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America the Beautiful Pass: Why You Should Buy It + List of Parks

Charlotte Bailey

If you’re a diehard nature lover, you’ve probably heard of the America the Beautiful Pass and are wondering if it’s worth it.

Even if you’re not an avid hiker, the US national parks are unique places to visit and if there’s one thing the 2020 crisis has taught us, going outdoors and avoiding crowded cities is the best we do!

And while there’s no US national park membership to get you in for free, you can use the national park pass we’ll cover in this article.

Whether you’re familiar with this national park annual pass or are just hearing about it now, in this post, we’ll go over how it works, what parks it covers, how to get one, and how to know if it’s worth the money.

For those not already in the know, the America the Beautiful Pass is a USA national park pass that grants you admission to a long list of national forests and other sites managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and more – for a whole year.

If you visit a few national parks, wildlife refuges, or other outdoor sites, this is a great way to save some money on your outdoor adventures. Here’s what you need to know!

Don’t miss out! Click here to buy your America The Beautiful Pass!

Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places to visit in the US
America the Beautiful Pass covers Yellowstone National Park

How Much Does The National Park Pass Cost?

The America the Beautiful Pass costs $80 for 2023 and stays valid for one year from the month of purchase. So if you purchase an America the Beautiful Pass in October of this year, you’d be able to use it until the last day of October of 2023 – plenty of time to make the most of it.

For parks that charge admission per vehicle, this national park pass will get you entrance for the pass holder and all passengers in a personal vehicle (like a car or a van, not a bus). For parks that charge per person, the pass covers up to 4 adults (children age 15 and under get in for free regardless).

To give you an idea of what that means, and to answer one of our reader’s biggest questions, “Does it cover Yellowstone?”, suppose you want to visit this park.

Yellowstone National Park (one of the most visited US parks) charges a vehicle fee of $35 for admission, which is pretty standard. That’s just under half the price of the America the Beautiful Pass.

So if you plan to visit more than two national parks in the next year, there’s a good chance an America the Beautiful Pass can save you money. Yes, it’s that easy!

America the Beautiful Pass
America the Beautiful Pass – grandbrothers / Shutterstock.com

Visiting National Parks Without the Pass

To give you an idea of how much your national park trips would cost with and without an America the Beautiful Pass, here’s what some of the most popular national parks in the country charge for admission.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park are positioned close by each other, so a lot of people make a trip out of seeing both at the same time. Each park charges $35 per vehicle. So even if you’re just planning to make this trip and one other trip to a national park in the next 12 months, your America the Beautiful Pass will already have paid for itself.

The Great Smoky Mountains: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the few fantastic national parks that doesn’t charge an admission fee. So if this is the main one on your list for the next year, you don’t have to worry about saving money on admission. Nice!

Zion National Park: Zion National Park charges $35 per vehicle. Admission includes access to the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon areas.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Rocky Mountain National Park also charges per vehicle – $25 per day or $35 for a week’s trip.

Grand Canyon: The Grand Canyon charges a flat admission fee of $35 per vehicle.

Acadia National Park: This popular spot in Maine charges $30 admission per vehicle.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park: This national park in Texas charges a per person fee of $10 instead of a vehicle fee. (Despite being an epic place, Guadalupe Mountains is one of the least visited US parks.)

Joshua Tree: You can get a 7-day permit into Joshua Tree for your vehicle and all its passengers for $30.

Sequoia National Park is one of the USA bucket list destinations
Sequoia National Park, California

The Takeaway

As you can see, the most popular national parks tend to charge between $25 and $35 for admission.

Therefore, the America the Beautiful Pass will pay for itself if you visit some of these national parks at least three times over the course of a year.

If you’re an infrequent visitor to national parks or your favorite park isn’t covered, this pass might not be the right choice for you.

But if your idea of a fantastic weekend is driving out for a taste of the great outdoors, the America the Beautiful Pass can help offset that cost and help you get more outdoor adventures for less money.

Besides, hiking is a healthy hobby that allows you to connect with nature and considerably reduce stress—scientists’ words, not ours. So, get out there!

Don’t miss out! Click here to buy your America The Beautiful Pass!

What Does The National Park Annual Pass Cover

The pass covers admission (or standard amenity fees, if those apply at the park you’re visiting) for national parks, national forests and grasslands, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, and lands managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, and Army Corps of Engineers.

If you have specific sites you know you’ll want to visit in the next year, it’s a good idea to confirm that they accept the America the Beautiful Pass.

But since it’s accepted at such a wide variety of parks and sites, if you don’t have any specific trips planned so far, there’s a good chance you’ll still be covered.

Arches National Park is one of the best places to visit in the US
Arches National Park, Utah

The pass covers entrance fees for a carload of people or up to 4 adults (depending on whether the park charges admission per person or vehicle).

Again, you always want to check the specific park’s admission policy before your trip. That way, you won’t run into any surprises or risk having to pay admission for one of your buddies. But unless you’re traveling with a huge group, you’ll probably be fine.

Keep in mind, the pass only covers park admission. It doesn’t include Expanded Amenity or Concessionaire fees like RV hookups, parking, campsite rentals, shuttle passes, boat launch fees, or guided interpretive tours.

So while the pass can still help you get a good discount on your trips, you may still have to pay some fees, depending on what activities you have planned and the specific park’s policies.

How to Use Your National Park Pass

The America the Beautiful Pass is a card, not a paper pass. Once you order it online, you’ll receive it in the mail. Then, pack your backpack and head over to your national park. At the entrance station, hand over the America the Beautiful Pass and your ID to the park rangers. 

After that, they’ll give them back to you, usually along with a park map, and that’s it. Easy peasy.

Zion National Park is one of the best places to add to your USA bucket listces to add to your USA bucket list
Zion National Park, Utah

America the Beautiful Pass Parks List

Here’s a list of the most popular fee-charging national parks where you can use the America the Beautiful Pass; however, it’s not an exhaustive list since the pass covers over 2,000 sites across the US.

  • Acadia National Park
  • Adams National Historical Park
  • Antietam National Battlefield
  • Arches National Park
  • Assateague Island National Seashore
  • Badlands National Park
  • Bandelier National Monument
  • Big Bend National Park
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  • Bryce Canyon National Park
  • Cabrillo National Monument
  • Canaveral National Seashore
  • Canyonlands National Park
  • Cape Cod National Seashore
  • Capitol Reef National Park
  • Capulin Volcano National Monument
  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
  • Castillo De San Marcos National Monument
  • Cedar Breaks National Monument
  • Chaco Culture National Historical Park
  • Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
  • Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
  • Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
  • Christiansted National Historic Site
  • Colonial National Historical Park
  • Colorado National Monument
  • Crater Lake National Park
  • Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
  • Cumberland Island National Seashore
  • Death Valley National Park
  • Denali National Park & Preserve
  • Devils Tower National Monument
  • Dinosaur National Monument
  • Dry Tortugas National Park
  • Everglades National Park
  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
  • Fort Davis National Historic Site
  • Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
  • Fort Pulaski National Monument
  • Fort Smith National Historic Site
  • Fort Sumter National Monument
  • Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
  • Glacier National Park
  • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
  • Golden Spike National Historic Site
  • Grand Canyon National Park
  • Grand Teton National Park
  • Great Falls (George Washington Memorial Parkway)
  • Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park
  • Gulf Islands National Seashore
  • Haleakalā National Park
  • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
  • Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
  • Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
  • Hovenweep National Monument
  • Isle Royale National Park
  • James A. Garfield National Historic Site
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Lava Beds National Monument
  • Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
  • Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
  • Mesa Verde National Park
  • Montezuma Castle National Monument
  • Mount Rainier National Park
  • Muir Woods National Monument
  • Natural Bridges National Monument
  • Olympic National Park
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  • Padre Island National Seashore
  • Perry’s Victory International Peace Memorial
  • Petrified Forest National Park
  • Pinnacles National Monument
  • Pipe Spring National Monument
  • Prince William Forest Park
  • Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
  • Saguaro National Park
  • Saint Gaudens National Historic Site
  • San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
  • San Juan National Historic Site
  • Sequoia-Kings Canyon National arks
  • Shenandoah National Park
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
  • Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  • Thomas Edison National Historical Park
  • Tonto National Monument
  • Tumacácori National Monument
  • Tuzigoot National Monument
  • Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
  • Vicksburg National Military Park
  • Walnut Canyon National Monument
  • Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
  • White Sands National Park
  • Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
  • Wright Brothers National Memorial
  • Wupatki National Monument
  • Yellowstone National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Zion National Park

Don’t miss out! Click here to buy your America The Beautiful Pass!

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the places to visit in the US
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Where to Buy the America the Beautiful Pass

There are three easy ways to order this national park sass.

Over the phone: You can call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) to purchase a pass.

In-person: A variety of federal recreation sites sell America the Beautiful Passes.

Online on REI’s Website: For most people, the most convenient option is buying a pass online at REI’s website. It’s quick, convenient, and you don’t have to find an in-person location or talk to anyone over the phone. And while you’re on REI’s site, you might as well take the opportunity to stock up on a few outdoor must-haves to prepare for your next adventure.

Even better, this year, REI will donate 10% of proceeds from their pass sales to the National Park Foundation. So you know your purchase is going toward a good cause that you care about.

Other Frequently Asked Questions About the America the Beautiful Pass

Can I print my pass?

No. After you buy your pass to national parks in the US, you’ll receive a card in the mail or in person (depending on how you choose to purchase the pass).

Can I use someone else’s pass?

No. Passes are only valid for the pass owner.

Yosemite National Park, California is one of the best summer vacations in the USA
Yosemite National Park, California

Does it cover state parks?

Unfortunately, no. The National Park Service doesn’t manage state parks, so they aren’t covered under the America the Beautiful Pass.

Does it expire?

The America the Beautiful Pass is valid for one year from the month you buy it. So eventually, yes, it does expire. If you’re buying this USA national park pass for a specific trip you’re planning, make sure to plan accordingly so your pass will still be valid by the time you take your trip.

Is the Golden Age Pass the same as the America the Beautiful Pass?

No, but they have some similarities. Golden Age Passes are no longer sold and were specifically for senior citizens. If you’re looking for something similar to the Golden Age Pass, the America the Beautiful Annual Pass might be a good alternative for you.

Note that everyone is eligible for the America the Beautiful Pass regardless of nationality or age. That said, there are also other pass options for military and dependents, individuals age 62 and over, or with disabilities:

  • Military Pass costs $10, and it is only available for current military members (US Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard with valid Dod CAC card), and dependents can request at a more significant discount.
  • The lifetime Senior Pass costs $80 and is available for US citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. (So  
  • Also, the Lifetime Access Pass is free for US citizens and permanent residents with disabilities.
Glacier National Park is one of the best places to visit in the US
Glacier National Park

Is a national park pass worth it?

YES!

If you visit at least three national parks or forests or just don’t want to have to hassle with admission fees, then a national parks pass might be an excellent option for you. They’re convenient and can save you money in the long run.

Besides, they’re a great motivation to explore as many national parks as the weekends and days off will allow you.

However, if you only go to national parks once a year or visit sites that aren’t covered by a national parks pass, then you might be better off just paying an admission fee. It’s really up to you, your travel habits, and your preferences.

Still, regardless of you buying this annual pass for national parks or not, we 100% recommend you to get out there and breathe the fresh air only a green area/park will offer you!

Often, we spend so much time in front of our mobiles and laptops that we forget how satisfying it is to go hiking and exploring the beautiful sceneries in America.

Don’t miss out! Click here to buy your America The Beautiful Pass!

Celebrate the USA’s landscapes!

Remember: you can use your pass at sites where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged. The Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers honor the Annual Pass.

Did you enjoy this overview about America the Beautiful Pass? Then send it to a friend who might find it helpful too!

Charles Stewart

Monday 14th of August 2023

You said you were going to give places where you could buy this passes. I am a disabled veteran and I did not see any locations where you can go in person and buy these

Lynn Warren

Tuesday 30th of May 2023

Is there a paper booklet that lists all of the places you can use this pass?

Pam

Tuesday 18th of April 2023

How do you get the free hang tag to display the America the beautiful card at entrances? Thank you!

Gean

Sunday 19th of February 2023

Can you buy the America the Beautiful annual pass at Zion National Park entrance or Red Rock Canyon, NV entrance?

Donetta

Thursday 19th of January 2023

I am looking for Campgrounds that takes the America The Beautiful Pass. I can not find anything on here. Please help me. Thank you