USGS Store

• Not all Federal recreation sites charge entrance fees.
• Not all Federal recreation agencies participate in the program. For example, the Tennessee Valley Authority site does not issue the passes, yet they might honor the Senior and Access Passes for camping discounts. (Inquire locally).
• Some facilities and activities on Federal recreation lands are managed by private concessionaires. The concessionaires charge for their services as any private company does.

Most sites now accept credit cards, but it is a good idea to have cash with you as backup.

A suite of annual and lifetime passes that provides U.S. citizens and visitors an affordable and convenient way to access Federal recreation lands. Up to 100% of the Pass program's proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.

The passes provide entrance or access to more than 2,000 Federal recreation sites.

The Senior and Access Passes may also provide the pass owner a discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees such as camping. (Please contact a site directly if you have a question about pass acceptance and fees).

Anyone 16 years or older may purchase the pass; children under 16 are always admitted free. Each Annual Pass can have up to two "owners".

Yes. The two pass owners do not have to be related or married.

• One pass covers the vehicle at sites that charge "per vehicle".
• At "per person" sites, the applicable fee will be charged for each additional person.

An Annual Pass permits entrance for two motorcycles IF the two people who sign the pass arrive at the same time on two motorcycles, regardless of the number of people on each motorcycle.

The Annual Pass does not cover Expanded Amenity fees such as camping, boat launching, parking, special tours, special permits or ferries.

Also, some facilities and activities on Federal recreation lands (including those mentioned above) are managed by private concessionaires. The concessionaires charge for their services as any private company does and the Pass is not valid for their services.

Refunds are not issued. Pass order confirmation letters, credit card receipts, and hangtags without Passes are not valid for entrance or use.

No. The Annual Pass does not cover discounts on any Expanded Amenity or Concessionaire (Concessioner) Fees such as: camping, RV hook-ups, boat launching, backcountry permits, parking at Mount Rushmore, guided cave tours at Wind Cave National Park, or parking at some historic monuments or homes.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 62 years or older. (You must have turned 62 before you can buy the pass).

NOTE: Owning property or paying taxes in the U.S. does not automatically qualify you for a Senior Pass. You must be a permanent U.S. resident, or a U.S. citizen with identification such as U.S. Driver's License, Green Card or U.S. Passport.

Yes, Golden Age Passports are valid for a lifetime.

No. The Senior Pass is not transferable.

At Federal recreation sites that don't have entrance stations you need to display your pass or show proof of pass ownership to compliance officers via one of the two following methods:

HANGTAGS
A pass can either be displayed on your rearview mirror using a free hangtag or on your dashboard with the signature side showing. Remember, the hangtag itself is only a way to display your Pass, and is not valid for entry unless it holds a valid Pass.

DECALS
If you own an open-topped vehicle (jeep, motorcycle, etc.) you may obtain a free decal to attach to your vehicle that will serve as proof of payment at sites that don't have a staffed entrance station.

• Decals are issued on annual basis, even for owners of lifetime Senior/Access passes
• Decals are NOT valid for entry at staffed entrance sites - you MUST show your pass
• Decals must be obtained in person and you must show the following: your Pass, driver's license and vehicle registration. The name on all three documents must match.
• All sites that issue passes issue free hangtags

The Senior Pass admits pass owner and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas and pass owner + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free.)
Note: Photo identification will be requested to verify pass ownership.

No. Only the vehicle with the pass owner is covered. The second vehicle is subject to an entrance fee, or must have (or buy) a second pass.

The USGS uses proprietary databases to match your details and age to available public records. 

No. The USGS Store will never send you to an external site during the age verification process. You will recieve a confirmation email from the USGS Store containing information about your eligibility status. 

The pass program is managed by six Federal agencies that operate under different regulations and have different fees. Therefore, the discount program for the Senior Pass is not handled in the same way on all Federal recreation lands.

In general discounts are honored as follows

• Individual Campsites: The discount only applies to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass owner, not to any additional campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass owner's party.
• Campsites with Utility Hookups: If utility fees are charged separately, there is no discount. The discount may apply if the utility fee is combined (seamless) with the campsite fee.
• Group Campsites and Facilities: (including, but not limited to, group facilities, picnic areas or pavilions): There is no discount for group campsites and other group facilities that charge a flat fee. If the group campsite has a per person fee rate, only the pass owner receives a discount; others using the site pay the full fee.
• Guided Tours: The pass offers discounts on some guided tours. Only the pass owner receives a discount if one is offered.
• Transportation Systems: (Inquire Locally)
• Concessionaire Fees: (Inquire Locally)
• Special Use Permit Fees: (Inquire Locally)

Yes. There is not an age requirement for this pass.

You can obtain an Access Pass in person, with proper documentation, from a participating Federal recreation site or office. See Site Locations that issue the Access Pass.

Access Passes may be obtained via mail order from USGS. Mail-order applicants for the Access Pass must submit a completed paper application, proof of residency and documentation of permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability), and pay the document processing fee of $10 to obtain a pass through the mail. Once the application package is received, the documentation will be verified and a pass, with the pass owner's name pre-printed on it, will be issued to the applicant.

Access Pass applications are usually processed and shipped within 10-12 weeks from the day they arrive at USGS. Transit time varies, and is dependent upon the service selected:

    • USPS - typically 5-10 business days
    • FedEx Ground - typically 3-5 business days
    • FedEx 2nd day - typically 2 business days
    • FedEx Overnight - typically 1 business day

The Access Pass may be issued to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of any age that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities.

A permanent disability is a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

• One pass covers the vehicle at sites that charge "per vehicle".
• At "per person" sites, the applicable fee will be charged for each additional person.

An Access Pass permits entrance for one motorcycle.

• If lost or stolen, you'll need to apply for another one.
• If damaged, it can be replaced as long as a portion of the pass is identifiable and you show proper identification.

The pass program is managed by five Federal agencies that operate under different regulations and have different fees. Therefore, the discount program for the Access Pass is not handled in the same way on all Federal recreation lands.

In general discounts are honored as follows:

• Individual Campsites: The discount only applies to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass owner, not to any additional campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass owner's party.
• Campsites with Utility Hookups: If utility fees are charged separately, there is no discount. The discount may apply if the utility fee is combined (seamless) with the campsite fee.
• Group Campsites and Facilities (including, but not limited to, group facilities, picnic areas or pavilions): There is no discount for group campsites and other group facilities that charge a flat fee. If the group campsite has a per person fee rate, only the pass owner receives a discount; others using the site pay the full fee.
• Guided Tours: The pass offers discounts on some guided tours. Only the pass owner receives a discount if one is offered.
• Transportation Systems: (Inquire Locally)
• Concessionaire Fees: (Inquire Locally)
• Special Use Permit Fees: (Inquire Locally)

Refunds will not be issued.

Dependents of deployed military members with DoD Form 1173 may obtain a pass.

One pass covers the vehicle at sites that charge "per vehicle." At "per person" sites, the applicable fee will be charged for each additional adult.

Please contact a site directly if you have a question about pass acceptance and fees. The Forest Service, the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation honor the 4th Grade Pass at sites where Entrance or Standard Amenity Fee(s) are charged

• Bureau of Land Management http://www.blm.gov
• Bureau of Reclamation http://www.usbr.gov
• Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov
• USDA Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us
• National Park Service http://www.nps.gov
• US Army Corps of Engineers http://www.usace.army.mil

The pass allows free admission at sites that charge Entrance or Standard Amenity fees (Day use fees) for one full year (September through August of the student’s 4th grade year).

• Allows pass owner and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle to enter federally operated recreation sites across the country where per vehicle fees are charged.
• Covers the pass owner and three (3) accompanying adults age 16 and older at sites where per person fees are charged. No entry fee charged for children 15 and under.

The pass does not cover or provide a discount on expanded amenity fees such as camping, boat launch or interpretive fees.

Sorry, refunds are not issued.

No. Due to privacy and logistical considerations, passes cannot be replaced if lost or stolen; a new voucher or pass must be accessed by going to the Every Kid Outdoors website and completing the activities to obtain a new paper voucher.

Yes, generally the pass owner and up to 3 other bicyclists can enter for free. Be sure to check with the recreation site you plan to visit before leaving because there can be differences in the way a pass is honored at different sites.

Volunteer hours may be accrued on lands managed by the following:

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) http://www.blm.gov
• Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) http://www.usbr.gov
• Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) http://www.fws.gov
• USDA Forest Service (USDA FS) http://www.fs.fed.us
• National Park Service (NPS) http://www.nps.gov
• US Army Corps of Engineers http://www.usace.army.mil

• One pass covers the vehicle at sites that charge "per vehicle".
• At "per person" sites, the applicable fee will be charged for each additional person.

A Volunteer Pass permits entrance for one motorcycle.

At Federal recreation sites that don't have entrance stations you need to display your pass or show proof of pass ownership to compliance officers via one of the two following methods:

HANGTAGS
A pass can either be displayed on your rearview mirror using a free hangtag or on your dashboard with the signature side showing. Remember, the hangtag itself is only a way to display your Pass, and is not valid for entry unless it holds a valid Pass.

DECALS
If you own an open-topped vehicle (jeep, motorcycle, etc.) you may obtain a free decal to attach to your vehicle that will serve as proof of payment at sites that don't have a staffed entrance station.

• Decals are issued on annual basis, even for owners of lifetime Senior/Access passes
• Decals are NOT valid for entry at staffed entrance sites - you MUST show your pass
• Decals must be obtained in person and you must show the following: your Pass, driver's license and vehicle registration. The name on all three documents must match.
• All sites that issue passes issue free hangtags

Work with your local Federal recreation site supervisor or Volunteer Coordinator/Manager to track your hours. Whatever format you use to track your time, be sure to keep copies for your records.

You can accrue 250 hours by volunteering on Federal recreation lands managed by one or all of five agencies - NPS, BLM, USDA FS, FWS, and Reclamation. For example, you can volunteer 100 hours for each of the five agencies and earn a pass.

No. If a volunteer works more than the 250 hours a year they still earn only one pass per year.

The Federal Volunteer Coordinator/Manager who authorizes that a volunteer has accrued 250 hours.

No, the supplied information is captured only for the purpose of each validation.  Once validation is confirmed, your information is deleted.

The Senior Pass has been $10 since 1994.

The legislation states that the cost of the lifetime Senior Pass be equal to the cost of the annual America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which is currently $80.

The current passes are lifetime passes and will remain valid.

Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. If lost or stolen, a new pass will need to be purchased.

The annual and lifetime Senior Passes provide access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six Federal agencies.

·       National Park Service

·       U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

·       Bureau of Land Management

·       Bureau of Reclamation

·       U.S. Forest Service

·       U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The passes cover entrance and standard amenity (day use) recreation fees and provide discounts on some expanded amenity recreation fees.

Senior Passes can be purchased at any federal recreation site that charges an entrance or standard amenity (day use) fee. Proof of age and residency is required. A complete list of sites where the pass is available can be found here: Pass Issuance List. Please note that USGS field offices DO NOT issue passes.

They can also be purchased online or through the mail from USGS. An additional $10 processing fee will be added to the price. For more information go to https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes

The first $10 million collected by the National Park Service in each fiscal year from Senior Pass sales will be deposited in the Second Century Endowment managed by the National Park Foundation.  The foundation is the congressionally authorized philanthropic partner, or official charity, of the National Park Service. Funds within the Second Century Endowment will be expended on projects and activities approved by the Secretary of Interior to further the mission and purpose of the National Parks Service.