Katherine Stewart, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Did you know that it’s possible for seniors age 62 and up to obtain a lifetime pass to all federal lands? Known as the “America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass,” this pass provides lifetime access and discounts on some amenities in more than 2,000 federally managed recreation sites across the country—all for only $10. On August 28, the price will increase to $80, so if you don’t have one, you might think about getting one soon.

Blue_Mountain_Lake_largeCovered by the pass are 417 National Park Service sites as well as areas managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Arkansas alone has three national forests and dozens of Corps properties, so for those who enjoy travel and outdoor adventure, this could be a valuable thing to keep in your wallet, even if the majority of your travel is in-state.

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It’s worth noting that only two of Arkansas’s National Park Service Sites charge entrance fees—Fort Smith National Historic Site and Pea Ridge National Military Park, which charge $7 per person and $15 per vehicle, respectively—and that both parks, along with most other NPS fee sites, offer occasional free entry days. That said, if you go only once to Pea Ridge, your pass has already paid for itself forever. In addition to entrance fees, the pass covers day-use fees and at some sites may provide discounts on expanded amenities such as camping, swimming and boating. Examples of other places in Arkansas where passes would provide discounts include Hot Springs National Park (camping, 50%) and Blanchard Springs Caverns (cave tours, 50% off), among dozens more.

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Senior passes can be obtained at most any federal recreation site that charges an entrance or a standard amenity fee. Click here for a complete list of those sites in Arkansas. You’ll need to bring proof of age and residency with you. You can also purchase the passes online or via a mail-in form, but in both instances the pass will cost $20 due to processing and shipping fees. Money collected from the sale of Senior Passes at National Park Service sites will go to the National Park Foundation Endowment and a National Park Centennial Challenge Fund; funds from passes purchased elsewhere will be used by those sites for future projects and programs.

For more information about this and other Federal Lands passes, please visit the National Park Service.