ID for documentation, including veteran ID cards, health identification cards, Department of Defense identification cards, or state-issued driver's licenses with a veteran designation.
Certain national parks, like Sequoia and Kings Canyon, have improved accessibility for disabled individuals. The Access Pass, a lifetime pass available to disabled U.S. citizens or permanent residents, grants free entry. To qualify, your disability must be medically deemed a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. You'll need to provide documentation from a licensed physician or a federal agency, such as the Veteran's Administration or Social Security Administration, and proof of citizenship or permanent residency.
Fourth graders can get a free pass through the Every Kid Outdoors program, allowing them and their families to visit national parks for free. This initiative targets fourth graders because they are at an age where they are open to learning about the world and connecting with nature. To get the pass, kids play a quick game on the program's website and print a voucher with a unique bar code.
The Volunteer Pass is a free one-year pass for those who have logged 250 hours of service at federal recreation lands. Managed by various agencies, including the NPS, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the America the Beautiful pass covers all these places. Volunteering opportunities can be found through Volunteer.gov, and the Volunteer Pass is a humble reward for those dedicating their time to the national parks community. Volunteers need a record of their hours, signed by their coordinator, to receive the pass.
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