(As of Spring 2000)

Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints

Fees and Reservations

Federal Passes:  If you are planning to visit a number of national parks in the next 12 months, your best bet is to purchase a $50 National Parks Pass, introduced last spring.  It will admit you and everyone in your vehicle to any NPS site for a period of one year after the date of purchase.  National Parks Passes can be purchased by phone at (888) GO-PARKS; via the Internet at www.nationalparks.org; at the entrance or visitor center of any NPS site; or by sending a check or money order payable to the National Park Service for $50 (plus $3.95 shipping and handling) to: National Parks Pass, 27540 Avenue Mentry, Valencia, California 91355.

If you plan to visit other federally administered fee sites, consider purchasing one of the following passports.   They admit the passholder and accompanying passengers, and may be purchased only in person at sites where entrance fees are charged.

The Golden Eagle Passport is valid for entrance fees at national parks and at sites operated by the BLM, the USFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  It is good for one year from the date of purchase, costs $15 (in addition to the $50 National Parks Pass) and is a hologram affixed to the pass.

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for Americans age 62 and older, at a one-time fee of $10.  It also provides a 50 percent discount on use fees, such as camping, boat launching and parking, but does not cover fees charged by private concessionaires.  Applicants must show proof of age when purchasing.

The Golden Access Passport is a free lifetime entrance pass available to Americans who are medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled.  It also provides a 50 percent discount on use fees.  Applicants must show proof of disability and eligibility.

Golden Age and Golden Access passports are accepted at USACE sites and all other recreational areas administered by the federal government where land and Water Conservation Fund entrance fees are charged.

Campground fees:  Fees vary widely from area to area, depending on the facilities offered.   For campground information, refer to the 2000 Trailer Life Directory, or the Web site:  www.recreation.gov. 

Reservations:  There is no central reservation system yet for all national public lands.  For NPS reservations, call (800) 365-CAMP; for Yosemite National Park, (800) 436-PARK.  For USFS and USACE reservations, call (877) 444-6777; for BLM reservations, contact one of the regional offices or individual sites.

For online reservations, begin at the Web site:  www.recreation.gov.  If you select a national park campground, this site will link you to the NPS Web site, www.nps.gov, and from there to a concessionaire or the National Parks Reservation Service Web site, which is www.reservartions.nps.gov.  For a USFS or USACE campsite reservation, the Web site:  www.recreation.gov  links to www.reserveusa.com.  The recreation.gov Web site also lists direct phone numbers for BLM and other federal camping areas.