How Much Does It Cost To Get Into National Parks?
When I planned my Big Trip, my plans included visits to several National Parks. In fact, I actually went to 20 different parks or national monuments during the almost three-month trip! The entrance fees for most National Parks are between $35 and $70. This would have totaled nearly $900 in entrance fees! How could I afford THAT?
Well, you will be shocked to hear how much I actually paid, in total, to enter all 20 Parks and National Monuments. Do you have a guess? I paid nothing! NOTHING! And here is how:
I have a fourth grader! Yep, having a fourth grader meant that I could get into every National Park or National Monument in the country FOR FREE, during her fourth grade
year. If you have a child in fourth grade, your entire family (provided you are in one vehicle) can get into the National Parks and National Monuments for free, too! It doesn’t matter is your child is in public school, private school, a charter school, or homeschooled. If you have a child in fourth grade, you can go to this site, complete and print the form, and bring it to any park or monument entrance station. There, it will be exchanged for a lanyard style name tag that can be scanned or shown for other park visits. It was honestly NO HASSLE!! And, my fourth grader felt like a rock star getting her family into the parks for free!
Maybe someone in your family is in the Military? If so, you can also get a FREE annual pass! Military families can get their free annual pass In person at a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card or Military ID. That’s all! How easy is that? And what a great way to honor someone’s service to our country…. let them see the amazing things that they have dedicated their life towards preserving. Thank you, members of our Armed Forces!
Free access passes are also available for people with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of their permanent disability and residency or citizenship at any federal recreation site. They will then be issued their free access pass. This 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.
A FREE pass for those who provide 250 service hours with a federal agency. Volunteer
opportunities are available throughout the country! Those people who think that they could qualify for this can contact their local federal recreation site for more information or visit this website!
If you don’t have access to a fourth grader, no one in your family is in the Military, and you haven’t been able to complete volunteer hours, don’t fear! There are still ways to save money and get into the parks. For $80, a family can have an annual pass to enter any park. It can be purchased when you enter any park, or online here. If I would have used it, this would have paid for itself after my third national park visit! And, if you are planning to drive out West, there are so many parks and national monuments to be seen that this investment will give you a lifetime of memories, and a desire to see more!
Finally, there is a senior pass! This pass is available in two forms. An annual pass can be purchased by anyone aged 62 or over for $20. A lifetime senior pass can be purchased for $80. Applicants must provide proof of age and citizenship or residency. These passes 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.
With so many ways to get out into nature, there is sure to be a plan that will work for you! The highlight of our 83 day
trip was the National Parks and National Monuments that we visited. In fact, my daughters kept asking when we would go to the next one when there was a week or more between parks! So get out there…and heal your soul!
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