Five federal passes, for four groups of people, cost nothing at all. Each one does the same job as the $80 America the Beautiful pass: it covers entrance and day-use fees at national parks, national forests, BLM land, wildlife refuges, Reclamation sites and Corps of Engineers lakes. What differs is who qualifies and what proof you need.
| Pass | Who qualifies | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Military Annual | Current US military members and their dependents | 12 months |
| Military Lifetime | US military veterans and Gold Star Families | Life |
| Access | US citizens and residents with a permanent disability | Life |
| 4th Grade (Every Kid Outdoors) | US fourth graders and home-school equivalents | The school year, through August 31 |
| Volunteer | Volunteers with 250 hours at federal recreation sites | 12 months |
Military passes
Who qualifies
- Military Annual Pass: current members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents.
- Military Lifetime Pass: veterans of the US Armed Forces, including National Guard and Reserve members who served, and Gold Star Families (next of kin of a service member who died in a qualifying situation, such as a war or a military operation outside the US).
What to bring
For an annual pass, in person, one of:
- an unexpired Common Access Card (CAC),
- an unexpired DD Form 1173, or
- an unexpired Next Generation Dependent ID.
For a veteran's lifetime pass, in person, one of:
- a DoD ID card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765 or Next Generation USID),
- a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC),
- a VA Veteran ID Card (the VA issues this one in digital form only), or
- a state driver's license or ID with a veteran designation.
A DD-214 is not on the list, and neither are membership cards from veterans' groups.
Gold Star Families bring a Gold Star Voucher, which can be printed from the Park Service website.
How to get one
- In person at many federal sites, free.
- Digital, on Recreation.gov, free. A physical card shipped from Recreation.gov costs $7.50.
- From the USGS Store by mail, with a $10 processing fee. Physical only, and it can take weeks.
If you already hold another America the Beautiful pass, you don't need the military one as well.
Access Pass for people with a permanent disability
The Access Pass is a free lifetime pass for US citizens and permanent residents with a medically determined permanent disability. The disability doesn't have to be 100%.
What counts as proof
Bring ID in the applicant's own name (for a child, a document such as a birth certificate), plus one of:
- A signed physician's letter stating that the disability is permanent, that it severely limits one or more major life activities, and what those limitations are.
- A federal document showing entitlement to disability benefits, such as an SSDI or VA award letter. A VA letter must show a disability percentage.
- A state document, such as one from a vocational rehabilitation agency, showing eligibility for disability-related benefits.
Handicap placards and SSDI benefit increase notices are not accepted.
How to get one
In person at a federal recreation site (recommended), as a digital pass on Recreation.gov, or by mail from the USGS Store, which adds a $5 processing fee and $7.50 handling.
Like the Senior Pass, the Access Pass may give a discount on some expanded amenity fees such as camping. Military and 4th grade passes don't.
Every Kid Outdoors: the 4th grade pass
US fourth graders, and home-schooled children at the same level, get a free pass for the whole school year. The current pass is for the 2026–2027 school year and is valid through August 31, 2027, so it covers the summer after fourth grade too.
What it covers
- At per-vehicle sites: all children under 16 and all adults in one private passenger vehicle.
- At per-person sites: children under 16 and up to three adults.
- Arriving by bike: children under 16 and up to three adults on bicycles.
Show the pass to a ranger, or leave it on the dashboard if no one is staffing the entrance.
How to get it
The pass starts as a paper pass that a fourth grader (with an adult's help) gets from the Every Kid Outdoors website. Electronic copies of the paper pass aren't accepted; print it. Some sites will exchange the paper pass for a plastic card, and a digital version is available on Recreation.gov.
What it doesn't cover
Parking fees, camping, boat fees and special tours. State and city parks don't have to accept it, and some sites run by private operators may not, so call ahead if you're unsure.
Volunteer Pass
Volunteers who log 250 hours at federal recreation sites earn a free annual pass. The hours can be spread over more than one year and more than one of the six agencies. The pass is issued by the volunteer coordinator where you serve, is valid for 12 months from the month of issue, and you can earn one per year. A lost Volunteer Pass can't be replaced.
Free entrance days
Even without a pass, US citizens and residents get into national parks free on the National Park Service's free entrance days. In 2026 they are February 16, May 25, June 14, July 3–5, August 25, September 17, October 27 and November 11. Timed-entry and reservation fees still apply on those days, and other agencies set their own free days.
