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Recreation Passes & Permits
America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series
Each pass covers entrance fees at lands managed by the National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service and standard amenity fees (day use fees) at lands managed by the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers.
NEW
In 2024, all passes will have one signature line for a single passholder. A pass covers entrance, day use fees, standard amenity fees and expanded amenity fees for the pass owner and all occupants in a personal vehicle at sites that charge per vehicle or, the pass owner and up to three additional adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person. Children ages 15 or under are admitted free.
To find a location near you that issues these interagency passes, search the list of all federal recreation sites where the passes are issued, including national parks. In addition to getting one of the Interagency Passes in person at national parks and other federal recreation sites, many of the America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands (Interagency) Passes are available to order from the USGS Online Store (allow at least three weeks for order processing and delivery). Please visit the USGS Online Store for detailed information about how to purchase a pass online and whether purchasing a pass now is the right decision for you.
Please remember when making your purchase that Interagency Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, cannot be extended and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.
The image is a decision tree to assist people deciding which entrance pass to get. It is titled “Which Interagency Pass is Right for Me?” Text reads “America the Beautiful – The National Park and Federal Recreation Lands Pass. There are a variety of options in the interagency pass program. These passes apply to multiple agencies (see logos below) and may be obtained with appropriate ID or documentation. Funds from Pass sales help Federal agencies support high-quality experiences for visitors”
The infographic includes logos a website to “store.usgs.gov” to find more information about these passes. And includes logos of participating federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is also decorated with silhouettes of trees and a bison.
The first row of pass options includes the questions and answers:
It asks, “Are you between the ages of 16-62?” then points to an Annual pass for $80.
It asks, “Are you a federal lands volunteer that has completed 250 hours of service?” then points to a Volunteer pass for free.
Below a question asking, “Are you a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident?” there are multiple pass options:
It asks, “Are you age 62 or over?” then points to a Senior Annual pass for $20 or Senior Lifetime pass for $80.
It asks, “Are you a Gold Star Family member or veteran?” then points to a Military Lifetime pass for free.
It asks, “Do you have a medically determined permanent disability?” then points to an Access pass for free.
It asks, “Are you currently serving in the Military or a dependent?” then points to a Military Annual pass for free.
It asks, “Are you a U.S. student in the 4th grade or home-school equivalent?” then points to a 4th grade pass for free.
Annual Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost: $80 annual pass
Available for: Everyone
How to purchase:
- In person:
- Online:
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Online Store's Annual Pass and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.
- This pass is non-transferable to another person.
- New in 2024, the Annual Pass will have one signature line for a single passholder. This change is necessary to address issues of consistency with other interagency passes, reduce fraudulent misuses, and allow for increased program flexibility.
- Motorcycles are treated the same as passenger vehicles, so each motorcycle will be required to have a passholder and pass on board. This standardizes how motorcycles are treated for all pass types. One pass will allow in one motorcycle.
- Passes cover entrance fees or standard amenity day use fees for the pass owner and accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. For areas that charge a per-person fee, the pass admits the passholder and three adults (16 and older).
- All 2023 passes will continue to be honored until expired.
Military Annual Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost: Free
Available for:
- Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. Please check photo ID requirements before arriving.
How to get:
- In person: Find a location to obtain this pass at a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).
- Online: Order this free pass from the USGS Online Store. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store's Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
-
Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Military Lifetime Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost:Free
Available for:
- Gold Star Families with a valid Gold Star Family Voucher
- US military veterans with a valid, veteran ID
How to get:
- In person: Find a location to obtain this pass at a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).
- Online: Order this free pass from the USGS Online Store. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Online Store's Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
- Learn about free access for U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families through a Military Lifetime Pass.
- Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
4th Grade Pass
Photo on the pass taken at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (Interagency Pass Working Group Design).
Cost: Free pass valid for the duration of the 4th grader's school year though the following summer (September-August)
Available for: US 4th graders, including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age, with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper voucher
How to get:
- Step 1: Get a paper voucher by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions.
- Step 2: Exchange a printed voucher for the Annual 4th Grade Pass at federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees (day use fee). Find a location to pick up this pass at a federal recreation site.
- NOTE: Digital versions of the paper voucher, such as on smart phones or tablets, are not accepted to exchange for an Annual 4th Grade Pass.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the Every Kid Outdoors websiteand the USGS Store's Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
- Educators may help students obtain 4th Grade Passes. Learn more at the Every Kid Outdoors website. Educators however, do not qualify for a 4th Grade Pass but may want to get one of the other Interagency Passes.
Senior Pass
Photos on the passes are by Lori Wilkinson, Yellowstone National Park (top) and Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner (bottom).
Cost:
- $80 Lifetime Senior Pass
- $20 Annual Senior Pass
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents ages 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.
How to purchase:
- In person: Find a location to purchase this pass at a federal recreation site.
- Online: Order the lifetime passor the annual pass from the USGS Online Store.
- NOTE: Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store's Senior Lifetime Pass, Senior Annual Pass, and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.
- The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services.
- The Senior Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
- Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass.
- Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must show proof of eligibility.
Access Pass
Photo on the pass Steven Koehler, Yellowstone National Park
Cost: Free lifetime pass
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.
How to get:
- In person: Find a location to purchase this pass at a federal recreation site.
- Order this free pass from the USGS Store. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
- Mail: Purchase an Access Pass using an application form (558KB PDF) that can be exchanged through mail. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for mail orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store's Access Pass and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.
- Find Frequently Asked Questions about this and other interagency passes on the USGS Store's website.
- The Access Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services.
- The Access Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
- Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass. Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must show proof of eligibility.
- Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Volunteer Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost: Free annual pass
Available for: Volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program
How to get: Volunteers should contact their volunteer coordinator for more information.
Additional Information:
- Find Frequently Asked Questions about this and other interagency passes on the USGS Store's website.
- The Volunteer Pass is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
- Contact your local federal recreation site for more information about volunteer opportunities or visit Volunteer.gov.
Fee-Free Days
The Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites on lands managed by the agency. Participation by concession-operated sites may vary. The 2024 dates are:
- January 15, 2024: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- June 8, 2024: National Get Outdoors Day
- June 19, 2024: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- September 28, 2024: National Public Lands Day
- November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
More Information
These six agencies participate in the Interagency Pass Program:
- National Park Service
- US Forest Service
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- US Army Corps of Engineers
For more information about the terms used (for example, "non-commercial vehicle" or "pass owner," see Pass Program Definitions on the USGS website.
Key information
The USGS Store provides Frequently Asked Questions about Recreational Passes. For more information about permits and passes, see our national Recreation Fees and Passes website.
* The entrance fee waiver does not cover concessionaire or permit fees for some activities such as hunting, fishing or special tours.
Regional Recreation Passes
Wherever you live in Southern California, you're just a short drive away from a spectacular wildlands adventure—recreating in the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests! If you plan to visit one or more of the four National Forests in Southern California, you may want to consider an Adventure Pass.
New Vendor Map
You will find locations and resources for obtaining forest passes and permits from Forest Service Vendor Locations. Click here to open the New Vendor Map in a separate tab
Recreation Permits
The Forest Service may require recreation permits when extra measures are needed to protect natural or cultural resources, to restrict the number of people participating in the activity at any one time, to provide extra safety or for other specialized services. These permits may be issued to individuals as "Special Recreation Permits." Examples are:
- Off-highway vehicle riding
- Boating on designated Wild and Scenic Rivers
- Rock climbing
- Wilderness areas that have limited access
- Shooting ranges
- Groomed cross-country ski trails
Please contact the nearest Forest Service office for information about permits that may be required in that area.
Features
Recreation Fee Program Accomplishments
National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. See how your fees have made a difference!