Madeline MarshallThe America the Beautiful Pass costs $80 for U.S. citizens and residents, per the National Park Service. It covers entrance and standard day-use fees on lands run by six federal agencies for 12 months. Seniors 62 and older pay $20 for a year or $80 for life, nonresidents pay $250, and five other versions are free.
Published November 10, 2026.
How much is the America the Beautiful Pass?
NPS’s pass page, last updated October 9, 2026, lists nine versions. The price depends on who you are and how long you want the pass to last.
| Pass | Price | Who qualifies | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual | $80 | U.S. citizens and residents | 12 months |
| Non-Resident Annual | $250 | Non-U.S. residents | 1 year |
| Senior Annual | $20 | U.S. citizens and residents 62 and older | 1 year |
| Senior Lifetime | $80 | U.S. citizens and residents 62 and older | Lifetime |
| Military Annual | Free | Current U.S. military and dependents | 1 year |
| Military Lifetime | Free | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Lifetime |
| Access | Free | U.S. citizens and residents with a permanent disability | Lifetime |
| 4th Grade | Free | U.S. 4th graders | September 2026 through August 2027 |
| Volunteer | Free | Federal recreation volunteers with 250 service hours | 12 months |
USGS says the passes cover the entrance fee at National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service sites. At Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers sites, they cover the standard day-use fee. Fees can change, so confirm the price on nps.gov before you buy.
I have budgeted for years, and I treat the pass like any other yearly expense. The price is the easy part. The hard part is knowing which of the nine passes is yours, because five of them cost nothing. I make that call while I plan and pack, not at the gate.
Is the America the Beautiful Pass worth it?
Most National Park Service sites are free to visit, per NPS, so the pass only matters at the ones that charge. At those, the pass can beat paying by the visit within three trips.
The math is short. Acadia’s NPS fee page, updated January 1, 2026, lists $35 per private vehicle, good for seven days. Two visits at that rate cost $70, and a third passes the $80 price of the pass. Rates differ by park, so price out the parks on your own list first.
If your wish list is the top national parks, the fees add up fast. The same goes for a year of hiking trails or stargazing trips, which tend to spread across several parks.
A park-specific pass can win when you only plan to visit one place. NPS lists a $70 annual pass for Acadia, which is $10 under the $80 pass. NPS also says you need just one of the three options at a park that charges: a standard pass, a park annual pass or the America the Beautiful Pass.
Who qualifies for a free America the Beautiful Pass?
Five of the nine passes are free, per NPS. Each one comes with its own paperwork.
- Military Annual: current U.S. military and dependents. In person, USGS lists an unexpired CAC, DD Form 1173 or Next Generation Dependent ID. Ordering through the USGS Store adds a $10 processing fee, and it is free in person.
- Military Lifetime: Gold Star Family members and veterans. USGS accepts documents such as a DD Form 2, a Veteran ID Card or a state license with a veterans designation.
- Access: U.S. citizens and residents with a medically determined permanent disability that severely limits a major life activity. USGS says there is no age requirement, and the disability does not have to be 100 percent. It accepts a physician’s statement or an SSDI, SSI or VA award letter.
- 4th Grade: U.S. fourth graders, including homeschoolers and free-choice learners who are 10. You need a voucher from the Every Kid Outdoors website, and USGS says to print it because digital versions are not accepted at a site.
- Volunteer: 250 or more volunteer hours on lands run by the six participating agencies. USGS says the hours can add up over several years and across agencies.
Senior America the Beautiful Pass: how it works
You have to be a U.S. citizen or resident and already 62 when you buy, per USGS. Bring a driver’s license, Green Card or U.S. passport. Owning property or paying U.S. taxes does not qualify you on its own.
The annual version is $20 and the lifetime version is $80. USGS says an annual pass can be upgraded to a lifetime one in person, even after it expires. Recreation.gov sells both as digital passes and adds a $7.50 shipping fee if you want a physical card.
NPS says the Senior Pass may take 50 percent off some amenity fees, such as camping, swimming and boat launches. It generally does not cover special recreation permits or concessioner fees. NPS also says it cannot be bought as a gift, because the recipient has to prove eligibility. Golden Age and Golden Access Passports are no longer sold but are still honored. NPS says you can swap one for a Senior Lifetime Pass for free at a site that issues passes.
Where to buy the America the Beautiful Pass
NPS lists three ways to get one. In person is the one it recommends. Physical passes are sold or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.
You can also order a physical pass from the USGS Online Store. NPS says processing and delivery can take up to three weeks, and an order receipt may not be used in place of the pass. It advises ordering at least three weeks before your trip.
The fast route is a digital pass from Recreation.gov. It costs $80 for the resident annual version and works right away from your phone. A physical copy adds $7.50 for shipping and handling. Recreation.gov says digital passes cannot be bought as gifts, and the holder must show photo ID each time the pass is used.
Cell service at many parks is poor or missing, so save the digital pass to your phone or print it before you arrive.
Does the America the Beautiful Pass cover camping?
No. Recreation.gov says it does not cover expanded amenity fees such as camping, parking, special tours, special permits or ferries. Sites run by concessioners may not accept it either. The pass handles the gate, not the campground.
Reservations are a separate step. NPS says some parks use timed entry, with reservations typically made through Recreation.gov. If your park needs one, book it well ahead.
The pass admits more than you. At sites that charge per vehicle, per Recreation.gov, it covers the holder and passengers in one non-commercial vehicle, or up to two motorcycles. At per-person sites it covers the holder plus three adults aged 16 or older. The holder shows photo ID each time.
How long is the America the Beautiful Pass good for?
The annual pass runs 12 months, from the purchase date through the end of that same month the next year, per Recreation.gov. A pass bought in November 2026 would last through November 30, 2027. The day of the month you buy it does not change that end date.
The Senior Lifetime, Military Lifetime and Access passes are lifetime passes. The Volunteer Pass runs 12 months from the month it is issued, per USGS. The 4th Grade Pass covers the school year through the following summer, which Recreation.gov lists as September 2026 through August 2027.
All of them are non-refundable and non-transferable, and NPS says they cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Keep yours with your ID.
America the Beautiful Pass nonresident fees
Nonresidents buy the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass, per NPS. It covers the entrance fee and any nonresident fees for the holder and the people with them. That means up to 15 passengers in a private vehicle, two motorcycles, or three more people aged 16 and older at per-person sites. The other eight passes are for U.S. citizens and residents only.
NPS’s nonresident fee page, updated July 15, 2026, says the new annual pass pricing started January 1, 2026. Without a pass, nonresidents aged 16 and older pay a $100 fee on top of the regular entrance fee at 11 parks. They are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
National park free entrance days
NPS lists eight fee-free days for 2026: February 16, May 25, June 14, July 3 to 5, August 25, September 17, October 27 and November 11, which is Veterans Day. As of October 18, 2026, NPS’s pass page lists no 2027 dates, so check it again before you plan a trip around one.
There is a catch. Beginning in 2026, per NPS, free entrance on those days is for U.S. citizens and residents only. Nonresidents pay the regular entrance fee and any nonresident fees.
Frequently asked questions about the America the Beautiful Pass
Can I buy an America the Beautiful Pass at a national park?
Often, but not at every site. NPS says physical passes are sold or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites, and it recommends buying in person. A digital pass from Recreation.gov is the other quick option.
Does one pass cover everyone in my car?
Yes, at sites that charge per vehicle. Recreation.gov says the pass admits the holder and passengers in one non-commercial vehicle. At per-person sites it covers the holder plus three adults aged 16 or older, and the holder must show photo ID.
Can I give a pass as a gift?
Not the digital one. Recreation.gov says digital passes cannot be bought as gifts, and each pass is issued to one holder who must show photo ID. NPS says the Senior Pass cannot be bought as a gift either, because the recipient has to prove eligibility.
What happens if I lose my pass?
You buy a new one. NPS says America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. USGS says the same for the resident pass.
Can nonresidents buy the pass?
Yes, but only the Non-Resident Annual Pass, which NPS lists at $250. It covers the entrance fee and the $100 nonresident fee at the 11 parks that charge it. NPS says all other versions are for U.S. citizens and residents.
This article is for general information only. Pass prices, rules and dates can change, so confirm them with the issuing agency before you buy or travel.
Tami Benedict
Del Bailey