How do America the Beautiful passes work and what do national parks cost?
The short answer
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance and standard day-use fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites. It costs $80 a year for US citizens and residents and $250 a year for non-residents. Many national parks are free to enter, and a standard pass for one park costs less if you only visit one.
What does the pass cover?
The pass covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Army Corps of Engineers. Depending on the fee a site charges, it covers either one private vehicle or four per-person fees.
It is one of three options. The NPS says parks charging an entrance fee require a standard pass (one park, 1 to 7 days), a park-specific annual pass, or an America the Beautiful pass, and you only need one. Most NPS sites are free to visit.
What does each pass cost?
- Resident Annual: $80, for US citizens and residents.
- Non-Resident Annual: $250, for non-US residents.
- Senior Annual: $20, and Senior Lifetime: $80, for US citizens and residents aged 62 or over.
- Military Annual (current US military and dependents), Military Lifetime (Gold Star Family members and veterans), Access Pass (permanent disability), 4th Grade Pass and Volunteer Pass (250 service hours): free.
- Annual passes last one year and lifetime passes do not expire.
What do non-residents pay in 2026?
The $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass covers the entrance fee and any nonresident fees for the holder and passengers in a private vehicle (up to 15 passengers), the holder and passengers on 2 motorcycles, or, where fees are per person, the holder plus three additional people aged 16 and over. All other America the Beautiful passes are for US citizens and residents only.
At 11 parks, nonresidents aged 16 and over pay a $100 nonresident fee on top of the regular entrance fee unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass. The parks are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
How do I buy one?
The NPS recommends buying in person: physical passes are sold or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites. You can order a physical pass online from the USGS Online Store, but it can take up to three weeks and an order receipt cannot replace the pass. A digital pass from Recreation.gov can be saved to a mobile device and used immediately.
Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. You must show valid photo ID with the pass. Senior passes cannot be bought as gifts, and applicants must show proof of age and residency or citizenship.
When are entrance fees waived?
The 2026 fee-free days listed by the NPS are February 16, May 25, June 14, July 3 to 5, August 25, September 17, October 27 and November 11. From 2026 these apply to US citizens and residents only; nonresidents pay the regular entrance fee and any nonresident fees unless they hold the Non-Resident Annual Pass. Timed entry or reservation fees may still apply.
Sources: US National Park Service: Entrance Passes. Read 5 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the official page before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is the pass worth it for one park?
It depends on the park's own fee. The NPS offers a standard pass for one park for 1 to 7 days and annual passes for some parks, and says you only need one type of pass.
Can a visitor from outside the US buy the $80 pass?
No. The NPS says all America the Beautiful passes other than the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass are for US citizens and residents only.
Does the pass cover reservation or timed entry fees?
The NPS states that timed entry or reservation fees may still apply on fee-free days, and the pass is described as covering entrance and standard amenity fees.
Can I share the pass with a friend?
Passes are non-transferable and the holder must show photo ID. The pass covers one private vehicle or four per-person fees, depending on the site.
Do seniors get a discount?
Yes. US citizens and residents aged 62 or over can buy a $20 annual or $80 lifetime pass. The Senior Pass may give 50 percent off some amenity fees such as camping, but generally does not cover special recreation permit or concessioner fees.