Accessible National Park Adventures
The National Parks are offering an Access Pass that is free for US citizens, or permanent residents, with permanent disabilities. This is part of the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Series. Many of the national parks have these passes available on site, but not all of them. They can be obtained by completing an application and submitting it through the mail. However there is a $10 processing fee. Check out the America the Beautiful Access Pass online application here: store.usgs.gov.
There are some requirements. Applicants must have a disability that severely limits one or more major life activity. (It does not have to be 100% disability, someone with a partial disability can still be eligible.) Documentation of this must be provided; it can be documentation from a physician, a state agency, vocational rehabilitation agency, the Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Disability Income, or Supplemental Security Income. Further required documentation includes proof of residency or citizenship, which can be a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID. Once the necessary information is provided, a free lifetime pass that allows admission into more than 2,000 recreations sites will be issued.
There is no age requirement for the Access Pass. Not only is this good for free admission to national parks, but it also offers discounts on “expanded amenity fees” like camping, swimming, boat launches, and guided tours at some locations.
When the access pass is used in parks that charge per vehicle, it allows admission for 4 adults for free (children under 16 are free). If the site is a per person charge, then the person holding access pass is admitted for free while additional persons will just have the standard per site charge.
This link provides a chart of all of the federal recreation areas where the pass may be used. It also indicates where an access pass may be obtained on site. PassIssuanceList.pdf (usgs.gov)
It’s a big, beautiful country; get out there and explore it!
For more information on the U.S. National Park Access Pass, visit: nps.gov.
