National and State Park Discounts: Saving Money on RV Camping and Entrance Fees

Updated October 2026

One of the things we’ve learned over the years of RV travel is that there are opportunities to save money if you know where to look. Fuel discounts, campground memberships, and careful trip planning can all help keep costs under control.

Another opportunity that sometimes gets overlooked is the variety of discounts available at national parks, federal recreation areas, and state parks.

Depending on your age, military service, or disability status, you may qualify for reduced entrance fees, discounted camping, or even free admission to certain parks.

Some of these programs are well known, while others take a little research to find. And the savings can add up, especially if you’re traveling for several weeks or visiting multiple parks.

Let’s take a look at what’s available and how to take advantage of it.

The America the Beautiful Pass Program

The federal government offers a series of recreation passes under the America the Beautiful program.

These passes are accepted at participating federal recreation areas managed by agencies including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The passes generally cover entrance fees and standard day-use fees. Certain passes also provide discounts on camping and other services.

Federal Recreation Passes Available in 2026

Pass	Cost	Who Qualifies
Senior Lifetime Pass	$80	U.S. citizens and residents age 62 and older
Senior Annual Pass	$20	U.S. citizens and residents age 62 and older
Access Pass	Free	Qualifying U.S. citizens and residents with permanent disabilities
Military Lifetime Pass	Free	U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families
Military Annual Pass	Free	Current military members and eligible dependents
Resident Annual Pass	$80	U.S. citizens and residents
Nonresident Annual Pass	$250	Visitors who are not U.S. residents
Fourth Grade Pass	Free	Eligible fourth-grade students
Volunteer Pass	Free	Volunteers completing 250 qualifying federal recreation service hours

These are the basic pass prices. Additional processing, handling, or shipping charges may apply when ordering certain passes online.

For current information and purchasing options, visit the National Park Service’s America the Beautiful Pass page.

The Senior Pass: One of the Best Deals for RVers

If you’re 62 or older, the Senior Pass is certainly worth looking into.

The lifetime pass costs $80, while the annual version costs $20.

Both provide entrance benefits at participating federal recreation sites, but the real value for RVers can be the camping discounts.

At some federal campgrounds, Senior Pass holders receive a 50% discount on the basic campsite fee.

Consider a campground charging $40 per night. If that campground honors the 50% discount, your cost could drop to $20 per night.

Stay four nights and you’ve saved $80, enough to recover the entire cost of the lifetime pass.

Of course, not every campground participates, and the discount may not apply to electrical hookups, reservation fees, or other additional charges.

But for RVers who regularly stay at federal campgrounds, the potential savings are significant.

Another nice feature is that the Senior Pass is a lifetime purchase. Once you have it, you don’t have to renew it every year.

The Access Pass for People With Disabilities

The federal Access Pass is available at no charge to qualifying U.S. citizens and residents with permanent disabilities.

Like the Senior Pass, it provides entrance benefits at participating federal recreation areas.

It may also provide discounts on camping and certain other recreation fees, sometimes as much as 50%.

Eligibility is based on a medically determined permanent disability that meets the program’s requirements. It is not limited to people receiving a particular type of disability payment.

Documentation is required, and online ordering may involve processing and handling fees even though the pass itself is free.

For qualifying RVers, this is another program worth investigating.

Military Passes for Veterans and Active-Duty Personnel

The America the Beautiful program also recognizes military service.

Eligible veterans and Gold Star family members can receive a free lifetime Military Pass.

Current military personnel and eligible dependents can receive a free annual Military Pass.

These passes provide entrance and standard day-use benefits at participating federal recreation areas.

There is an important distinction, however.

The Military Pass generally does not provide the camping discounts available through the Senior or Access Pass.

A veteran who also qualifies for a Senior Pass or Access Pass may want to consider obtaining that pass as well, particularly if camping discounts are important.

For RVers who frequently visit national parks, the free Military Pass can still represent considerable savings.

Fourth Grade and Volunteer Passes

There are two other federal passes worth mentioning.

The Fourth Grade Pass provides free entrance benefits for eligible fourth-grade students and accompanying family members under the program’s rules.

If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, it’s worth checking before your trip.

The Volunteer Pass is available to people who complete 250 qualifying hours of volunteer service at participating federal recreation sites.

Both provide entrance benefits, but they generally do not include the camping discounts offered through the Senior and Access Passes.

Don’t Overlook U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds

One federal camping option that deserves more attention is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps operates campgrounds at lakes, reservoirs, and other recreation areas throughout the country.

Many offer attractive waterfront locations, electrical hookups, dump stations, and other amenities RVers appreciate.

At participating Corps campgrounds, Senior and Access Pass holders may receive a 50% discount on eligible camping fees.

That can make these campgrounds an excellent value.

If you haven’t considered Corps of Engineers campgrounds when planning a trip, they’re worth adding to your list.

You can search for federal camping opportunities through Recreation.gov.

What About State Park Discounts?

This is where things get a little more complicated.

Unlike the federal system, there is no single pass that provides discounts at state parks across the country.

Each state establishes its own policies for park entrance fees, camping charges, and eligibility requirements.

Some states offer generous discounts to seniors, veterans, or people with disabilities. Others provide more limited benefits.

One of the biggest differences is residency.

A state may offer a substantial camping discount to its own residents while charging out-of-state visitors the regular rate.

Another important distinction is whether the discount applies to entrance fees, camping fees, or both.

A free annual park entrance pass doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save anything on your campsite.

Examples of State Park Discounts Worth Investigating

There are some worthwhile programs around the country.

Florida offers qualifying residents age 65 and older a 50% discount on eligible state park camping fees. Certain residents with disabilities may also qualify.

Idaho has a senior camping discount at participating state parks for qualifying midweek stays.

Montana provides qualifying resident seniors and veterans a discount on base camping fees, although additional charges such as electricity may still apply.

Maryland offers a Golden Age Pass for eligible seniors that includes certain weekday camping discounts.

Washington has programs providing camping benefits for qualifying low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans.

These are just examples, and each program has its own restrictions. The eligibility requirements and discounts should always be verified before making reservations.

Finding State Park Discounts in All 50 States

Because state park discount programs vary so much, researching them can become a project of its own.

Rather than trying to squeeze information about all 50 states into this article, we’ve created a separate reference page to help RVers find the information they need.

Our directory includes all 50 states, notes about senior, veteran, and disability discount programs, and links to official state park websites.

Explore Our State-by-State Park Discount Guide

Whether you’re planning a trip across several states or looking for camping opportunities closer to home, this guide is a good place to start.

Remember that discount programs change. Some are available only to residents, and others may cover entrance fees but not camping.

Always check the official state park information before making reservations.

A Few Things to Check Before Booking

Before making reservations at a state or federal campground, there are several questions worth asking.

• Does the campground accept my particular pass?
• Does the discount apply to camping or just entrance fees?
• Is the discount available to out-of-state residents?
• Are there age, disability, or military-service documentation requirements?
• Does the discount apply to the entire campsite fee or only the basic rate?
• Are weekends, holidays, or certain campsites excluded?
• Are reservation fees and electrical charges discounted?

One other consideration is the reservation process itself.

Some discounts must be selected when making the reservation, while others require presenting your pass or identification when checking in.

It’s better to know those requirements ahead of time than to discover them after you’ve paid.

The Savings Can Add Up

Let’s say you spend 20 nights each year at federal campgrounds that honor the Senior Pass camping discount.

If the regular campsite rate averages $35 per night and the campground provides a 50% discount, your savings would be $17.50 per night.

Over 20 nights, that’s $350 in savings.

And that’s before considering any savings on national park entrance fees.

Of course, this is only an example. Actual savings depend on where you camp, the fees charged, and which discounts are accepted.

But it illustrates why spending a little time researching these programs can be worthwhile.

One More Tool for Keeping RV Travel Affordable

We’ve talked before about using fuel discount programs, campground memberships, and other ways to help control the cost of RV travel.

Park discounts are another tool worth keeping in mind.

They won’t eliminate the expense of traveling, but they can help stretch your camping budget, especially if you’re eligible for one of the federal lifetime passes.

My suggestion is to take a few minutes before your next trip to check the discounts available along your route.

You may discover savings you didn’t know existed.

And if you come across a particularly good state park discount program, feel free to share it with us. We’re always interested in information that might help fellow RVers.

Safe travels, and happy camping!

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Editor’s Note: Information current as of October 2026. Federal pass prices and eligibility were checked against National Park Service and USGS information. State programs may change, and individual camping discounts depend on the location and eligibility requirements. Always verify current policies with the managing agency. We plan to review this information annually.