America the Beautiful Pass: yes or no?

I'm willing to bet that you're planning to visit several national parks during your future USA road trip! 

If so, buying an America the Beautiful Pass is almost certainly your best option. 

I'll tell you all about this pass that could become an essential part of your trip to the great American outdoors.

What is the “America the Beautiful” Pass?

"America the Beautiful" is a pass that offers unlimited access for one year to American national parks and federal recreation sites.

Once you purchase the pass, you can visit the various partner sites as many times as you like, without paying.

The proceeds from the sale of the passes are used to maintain the parks and their infrastructure, but also to protect natural habitats and wildlife. In other words, by buying this pass, you are helping to preserve the American wilderness.

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About the America the Beautiful Pass

How much does it cost?

The pass costs 80 dollars.

Most parks charge per vehicle. In this case, the America the Beautiful Pass admits the pass owner and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle.

In parks where per-person fees are charged, the pass owner + 3 adults are admitted. Additional adults must pay the applicable entry fee.

Children under 16 have free access to the sites covered by the pass, so they don't count towards this limit.

Generally speaking, we consider that the "America the Beautiful" Pass is worth it from the third or fourth park you visit. 

 Validity of the America the Beautiful Pass

The pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase and expires on the last day of that month.

For example, if you buy a pass on December 3, 2022, it will be valid until December 31, 2023.

Where can I buy one? 

There are two ways you can obtain a pass: 

• The most recommended option is to purchase your pass directly at the entrance of the first partner park you visit. 
• The second option is to purchase it online on the official website.

Where can I use my America the Beautiful Pass?

In all American national parks, and more! In fact, there are more than 2,000 partner parks across the USA: quite enough to keep you busy .

During a Western US road trip, you will obviously visit many parks in the region, such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Arches and Death Valley, to name just a few.

If you're travelling to Florida, it may be worth it to purchase a pass if you plan to visit other sites than the Everglades National Park, such as the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Biscayne National Park or the lovely Ocala National Forest.

On the other hand, if you only plan to visit the Everglades, it's not worth it to buy the pass.

Who can buy a pass? 

Anyone aged 16 or older can purchase an America the Beautiful Pass.

Children under 16 have free access to the parks and other sites covered by the pass.

As of January 1, 2024, the Pass can only have one owner (there is now only one line for the signature, not two as was previously the case).

Where can I not use the pass?

Some major American sites are not covered by the pass, including those managed by the Navajo Nation, such as Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon. 

Can I sell my pass after my US road trip?

Although it may be tempting to try to sell your pass at the end of your trip, this is not allowed. 

Even if there is no name on the pass, it must be signed at the first use. Park rangers will request photo identification to verify pass ownership at the entrance to each park.

And, as I mentioned above, the proceeds are reinvested directly into the parks to ensure their conservation and protection. It's a small price to pay for access to such incredible natural spaces, don't you think?

So will you consider buying an America the Beautiful Pass for your next American road trip?

I'm willing to bet that you will!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them in the comments below!