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Home » Budget Travel » How to get a Free Park Pass

April 26, 2019 Budget Travel

How to get a Free Park Pass

There are few things more worthwhile than visiting our national parks and historical sites. Here are some ways that you can get a free park pass to enjoy them this year.

explore national parks, Jr ranger badges, maps, patches | RealLifeWithDad.com

What is included in an Annual Park Pass?

Each Annual Park Pass, or lifetime pass, entitles the pass holder to the following:

Covers entrance to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites that charge Entrance Fees, and Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Army Corps of Engineers sites.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at a per vehicle fee area, or the pass owner and up to 3 adults at sites that charge per person.

https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm

All children under 16 are included in the pass at sites that charge a per person fee.

Wrangell St Elias | Real Life With Dad
Wrangell Saint Elias National Park

Fourth Grade Park Pass

Have a fourth grader? Every year fourth graders are eligible for a free park pass through the Every Kid in a Park program. Big tip, don’t let this one sneak past. It is a year long pass, and good for the entire family of the eligible fourth grader (up to 3 adults), but it follows the school year. So make sure to get it in the fall so that you get the full benefit. The pass is good from September 1st to August 31st the year that your child is enrolled in fourth grade. Get yours here!

Get your fourth grader a free parks pass | RealLifeWithDad.com
Bouldering in Acadia National Park

Military Pass

If you are a current U.S. military members or dependent, Active, Reserve and National, this pass is for you. Just show your Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID at a federal recreation site.

Wrangell St Elias National Park cabin site | RealLifeWithDad.com
Mosiquito Creek Cabin in Wrangell St Elias National Park

Access Pass

This is a free lifetime pass to persons with disabilities. There is no upper or lower age limit, and the pass is good for the holder’s lifetime.

Volunteer Pass

What better way to support the Parks than by volunteering. To earn a volunteer pass you must accrue 250 hours by volunteering on Federal recreation lands managed by one or all of five of the following agencies – NPS, BLM, USDA FS, FWS, and Reclamation. These hours do not need to be accrued during one calendar year, but can be earned over a period of time. The pass is a one year annual pass, and once you have earned your pass, your hours reset to zero and begin accruing again. This is the perfect way to give back to the parks, and spend time enjoying them. Just be sure to get all of your volunteer projects pre-approved, and keep track of your hours.

Get your free parks pass and enjoy National Parks today! | RealLifeWithDad

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Categories: Budget Travel Tags: budget camping, budget parks, camping, camping with kids, free parks pass, goparks, kid camping, national parks, national parks pass, parks pass

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  1. Junior Ranger Badge - Roger Williams Memorial - Real Life with Dad says:
    June 12, 2019 at 12:31

    […] more National Park Adventures and Junior Ranger Badges, check these out!How to get a free park passJunior Ranger Badge – wrangell st. eliasWrangell St Elias National […]

  2. Hiking the Presidential Range - Real Life with Dad says:
    June 12, 2019 at 12:32

    […] If you’re looking for a slightly less intense adventure, check out this post on Car Camping or this one on how to get a free National Parks Pass! […]

  3. Junior Ranger Badge - Shenandoah National Park - Real Life with Dad says:
    August 11, 2019 at 15:29

    […] Check out these other posts for more information on staying at Shenandoah National Park, and how you can get a Free Park Pass! […]

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