Free US National Park Pass Information

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Have more fun this summer when you get a Free US National Park Pass! There are a couple of ways to get free passes, and so many amazing places to explore!

Free US National Park Pass

The National Park Service maintains so many amazing parks from Acadia in Maine to Denali in Alaska and all the places in between. Visiting the parks can get expensive, so here’s how to get FREE or discounted entry. You can also see a list of all federal recreation sites (PDF), including national parks, where the passes are issued.

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

On four days in 2018, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. The fee-free days are an awesome chance to visit a new place. It’s important to note that the entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2018:

January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 21: First day of National Park Week
September 22: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/DenaliNPS/

Free Annual 4th Grade Pass

Did you know that 4th grade students and their families can discover our wildlife, resources, and history for free? This program, also known as Every Kid in a Park, grants US students a free admissions pass for the duration of the 4th grade school year though the following summer (September-August). This includes home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age.

How to obtain a free US National Park Pass:
- Paper passes can be obtained by visiting the Every Kid in a Park website and can be exchanged for the Annual 4th Grade Pass at federal recreation sites that charge Entrance or Standard Amenity fees (Day Use Fee) (see PDF list of federal recreation sites that issue passes).
- Digital version of the paper pass (such as on smart phones or tablets) will not be accepted to exchange for an Annual 4th Grade Pass

For more information, visit the Annual 4th Grade Pass (USGS website).

Volunteer and get a FREE US National Park Pass

Available for: Volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program.
Contact your local federal recreation site for more information about volunteer opportunities or visit Volunteer.gov.

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/grandcanyonnps/

Free Annual Pass for US Military

Experience a lifetime of beauty in a day @AcadiaNPS. Pic by Stan Dzugan #Maine #FindYourPark pic.twitter.com/gJrFTYwzVE

— US Department of the Interior (@Interior) June 11, 2018

Purchase a US National Park Pass and Save

Don’t have a 4th grade, not in the military or can’t volunteer? You can purchase a US National Park Pass HERE. See a list of federal recreation sites (PDF), including national parks, where the passes are issued. The following passes are available:

“A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free”

Frequently Asked Questions about the Interagency Annual Pass (USGS website)

White Mountain National Forest Highlights

We have traveled through the White Mountain National Forest quiet a bit over the years. Here are some of our adventures:

These six agencies participate in the Interagency Pass Program:

Other Travel Resources:

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