Getting ready fornational parks with the free Access Pass.
The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass for US citizens and residents of any age with a permanent disability that severely limits one or more major life activities, shown with a qualifying document. It covers entrance and day-use fees at federal parks and lands, for the pass holder and the people in their car. A parent can request it for a child.
Sensory supports. One federal pass for entrance and day-use fees at sites run by six federal agencies.
Hours
Free and good for life. Get it in person at over 1,000 federal sites, by mail (up to three weeks), or as a digital pass on Recreation.gov.
Federal recreation sites run by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers
Who qualifies, in the agencies' words
The Access Pass “is available free for US citizens or residents with permanent disabilities.”
“The Access Pass may be issued to US citizens or residents of any age that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities.”
“a Recreation.gov account holder may act as the proxy for a person who qualifies for an Access Pass.” recreation.gov
A physician's letter has to say three things: the disability is permanent, it severely limits one or more parts of daily life, and what those limits are.
The pass holder has to be there whenever the pass is used, with photo ID. With a proxy, the ID shown must match the name on the pass.
Free and lifetime, for US citizens or residents of any age with a permanent disability that severely limits one or more major life activities.
You need a photo ID plus one document: a physician's letter, a federal disability benefits document (like an SSA or VA award letter), or a state Vocational Rehabilitation document.
At per-car sites it covers everyone in one non-commercial vehicle; at per-person sites, the pass holder plus 3 adults (16 and older).
whether autism alone qualifies without one of the listed documents
what ID a young child should bring
sensory supports at the parks
More about America the Beautiful Access Pass (national parks and federal lands)
The digital pass on Recreation.gov can be used right away. Save it in the Recreation.gov app or your phone's wallet, or print the PDF; unstaffed sites may ask you to display a pass in the car. A physical card ships for $7.50.
Mailed passes from the USGS store can take up to three weeks.
It may give discounts on some extra fees like camping, but private concessioners may not accept it.
Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, and can't be replaced if lost or stolen.
