What Does the America the Beautiful Pass Cover?

If the national parks are our best idea then the America the Beautiful Park Pass or its official name “America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Lands Pass” may just be our second best idea. What is the America the Beautiful Pass and what does it cover? Let’s take a look.

“National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst”

wallace stegner

What is the America the Beautiful Pass?

The America the Beautiful Pass is an annual pass that provides access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites in the U.S., including national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. The pass covers entrance fees for the pass holder and up to three adults for one year. Children under 16 are always free

How Much Does an America the Beautiful Pass Cost?

An America the Beautiful Park Pass costs just $80 USD for 12 months of use. That’s a really good deal considering you can visit as many parks as you want during that year. In fact, if you purchase a pass towards the first of the month, you have to the end of that month of the next year to use it. So you actually get a little more time than a year.

Does the National Park Pass Save You Money?

Yes it does. It takes just three visits to most fee-based national parks to pay for itself. Here’s how.

For example, Utah has in total thirteen national park sites but the most popular by far are the “Mighty 5” parks – Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Arches National Park. Most travelers on a Utah national park road trip visit at least one of those parks but usually include more.

If you visit the “Mighty 5” without an America the Beautiful Pass, it costs $150 to enter those five parks. However, if you purchase a National Park Pass, you’ll spend just $80 for all five. That’s a $70 savings! Even if you didn’t visit another park for the entire year the pass was worth purchasing.

But’s that’s not all. The America the Beautiful Pass also saves money at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites, in U.S. National Forests and on parking fees at many federal recreation sites in the western United States.

For example, activities in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest require a yearly Tonto Pass but when I kayaked the Salt River near Phoenix, I was able to use my America the Beautiful Pass, and pay no additional fees. And I had a similar experience when visiting Sedona and the Red Rock Scenic Byway.

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Where Can You Use an America the Beautiful Pass?

In addition to sites managed by the National Park Service, the America the Beautiful Pass can be used for entrance fees, or day use fees, at lands managed by these agencies too:

What Doesn’t the America the Beautiful Pass Cover?

The America the Beautiful Pass only covers entrance fees or day use fees. It does not cover camping, permits or any special event fees accept for in the case of a Senior Pass. (More info below.)

Where To Buy an America the Beautiful Pass?

America the Beautiful Passes can be purchased in person at national parks or online at the federal USGS store. You can also buy passes at Recreation.gov now as well. Last but not least, REI sells park passes and donates 10% of the proceeds to the National Parks Foundation.

If you’d like to support your favorite park then consider buying an America the Beautiful Pass directly from that park. Parks receive a small commission from sales and this helps support funding and salaries. So if you’re visiting soon, you may want to wait and buy your pass on-site.

Keep in mind, for safety and simplicity some parks only accept credit cards. And one more important tip that bears mentioning is that if you lose your pass, it cannot be replaced. Even if you have your receipt, you will be required to purchase another one.

How to Use an America the Beautiful Pass at the Park

When you arrive at the park, simply present your America the Beautiful Pass, with your identification, to the Ranger at entrance station. That’s it. It couldn’t be easier.

A few parks, like Yellowstone National Park, offer dedicated entrance lanes for pass holders, making entry faster and more convenient, especially during busy times. Just one more perk of owning a park pass.

For fee-based parks that don’t have entrance stations or if the entrance station is closed during low season, you should display your America the Beautiful Pass on your dash, signature side up, or hanging from your rearview mirror if you received a free hangtag.

Southerner Says: not all parks give out hang-tags. Be cautious displaying your pass in hot desert parks.

READ MORE: The Best National Parks to Visit When You Don’t Have Much Time

Other Types of National Park Passes

Besides the classic America the Beautiful Park Pass that anyone can own, there are other free or discounted passes available for groups that meet the requirements. Here’s a list of those additional passes, how to qualify, and how to obtain a pass.

Veterans + Gold Star Families

In 2020, a new program was introduced for veterans and gold star families. This program gives veterans free access to parks, wildlife refuges and other sites governed by the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service.

The pass covers entrance fees but does not cover camping, special tours or permits. Visit the National Park Service website to see who qualifies and what’s required for this type of America the Beautiful pass.

Military Pass

An America the Beautiful Pass is available for current members of the military and their dependents. This includes members of the National Guard and Reserve. Passes can be purchased in person at national parks by by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).

Annual 4th Grade Pass

In an effort to start early and get kids involved in our national parks, the National Park Service has created a special pass for 4th graders. The pass is free and is good for the child’s entire 4th grade school year including the following summer. Home schooled children are also eligible.

Parents – and educators – can sign up for a paper pass at the Every Kid Outdoors website. Then, the next time you visit a national park, simply exchange the paper copy for a hard copy at the sites that issue passes. Note: no digital passes will be allowed.

Another bonus from signing up for this pass is that you are eligible for a free Christmas Tree cutting permit from the U.S. Forestry Service.

Access Pass

The America the Beautiful Access Pass is a free pass available for U.S. citizens or permanent residents, that have permanent disabilities. Applicants are required to provide documentation of permanent disability along with proof of residency or citizenship.

The access pass entitles the user to discounts on some amenities such as camping, swimming, boat launch and interpretive services that might other wise have a fee. Access passes can be purchased in person at sites that issue passes or by mail. There is a $10 fee for mail processing applications.

Senior Pass

The National Park Service offers a pass program for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 and over. There are two types of this pass:

The biggest advantage the senior lifetime pass is that once purchased, it’s good for life. Additionally, senior pass holders are eligible for discounts on camping, tours, transportation, concessionaires, and special use permit fees. For more info see the USGS website. 

For seniors on a fixed income, an annual senior pass is still available and four years of annual pass purchases can be traded in for a lifetime pass. For more info, visit the National Park Service’s FAQ page here.

Passes can be purchased at online, or through the mail using this form. Note: there is a $10 fee for mail processing applications. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.

Volunteer Pass

A volunteer pass is available for volunteers that have 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program. Volunteers can ask for a pass at the park where they volunteer or through the Volunteer Coordinator at that park.

More America the Beautiful Tips

If you don’t have an America the Beautiful Pass or don’t plan on purchasing one, you can still visit a national park for free on special days throughout the year. The free days for 2025 are:

Final Thoughts About the America the Beautiful Park Pass

For more info or if you have questions about the America the Beautiful Pass, visit the National Park Service’s official website or the online USGS store. I try to keep the info as up-to-date as possible but things do change.

Remember when exploring our national parks and public lands to be safe, practice Leave No Trace principles and leave the parks them better than you found them. That includes giving wildlife plenty of space and not feeding them.