Passes

Day Use Fee Program

At U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas including day use parks and boat launching ramps, a day use fee of up to $4.00 will be assessed recreation users.  In most cases, a self-deposit sealable envelope with detachable stub is used for payment of fees.  After filling out the envelope, the day use visitor will detach the stub (making sure the date has been filled out) and display the stub on the interior rearview mirror of his/her vehicle.  The day use pass authorizes the use of Corps of Engineers day use facilities for the date specified on the envelope and stub.  The stub is invalid unless dated.

*Does not apply to Bayou Bodcau, Wallace Lake, J Bennett Johson Waterway or Caddo Lake

Annual Pass Program

If you are a frequent visitor of Corps day use facilities, an annual pass is available for purchase at an area field office, visitor center or through the mail for a price of $30.00.  Annual passes are valid at Corps of Engineers recreation areas only; they do not allow entry to campgrounds and may not be used as payment of camping fees. 

Since the annual pass program is a national program, passes are accepted at all Corps of Engineers facilities.  If you purchase your pass from a lake in Mississippi, your pass will also be valid for payment of day use fees at Corps facilities in all other states or facilities.  When purchased, an annual pass is valid for one calendar year from the month of sale.  Visitors will receive a plastic hang tag with every annual pass purchase.  Along with the annual pass sticker, a second sticker will be issued indicating the month the pass was purchased.  Both stickers will be permanently affixed to the hang tag for display on the interior rearview mirror of a vehicle.  Duplicate annual passes are no longer available since the new hang tag can be moved between vehicles.  However, a second pass may be purchased at full price if so desired. 

Holders of America the Beautiful Senior Pass or Access Pass or holders of Golden Age or Golden Access Passport cards may purchase the Corps of Engineers annual pass at a 50 percent discount provided they purchase the pass in person. 

Changes in Golden Passport Program

The Golden Passport Program expired December 31, 2006.  Golden Passports are still honored at Corps recreation sites, but can no longer be issued by the Corps.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies will no longer issue Golden Age and Golden Access passports. With the passage by Congress of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, Public Law 108-447, these passports have been replaced with the new America the Beautiful passes.

The Interagency America the Beautiful Senior Pass for age-related discounts and the Interagency Access Pass for disability-related discounts have replaced the Golden Age/Golden Access Passport passes.  However, the Golden Age and Golden Access passports are lifetime passes that will continue to be honored for the pass owner’s lifetime.  If a Golden Age or Golden Access passport is lost or stolen, there is no mechanism in place for replacing it; therefore, a new America the Beautiful pass must be purchased.

Even though the interagency America the Beautiful Senior Pass and Access Pass will be honored at Corps of Engineers facilities, the Corps is not authorized to issue these passes.  America the Beautiful passes may be purchased from the following Federal land-managing agencies or their representatives:  US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  The new Interagency Senior and Interagency Access passes can be obtained in person at any of the issuing agencies.

Summary of Recreation Fee Discount Passes 

America the Beautiful Interagency Passes

                         

America the Beautiful Senior Pass

The Senior Pass is for citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 years of age or older.  It provides access to, and use of, any Federal recreation site that charges an Entrance or Standard Amenity Fee, and provides a discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees.

The Senior Pass admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private* vehicle into a park if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee.  Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the Senior Pass admits the pass owner, spouse, and children.

The Senior Pass also provides a 50% discount on Federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours.  In some cases where use fees are charged, only the pass owner will be given the 50% price reduction.  The Senior Pass is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

America the Beautiful Access Pass

The Access Pass is for citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are blind or permanently disabled, and is a lifetime entrance pass to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee.  The Access Pass admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private* vehicle if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee.  Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the Access Pass admits the pass owner, spouse, and children.  This pass must be obtained in person.

The Access Pass also provides a 50% discount on Federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours.  In some cases where use fees are charged, only the pass owner will be given the 50% price reduction.  The Access Pass is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires. 

America the Beautiful Annual Pass

Unlike the America the Beautiful Senior and Access passes, the America the Beautiful Annual Pass will NOT be accepted at Corps of Engineers parks. The Interagency Annual Pass can be used at certain parks managed by the other agencies listed above. For more information on this pass go to http://store.usgs.gov/pass/annual.html or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.

The USGS web site contains answers to questions about the America the Beautiful passes and how to purchase them.

*A private, noncommercial vehicle is defined as any passenger car, station wagon, pickup/camper truck, recreation vehicle, or other motor vehicle used for private recreation purposes.  This definition EXCLUDES a snowmobile, motorcycle, motor scooter, moped, or bicycle.