Senior Citizens Can Get a Discounted National Park Pass—Here's How

From the jagged red sandstone of the Grand Canyon to the moss-cloaked forests of the Pacific Northwest, the allure of America’s iconic landscapes defies generational divides. Whether you’re a lifelong lover of public lands or a national park newbie, US citizens and residents aged 62 years or older can nab a discounted lifetime pass to travel to over 1,000 federal recreation sites.Emily PenningtonEmily Pennington is a freelance writer who, after 19 long years in Los Angeles, is now enjoying the greener pastures of Boulder, Colorado. Her work can be found in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times, The Guardian, Outside Magazine, REI Journal, Backpacker Magazine, Adventure Journal, and dozens of websites like Lonely Planet, Mind Body Green, and Modern Hiker. She’s visited every US national park and hiked on every continent including Antarctica. Apart from specializing in all things outdoors and adventure travel, Emily is also an avid yogi, wellness fiend, mental health reporter, and food lover, especially if the food in question is artisan ice cream. She is the author of Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks, a book about visiting every national park, published in 2023. When she’s not slouched over her laptop writing, you can usually find her hiking, camping, skiing, or road tripping with her dog, Marla.Yes, the pass famously covers entrance fees to all 63 national parks, but its true value is in its other great perks and discounts. The pass allows for free entry into all national forests, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service sites, Bureau of Land Management areas, national monuments, and offers discounts on popular campgrounds and more. In short, it’s a one-way ticket to adventure, at a bargain price. Here’s what to know, whether you’re applying for yourself or a loved one.Who’s eligible for the senior pass?Every US citizen and permanent resident aged 62 and older is eligible for an annual, single-year America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for $20, or a lifetime version for $80.“With entrance fees to many national parks costing $30 or more, the pass quickly pays for itself,” says Nina Gralak, a retired Nevada resident who uses hers to motor around the country in her RV. “For seniors, it is a great value and a good way to see many beautiful sites and parks around the USA,” she adds.For US residents below 62 years of age, an America the Beautiful Pass costs $80 per year.What’s included in the senior pass?The America the Beautiful lifetime pass for seniors covers entrance fees and standard amenity or day-use fees at all lands managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers. As many recreation areas charge entrance fees differently, each pass includes one private vehicle fee or four individual entrance fees.“In addition to not paying entrance fees, we receive discounts on national park campgrounds as well as Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. On my last trip, my husband and I visited Fort Davis on our way to Big Bend and were surprised to find that they also accepted the pass,” says Gralak.Looking forward to pitching your tent in Yosemite or exploring the red rock wonderland of Arches by camper van? The lifetime senior pass often provides a 50% discount on certain amenity fees and services, like camping, swimming, and boat launch access.The America the Beautiful Pass offers free entry to sites as magnificent as Crater Lake, Oregon. UnsplashWhat doesn’t the senior pass include?Unfortunately that sweet 50% discount on campgrounds and amenities doesn’t usually fly at private or concessionaire-run sites, like those managed by Aramark in Yosemite or by Xanterra in Death Valley (you can view a list of official park concessionaires here). In addition, the senior pass doesn’t cover special day-use or backcountry permits that may be necessary in popular parks.Perhaps most notably, the senior American the Beautiful pass does not cover any entrance fees to state parks. So, if you were hoping to motor over to Goblin Valley on your way to Moab or hike in Eldorado Canyon on your way through the Rocky Mountains, you’d still need to purchase the requisite state-managed entry pass.How do I get the senior parks pass?If you prefer to do things in person, America the Beautiful passes can be purchased at over 1,000 federal recreation sites. Simply bring proof of eligibility (like a passport or driver’s license showing your age and US residency).If you purchase your pass at a non-national park site, 80-100% of those funds will be retained by the place where they are sold and spent on visitor-related projects and programs. If you choose to buy your pass at a national park entrance station or visitor center, the funds will go to the National Park Foundation Endowment. This foundation is the congressionally authorized philanthropic partner of the NPS, focusing on important restoration, conservation, and education priorities in the national parks. So you have some choice in what you’re supporting with your purchase.You can also buy a pass online: A Digital America the Beautiful Pass (annual or lifetime) can be obtained through recreation.gov. Digital passes can be saved to your mobile device and used immediately.The bottom line: With national park entrance fees often costing $30 per vehicle, the $80 lifetime pass for seniors can easily save travelers aged 62+ hundreds of dollars when they’re road tripping around the United States. It makes bucket list experiences, like sunrise over Mount Rainier or seeing Denali up-close, more financially accessible, and it gives back, too.