NPS Senior Pass

hokeypokey wrote:
Parking at Mt Rushmore is $10. We pretty much knew our NPS pass wouldn't get us free parking, but we decided to ask anyway. Would you believe it was worth $5 off? There could've been signs, but I didn't see them.

The pass gets you free admission to an NPS run facility. At Rushmore, the parking is run by a concessionaire and is not considered an admission fee, but a parking fee. This is considered an amenity fee as is the camping fee at federal campgrounds. Often the amenity fees are discounted 50% with the Senior pass, but not always since it is at the discretion of the concessionaire.

You were wise to ask. It never hurts to ask, even if they say no.

Ordered mine on line on June 6th. Still have not received it. Not in any big hurry but I'd feel better if I had it in my posession.

The price increase has turned into a real fiasco. Our local FS office ran out of passes and ordered more. ALL the local offices have run out. The replacement passes are on backorder. So DW got a voucher for a pass at the old price, which (supposedly) will be honored whenever the new passes arrive.

I already had a Golden Access Pass. DW wanted one in case she needed to enter or reenter a Park without me.

Parking at Mt Rushmore is $10. We pretty much knew our NPS pass wouldn't get us free parking, but we decided to ask anyway. Would you believe it was worth $5 off? There could've been signs, but I didn't see them.

bukhrn wrote:

Irover wrote:

Colo Native wrote:
The price will go up on AUGUST 28th to $80 its official

:B Ordered mine this morning on the website! Getting ready for this Fall to do a bit of 'Old School Camping"! Tent, Cot, and sleeping bag.Lot of COE and the local SP will accept it; as I already asked the Rangers!

Where is the "local SP", not a lot of them that will accept a federal pass, although I did stay at one in Ca.

The Cedars Of Lebanon State Park in Tennessee!

bukhrn wrote:
Where is the "local SP", not a lot of them that will accept a federal pass, although I did stay at one in Ca.

Arkansas, Louisiana and Maryland offer a 50% camping fee to state residents who have the Senior Pass. Those states also apparently allow residents of the other states the same discount.

Info is from the Louisiana State Parks web site that Louisiana extends the LA state residents discounts to residents of those states.

From the Arkansas state parks web site:

Current Arkansas residents 62 and over will be admitted to campgrounds at one-half the regular campsite fee Sunday through Thursday nights and at a 25% discount weekends and holidays. Out-of-state citizens 62 and over will receive a 25% discount Sunday through Thursday nights and no discount on weekends or holidays.

Wyoming doesn't offer seniors a discount, and even the state park annual camping pass only gives you a discocunt on the normal camping fees. Which look reasonable (something like $10/night) until you add in reservation fees and service charges and oh btw, you have to buy a day use pass as well as paying the camping fee. Talk about being nickeled and dimed to death ... For one $10 night reservation (planned test run with the new class A) I actually paid $23.

Different states offer different discounts - it always pays to ask. For example: Oregon gives ten days free camping PER MONTH if you are a disabled veteran ... other discounts for active duty ... go to Oregon site to see.

Texas offers disabled vets a pass that discounts the day use fee. IF I remember right, Pennsylvania accepts the Federal pass for a camping discount, and maybe Maryland (not sure there, but I seem to recall it) and some others do as well.

Many states offer a annual pass or monthly pass for day use or camping - each one different ... so it always pays to look ahead and ask the states where you're heading because it sometimes takes "proof" and if you don't bring it - you lose the discount. Some states require state residents, and no 'travelers'... South Dakota for one, that allows state resident veterans a discount.

I wish some/all State Parks throughout the U.S. would accept these as a great gester to those RV'ers who have paid their dues to society after so many decades of life.

For example if I remember right, I believe that CA State Parks give an absurd pittance of $2 off for the more elderly of their visitors.

Irover wrote:

Colo Native wrote:
The price will go up on AUGUST 28th to $80 its official

:B Ordered mine this morning on the website! Getting ready for this Fall to do a bit of 'Old School Camping"! Tent, Cot, and sleeping bag.Lot of COE and the local SP will accept it; as I already asked the Rangers!

Where is the "local SP", not a lot of them that will accept a federal pass, although I did stay at one in Ca.