Individuals with disabilities are given access to a FREE lifetime pass to our beautiful National Parks system. It’s called an Access Pass and it’s a great thing to apply for immediately because you never know when it might go away. The disabled individual gains free access to National Parks and often discounts on amenities within these parks (tours, camp sites, boat launches, etc). You can read all about the Access Pass Benefits here.
To qualify, the person must have a diagnosed permanent disability. How do you get this pass? There are a few ways. You can go to a participating location and apply for it in person. National Parks passes are sold at most national parks but if the park does not have a fee, this may not be available so be sure you check before going.
You can also apply via mail (but know that it’s not a quick turnaround, if you’re planning to go to a park tomorrow). To get this pass by mail, you must submit an application, proof of residency and proof of permanent disability plus pay the processing fee of $10.
Be sure you have the correct paperwork available whichever way you are applying. A physician’s note or SSDI paperwork should suffice.
ALSO: did you know every 4th grader gets free access to our National Parks system? This is the Every Kid in a Park initiative from President Obama and you can read more about it here.
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