Passes
National Recreation Passes
For more information about passes, see our national Recreation Fees and Passes website. National passes are honored nationwide at Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard and expanded amenity fees.
There are several pass options to consider. To make the best choice on which pass to purchase, you should think about your recreation plans for the next year.
- Your best value may be a single-day pass.
- Or if you’re a frequent visitor to one or more sites, a multi-day pass or annual pass that covers a forest or region may be the best buy.
- An Interagency Annual Pass may be your best value if you plan to visit many different federal lands across the nation that include lands managed by other federal agencies.
- You may also qualify for one of the Interagency Lifetime Passes (Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass).
- The "Every Kid Outdoors" pass gives fourth graders free access to 2,000-plus federal recreation sites. Detailed information about that pass is available on the Every Kid Outdoors site.
- Active military personnel and their dependents also qualify for an Interagency Annual Military Pass.
- Concession operated facilities: These passes do not apply to concession operated day use areas. View our Current Conditions status page to determine if the site you are interested in is operated by the concession. You can also view our Campground Recreation Opportunity Guide.
The USGS Store provides Frequently Asked Questions about Recreational Passes.
Fee-Free Days
The Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites on lands managed by the agency. Participation by concession-operated sites may vary. The dates are listed on the national Passes and Permits | US Forest Service (usda.gov) webpage for these days each year:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: January 20, 2025
- National Get Outdoors Day: June 14, 2025
- Juneteenth: June 19, 2025
- National Public Lands Day: September 27, 2025
- Veterans Day: November 11, 2025