If you’re new to National Park travel, or if you’ve just never heard of it, the America the Beautiful Pass is something that you should strongly consider buying. 

While national parks can be a great way to travel on a relative budget, entry to most of the busy parks is far from free.  With a single car pass costing $35 at a park like Yosemite, national park entry fees can be a hidden cost on a trip that quickly adds up on you. 

However, there is a way to minimize your expenses, especially if you are a frequent national park visitor.  

What is the America the Beautiful Pass?

The America The Beautiful Pass is a pass that will allow you to enter more than 2,000 federally owned recreation sites for free.  While the upfront cost of the pass may turn you off, it does cost $80 as of December 2020, that can actually end up being a bargain in the big picture. 

Included in the sites that you will be allowed free entry are 422 national park sites, numerous national recreation areas, and national forest facilities. 

How Much Does the America the Beautiful Pass Cost?

As of February 2021, the America the Beautiful Pass costs $80.  

How Much Do National Parks Normally Cost?

While the upfront cost of $80 may turn you off from purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass, it is worth remembering the cost of entry to the areas that it allows you.  

The following parks require $35 per vehicle for a one week pass. (not a complete list)

• Yosemite National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Sequioa and Kings Canyon National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Yellowstone National Park

The following parks require $20-$25 per vehicle (not a complete list)

• Devils Tower National Monument
• Natural Bridges National Monument
• Capitol Reef National Park
• White Sands National Park

This is not a complete list, and there are many other price points that you will encounter.  Some of the less visited national parks are $30 dollars, some rarely visited sites such as national battlefields may be as low as $5 or $10.  Visit the official National Park Service website for a full list of locations and fees. 

How Does The America The Beautiful Pass Work?

Buying and using the pass is quite simple.  You can buy it either online, over the phone, or in person at many federally owned recreation sites.  To buy online, you can visit the online USGS store, or purchase a pass through multiple online retailers, REI being an example.

For those who somehow found their way to this article, but don’t feel comfortable buying something online, you may also call 888-ASK-USGS and purchase a pass over the phone. 

Finally, in my opinion the easiest way to purchase a pass, and the way I have always done it, is to buy a pass at the entrance of the first park you are visiting. 

To me, this maximizes the value I get out of a pass.  I am not going to have it for a month or two before I even get to a park, and it costs the exact same.

Using the pass is very self explanatory.  When you arrive at an entrance station to a federal recreation site, simply have the pass out and ready along with you ID, and present those two documents to the ranger at the station. 

You must have your signature on the back of the pass, and one of the card holders must be in the vehicle (there are room for two signatures on each pass). 

The rules and regulations for each site are different, so be sure to do your research ahead of time to ensure that the site you are visiting accepts the pass, and whether or not it sells the pass if you are looking to purchase one.

Where Does The America The Beautiful Pass Work?

The pass works at over 2,000 federally owned recreation sites including sites managed by the National Park Service, National Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management.  Visit the official National Park Service website for a full list of locations and fees. 

Should You Buy One?

The question of whether or not you should buy an America The Beautiful Pass is not as simple as yes or no; it depends on your individual situation. 

For example, if you know that you are only going to be able to travel to a national park once in the next twelve months, it probably doesn’t make sense to purchase the pass.  If, however, you are planning on visiting multiple sites, it may be worth it.

Let’s say you are doing a western road trip from the midwest, and you plan on visiting Badlands National Park, Mt Rushmore, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park.  Does it make sense to buy a pass? 

Let’s do the math.  Badlands costs $30 per car.  Mt Rushmore does not have an entrance fee, but it does have a parking fee.  Grand Teton cost $35 per car.  Yellowstone costs $35 per car. 

So, if this was going to be your only trip to any federally owned recreation site for the next twelve months, it would still save you $10 by purchasing the pass for $80. 

Entrance fees without the pass would run you $90 if you paid for them individually.  It’s also worth remembering that your pass is good for twelve months.  Don’t count out the fact that in eleven months you may get the itch to get back into the mountains.

Should You Buy One (Part II)

Lets say you are going to do a California national parks trip.  Would the pass be worth it in that scenario?  Lets say your itinerary includes Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Death Valley National Park. 

Yosemite costs $35 per car.  Sequoia and Kings Canyon costs $35 per car.  Joshua Tree costs $30.  Death Valley costs $20.  All together, if purchased individually, that would be $120, $40 more than buying the America the Beautiful Pass.

Whether or not you plan on visiting our national recreation areas to warrant purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass, it is worth at least considering. 

Our national parks and other public lands are one of America’s treasures, and I highly recommend getting out and enjoying them. 

They are collectively ours, and it is our privilege and responsibility to enjoy them, and protect them.  However you choose to enjoy our public lands, please do so responsibly, whether you are a weekly visitor, or if it’s your first time. 

Always follow Leave No Trace Principles, and observe proper trail etiquette.  Plan ahead, and make your national parks trip as enjoyable as possible!