Golden Age Passports (Age 62 and up)

[frank_a]

From an email I got from Liberty Outdoors (Parkliner)

Golden Age Passport: National Parks Pass Price Increasing on August 28th
Do you have your Golden Age Passport? It's the best deal in the outdoors world and if you are 62 and don't have it yet, you'd better hurry as the price is going up.

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass that allows persons, age 62 and older, to visit U.S. National Parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas and national wildlife refuges access without paying the customary entrance fee. It also provides a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching and tours.

The Golden Age Passport admits the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle when a park has a per-vehicle entrance fee. Where a per-person entrance fee is charged, the Golden Age Passport admits the pass holder, spouse, and children. The passport is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.

It is only available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are at least 62 years of age. This lifetime pass has been available for a one-time fee of $10 and may be obtained at the entrance of most federally operated recreation areas, which charge an entrance fee. Persons must show proof of age.

The deal is about to end.

Starting Aug. 28, the price will go from the current $10 — when buying a pass at a park station or National Parks Service office — to $80.

At present, a pass costs $20 if ordered online or by mail. The new cost will be $90.
So if you are eligible and don't have one, better act fast!

https://store.usgs.gov/product/209290

[thrifty bill]

I will miss it by 11 months age wise. But even at $80 it's a great deal! Just visit one NP with camping and you have paid for it.

[frank_a]

I agree Bill, $80 is still a great value, but it sure was great to get them for $20 for the both of us when we were in Yellowstone a week ago. I just found out about this when we were there, then got an email form the folks that now own Parkliner.

Frank

[Sid]

Like I said in an earlier post on this subject; You could be a pessimist and gripe about the $70 increase or an optimist and say the qualification age has moved out to 63 and they waived the $10![emoji3]
Since I can't do anything about it I choose to be happy...when I get there.

[Bruce Thomas]

Is a senior pass the same? It says annual for it?

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Bruce Thomas

Is a senior pass the same? It says annual for it?

First the Golden Age Passport was changed about 11 years ago to the Interagency Senior Pass, same benefits, same $10 lifetime pass, different name.
The soon to be $80 fee is a lifetime pass.
You can get a Senior annual Pass for $20 a year, and with 4 passes you can get it converted to a "free" lifetime pass. I think the bill the Annual needed to be four consecutive passes, skip a year and you have to start over, but I'm not sure that's how it's been implemented.

[k corbin]

They do offer and "easy pay" plan for obtaining the new lifetime pass. For 4 years you purchase the option of the one year pass for $20.00. Be very sure you save those annual passes instead of throwing them away. Then for no additional cost you can turn them in and you will be issued the lifetime pass at no additional cost.

So basically if your budget says $80.00 is too much right now don't sweat it, the annual fees of $20.00 will not be "lost money".

Now I just need to find where the heck I put my Golden Age pass I bought a few years back. I think it might be in my glove box, guess I will take a look see this week.

But if I can't find it I guess that might mean a trip to downtown Seattle to one of the smallest National Parks in the country. The Gold Rush Museum which is actually a free to enter park. https://www.nps.gov/klse/index.htm

Or else in Seattle to purchase the senior pass I can also go to the REI information center at 222 Yale Ave. N

[Rog Mich]

So do I need a pass for me and one for my wife? Or is one pass for both of us?

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Rog Mich

So do I need a pass for me and one for my wife? Or is one pass for both of us?

NO , you do not need to buy a pass for both you and your wife
There are several threads explaining the advantages of buying one for you and one for your wife.
At $10 each we each bought a pass .

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by Rog Mich

So do I need a pass for me and one for my wife? Or is one pass for both of us?

At $10, I would spring for two of them. If you always travel together, you really only need one. If you travel separately, then having a second one would be advantageous.

I have bought one every year for the last 30 years or more. We only have bought one. Still the best bargain in the camping/outdoor market.

[Jon Vermilye]

Originally Posted by thrifty bill

At $10, I would spring for two of them. If you always travel together, you really only need one. If you travel separately, then having a second one would be advantageous.

I have bought one every year for the last 30 years or more. We only have bought one. Still the best bargain in the camping/outdoor market.

Since they often check the card against your ID, technically you can't use your partner's card to get into a park. Could be a problem when shopping, or other trips in & out of the park. Having one's own card makes sense, particularly at $10.00...

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

Since they often check the card against your ID, technically you can't use your partner's card to get into a park. Could be a problem when shopping, or other trips in & out of the park. Having one's own card makes sense, particularly at $10.00...

All the cards I have bought have room on the back for two signatures. Note, this is on annual passes.

[Jon Vermilye]

Originally Posted by thrifty bill

All the cards I have bought have room on the back for two signatures. Note, this is on annual passes.

Only one space on my Senior Pass. Maybe the new ones have 2...

[Josh and Sonya W]

According to the government site, applying for a pass online not only adds a $10 service charge, but it may take 60-90 days to receive your card(s; we also decided to get one each). We found out last week that the local BLM area office in Yuma AZ also sells the passes, and it was a fast and easy process to go in them them on the spot; really nice people.

According to what we have heard, not all National Parks sell the passes on site. You might want to check out BLM in your area, if there are no National Parks nearby.

Josh

[Bruce Thomas]

I just stopped and got mine...an access pass because I have a disability...it was free, but there was a wait if you wanted a golden pass...he said they only send around 30 at a time to him and the list for next weeks expected batch was at 28 already.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Josh and Sonya W

According to the government site, applying for a pass online not only adds a $10 service charge, but it may take 60-90 days to receive your card(s; we also decided to get one each). We found out last week that the local BLM area office in Yuma AZ also sells the passes, and it was a fast and easy process to go in them them on the spot; really nice people.

According to what we have heard, not all National Parks sell the passes on site. You might want to check out BLM in your area, if there are no National Parks nearby.

Josh

I have found that National Forest Ranger Stations sell the passes. In fact I bought mine at a ranger station. My wife (which isn't needed but use it sometimes rather than mine) bought hers at Crater Lake National Park entrance booth.
Many federal locations will sell you one. Corps of Engineers in some locations. National Parks that charge an entrance fee, Blm Offices, and National Forests Ranger stations, I believe can also get them at TVA locations.

[Casita Greg]

I got the Nat'l. ACCESS "Disability Pass." Cost $0.00

[Josh and Sonya W]

Originally Posted by Bruce Thomas

I just stopped and got mine...an access pass because I have a disability...it was free, but there was a wait if you wanted a golden pass...he said they only send around 30 at a time to him and the list for next weeks expected batch was at 28 already.

Hi Bruce,

Good that you pointed that out, the situation seems to differ at the various BLM field offices.

The BLM office in Yuma told us they had just received 400 passes (this was early this week), and encouraged us to spread the word. For anyone near the Yuma area, the BLM contact info is:

BLM Yuma Regional Field Office
7341 E 30th St
Yuma, AZ 85365
Phone: 928-317-3200

[Bruce Thomas]

Wow, that's a pile....I guess they know they're gonna get rushed before next month. The guy here said it's been busy.

[Happyasclams]

Can someone tell me why do Vandwellers, campers and people living in their car, all flock to AZ??