Many happily use annual National Park passes. For those who don’t qualify for the free ones, millions of Americans spend $80 for an America the Beautiful pass, which allows entry not only into National Park lands, but also to some other federal lands which charge entrance fees. Until now, park passes had two signature lines, allowing users to have more than one person use them. At the first of next year, all that changes.
Park passes—only one signature—only one cardholder allowed
The second signature option will vanish from the Annual Pass on January 1, 2024. All America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands (Interagency) Annual Passes will now have one signature line for a single passholder. For families, it could create some logistics problems. Let’s say Mom wants to take the kids to visit Yellowstone National Park while Dad slaves away at work. If Dad’s signature is on the new, single signature pass, too bad. Whoever signed the park pass will need to be at the entry gate—with valid identification—for the pass to be honored.
We asked the Park Service what was behind the change. The email response we received told the story. “Removing the second signature option on the Annual Pass makes it consistent with all other passes, helps prevent misuse, and allows for increased program flexibility,” said a spokesperson, who only gave their first name, Allison.
The dark side of park passes
We have no idea what “increased program flexibility” means. We’ve already noted that “user flexibility” has been tossed out the window. But we did get more clarification on the part about “misuse.” Allison wrote, “Since the pass program began, passes have been non-transferable, despite having two signature lines. We’ve been working internally to address fraudulent misuse and resale for several years, but it continues. As online sales platforms have grown, so have unauthorized resale of passes.”
We tried finding black-market America the Beautiful park passes from “America the Ugly” resellers, to no avail. We checked out a variety of online sales platforms, but didn’t find a one with someone who said something like, “Psst! Wanna buy an $80 park pass for a mere 40 bucks?” We didn’t check the Dark Web; maybe that’s where the action is.
But in all other ways, “It’s all good”
The Park Service was quick to assure us that the “new” single signature line passes are just as good as the old two-liners were. “The Annual Pass will continue to cover the same fees as it currently does at federal recreational lands. Each pass covers entrance fees at lands managed by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” But remember: The passholder must be present when the pass is used. Passes are not transferable.
Click here to learn about all sorts of park pass programs.
##RVT1134b
The change seems fair. Senior passes are assigned to one person. If each senior person wants their own life pass, they must each buy their own unless I am missing something here. The annual pass is not lifetime and why should it cover more than one person, other than those traveling with the pass holder?
Maybe because a senior pass is a lifetime and the annual is 1 year. Require a drivers license as ID.This more Govt.looking for an answer to a problem that isn’t that big/
They do require a drivers license as id but it has to match the single signature on the new card. The Lifetime Geezer pass has always been this way. The Govt. must think the problem is big enough to take action. They probably know more than the public does about revenue needs.
I’m not real sure, but seems like a money grab from senior couples who mostly travel together.
Senior couples that travel together can get into the parks, etc. using the same pass. You just can’t give it to someone else to use. The original pass purchaser must be present to use it.
As long as you travel together, otherwise you need an additional pass. And yes, we have 1 lifetime senior pass for the 2 of us.
You can each get a senior pass if you are over the age, 62 IIRC. 80 bucks, yes, but it’s OTO.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! It took a while, but I finally understood which pass is changing. I have the lifetime senior pass and it has a solitary signature line.
Continued money grab by “public servants”. I would say, “nickel and dimeing” the general public.
I guess the government could raise the “general public’s” taxes to cover the high cost of maintaining the parks and lands they control instead of just the fees of the people that use them. This way the general public isn’t even involved.
The NPS has been underfunded for years, and has a backlog of repairs and upgrades in the millions. Park entrance fees and campground fees are necessary to continue to maintain, improve and protect our National Parks.
Years ago we each bought a senior pass as soon as we were eligible. My wife lost hers and we bought her another. Been used multiple times for entry and camping, or just entry. Been a money saver, and continues to be as parks increase their prices.
It’s still a wonderful bargain!
If they would just ask for ID when they ask for your pass . . . But that would make too much sense.
I’ve been asked for ID at one NP a few years ago.
I’m always asked for ID at Parks with an entrance kiosk.
The America The Beautiful senior pass has always required the geezer that bought it to show it and I.D. when using it AND it only cost $10 before the increase to $80.
This seems fair. If you buy a yearly pass to a museum or other attraction, the single’s pass costs less than the couple’s or family pass. Rather than add another layer of passes (single vs. couples), which would slow down park entrances as people buy their passes, NPS is only selling single’s passes. It’s still a great deal — 365 days of access to some of the most beautiful spots in the world.
It’s a bargain we have the lifetime senior pass and my wife (purchaser) and I use it all the time and half off camping fees !!! We always travel together I didn’t realize there was a 2 person option? And yes they always ask for id. I guess if she passed away before myself I’d have to pony up the $80 although at that point that would be the least of my concerns. This article does bring up the situation of what if we were camping or otherwise in a national park and I left for some reason such as a run to get groceries or find a hardware store to fix something, would I be able to get back in, maybe a hand stamp or return ticket? Anyway I support our National Park service we are blessed.