One of the best deals on the planet is the $10 lifetime pass to America’s National Parks for those of us 62 and older. That deal vanishes soon, when the price jumps to $80, so get your pass now before the price increase goes into effect.
It’s first price increase for the Senior Pass since 1994.
The new fee is part of a larger move to pay for major projects and enhanced services in the National Park System, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017.
National Park Service officials told the AARP they are unsure how long it will take to implement the change, but it’s expected before the end of 2017. Meantime, they are spreading the word informally, including via eco-writers like ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter.
National Park Service website with full information about passes.
You can purchase regular passes or senior passes without an extra charge at facility operated by the NPS, including National Monument sites and National Historic sites.
Passes purchased online carry an additional service fee of $10.
If you are not yet 62, an annual parks pass is $20, which you can apply to the cost of a lifetime pass at a later point.
Recently, Congress approved the National Park Service Centennial Act, that raises fees and sets up an endowment to help pay for projects and visitor services. The cost of the senior pass has not been increased since 1994, when it jumped to $10.
The move is intended to improve the visitor experience and provide more opportunities to volunteer in parks across the country.
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