Cost of national park senior lifetime passes going way up; deadline approaching

If you're age 62 or older and want to explore America's national parks, read this.

The cost of a lifetime senior pass to national parks and federal recreation lands is about to go up — way up.

In 2016, Congress voted to raise the cost of lifetime senior passes from $10 to $80, and that new fee goes into effect Aug. 28.

Until then, U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are 62 or older can still buy the lifetime passes for $10.

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, which charges a fee to explore the Civil War battlefield and historic displays, is the closest national park to Springfield where the lifetime senior passes can be purchased. 

“Passes are available at the information desk located in our Visitors Center,” according to park Superintendent Ted Hillmer, who added: “Thank you for your support of our National Parks.”

The Visitors Center is open to sell the passes from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. The passes can also be obtained by mail or online, for $10 before Aug. 28, but there will be an additional $10 charge for processing, for a total of $20.

Due to expected high order volume, there could be delays with online and mail order processing of up to several months, according to a park news release.

Other places to buy passes

Lifetime senior passes also are available at Ozark National Scenic Riverways headquarters in Van Buren, at the Alley Spring General Store and at the Round Spring Visitors Center.

A park official suggested calling the park at 573-323-4236 first to make sure someone would be available to sell the lifetime passes.

At the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, lifetime senior passes are sold at the park's Harrison headquarters, Tyler Bend Visitors Center and Buffalo Point Ranger Station.

According to a national parks news release, the senior lifetime pass has cost $10 since 1994. Congress approved the higher fee to "support critical investments in maintenance projects at national parks and federal recreational lands nationwide."

The Senior Pass provides access to sites managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The legislation requires that the price of the lifetime senior pass be the same as the general annual pass, which is currently $80. The legislation also introduces a new annual Senior Pass that can be purchased for $20.

Seniors who buy annual senior passes for four years can trade them in for a lifetime senior pass at no additional charge. 

The Senior Pass covers all entrance fees and may provide senior discounts for things such as tours or campsites. The pass also waives the entrance fee for traveling companions.

At per-vehicle fee sites, the pass admits the owner and all passengers in a noncommercial vehicle.

At a per-person fee site, the pass admits the pass owner and three other adults. Children under 16 are always admitted free.