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How to Get Into National Parks for Free With Kids
Explore National Parks with your kids
With the Every Kid Outdoors program, if you have a child in 4th-grade you can get into National Parks for free! This works for public, private, and homeschooled 4th-graders.
Table of contents
- Every Kid Outdoors National Park Pass
- Who is Eligible for the Pass?
- How to Get the 4th-Grader Pass
- What Benefits Does the Pass Have?
- What Can Kids Do at National Parks?
- Where Do We Go First?
Every Kid Outdoors National Park Pass
The Every Kid Outdoors program provides 4th-grade kids and their families with a free pass to National Parks across the United States.
Depending on the park, the pass will admit the 4th-grader, up to 3 adults, and all kids less than 16 years old in their family. Some parks have fees per vehicle, in that case, the pass covers everyone in the vehicle with the 4th-grader.
Who is Eligible for the Pass?
Any kid in 4th-grade is eligible for the pass while they are in 4th grade. Since school start times vary across the country, the Every Kid Outdoors program applies to anyone in 4th grade from September 1st through August 31st.
Homeschooled kids can get the pass as well, provided they are 10 years of age in the same time frame.
Check the full rules for more information and restrictions.
How to Get the 4th-Grader Pass
Simply go to the Every Kid Outdoors website and download a paper voucher. Then you can exchange the voucher for a card pass at certain locations.
When you upgrade to a real pass your 4th-grader will need to sign their name on the back. Our daughter got nervous being put on the spot like that!
What Benefits Does the Pass Have?
You and your family can get into National Parks and more for free! Here are the different places you can access:
- National Parks
- National Forests
- Wildlife Refuges
- Reclamation Areas
- Conservation Areas
- Recreation Areas
- Marine Areas
What Can Kids Do at National Parks?
They can join the Junior Ranger program! Most National Parks have a Junior Ranger program that kids of all ages can participate in. As part of the program, your kids will need to fill in some activities in a booklet. This is a great way to get them more interested in the National Park they are visiting.
Plus, if your kids complete the activities they can get a Junior Ranger badge unique to the park they are visiting.
Where Do We Go First?
Most places in the United States are only a few hours away from a National Park or Forest. Check out the National Parks website or app for a full list of places you can visit!
We’ve had fun sledding dunes in White Sands, hiking the Grand Canyon rim, and sightseeing from the top of the Gateway Arch, just to name a few!
