Visiting 3-4 different National Parks......Should i buy the

I am visiting Glacier, Yellowstone Arches national parks in the summer. I have booked camping sites in each of the parks.

Should I buy the America The Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass for $80.

Do you have to buy a entrance pass when you have paid to camp in the park?

thanks for your input!

Visiting 3-4 different National Parks......Should i buy the

It is worth having because it provides card covered access to more than the National Parks.

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

You can calculate your costs for each park and decide.

Don%26#39;t know the answer to your camping fee question.

Visiting 3-4 different National Parks......Should i buy the

Voyaging,

Can you Buy the America the Beautiful Pass at Yellowstone when you enter the park?

I ask because if it is good for a year(i assume it is?), summer 2009 will be taking us to Yosemite, If I time it right I can plan my trip to cover Yosemite with this years pass.

Is it a Jan-Dec pass or a good for one year from date of purchase?

poz

I just answered my own question:

';Valid for one full year from month of purchase';.

I guess I will call for more info on that..because that might mean if purchased at the end of July - good til the end of the following June? or including July? hmm..I%26#39;ll report back

You can buy it at the Park Entrance according to the wensite

me again..confirmed with USGS it is good til the end of the month one year later.

if purchased anytime in July 2008, it is good until the end of July 2009.

I am happy about that!

No, your camping fee does not cover the park entrance fee. Yes you should buy the America the Beautiful pass because is covers so much more and encourages you to explore other parks and monuments. See how often you can use it.

We went to Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion last spring, then South Dakota Badlands, Wind Cave, Jewell Cave, Yellowstone, and Theodore Roosevelt in the summer (11 day trip) and Olympic and Mt. St. Helens in the fall. All on one pass.

For those who (like us) have purchased annual passes in the past: note that they now date these from month of purchase, not first use.

I like getting things squared away early for a trip, wish they%26#39;d go back to the old policy.

As a side note, I%26#39;ve always thought it is nice to purchase these passes in part because we%26#39;re financially supporting the parks a bit by purchasing them. National parks are among America%26#39;s crown jewels, and I truly hope they receive adequate funding to continue (and maybe even grow!).

I would by the pass, but if you%26#39;re only visiting the three parks and you only need the 7 day pass Yellowstone is $25, Glacier is $25 and Arches is $10 for that park only. If you%26#39;ll be in the park for more than 7 days or you%26#39;ll visit the surronding parks in UT then it%26#39;s best to buy the year pass. Enterance fees are always seperate from camping fees.

I would definitely buy the Pass. Having it would make it easier if you decide you want to stop at another Park along your route. Especially in southern Utah, where there are so many so close together!

Also, with it being good for a year, you may find you%26#39;ll use it somewhere else before it expires.

We%26#39;ve used our Senior Pass in numerous Parks around the country, as well as at El Morro in Puerto Rico.

Have a fun trip!

Old thread but incase someone searches the topic so more info....

Many of the National Monuments and historical sites are now charging a fee in the visitor centers and the passes also cover these. So it is pretty easy to get the money%26#39;s worth from them. Senior passes are less, $10. And the disabled Access Pass is free.

One exception in the National Monuments is Mt. Rushmore where there is no entrance fee but the passes don%26#39;t cover the $10 parking fee.

Link to FAQs: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/general.html

Sequim, thanks for the info about Mt. Rushmore. We%26#39;re planning to stop there this summer when we drive back East. Good to know!