Now that summer is in full swing, you’re probably making vacation plans. If a national park is on your travel agenda, we have a suggestion you won’t want to pass up:  buy an America the Beautiful Pass. 

This $80 annual pass entitles you and three guests to free access to more than 2,000 public sites managed by five federal agencies for an unlimited number of visits during the year.  And since some national parks charge up to $20 per person or $35 per vehicle, these savings can add up.  What’s more, the proceeds from the purchase of each pass are dedicated to improving and enhancing visitor experiences at these federal recreation sites.

Beyond the regular annual park pass, there are other options for certain groups: 

• Members of the military and their dependents qualify for a free annual Military Pass;
• Gold Star families and Veterans can receive a free lifetime Military Pass;
• Those who are ages 62 and up can purchase a $20 annual Senior Pass or an $80 lifetime Senior Pass;
• Those who have a permanent disability can qualify for a free lifetime Access Pass, regardless of their age.
• Children in 4^th grade and their educators can take advantage of a free Every Kid Outdoors Annual 4^th Grade Pass.
• Those who volunteer for a federal recreation site for more than 250 hours are entitled to a one-year Volunteer Pass.

Where can you get one of these park passes?  If your vacation is more than two weeks away, you’ll have time to order your passes online and have them mailed to you (there’s a $10 processing fee for online orders).  But if you’re travelling sooner, you’ll want to buy your passes at one of more than 1,000 recreation sites managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  To find one near you, go here.

A number of JNPA partner parks sell passes at their visitor centers:  Gateway Arch National Park, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site, and Lewis & Clark Visitor Center.

Enjoy your summer travels!