Stargatesg30

Hi,
On our trip we plan to visit the following parks (see below) and I would like to know whether it would be cheaper to buy the annual state parks pass at $80 even though we will only be in the US once this year. There are 3 of us and we are travelling in one vehicle.

Joshua Tree National Park
Grand Canyon
Red Rock State Park
Montezumas Castle
Tonto national monument
Apache trail
Possibly Desert Botanical gardens

Thanks

longhorn55

You've got a mixture of state and national parks on this list. The National Park Pass will not cover your admission to any state parks and vice versa.

The admission prices for these parks are on their websites. Just see how much the admission per person is for each park and do the math.

Christina

It probably would if you add up all those entrance fees. I don't know them all, I know Grand Canyon is $25 and Joshua Tree $15. If the others are $15, that's at least $100 right there. I know some are cheaper (Tonto), but if it's really dollar to dollar, you could just add up the individual fees by going to their websites. If it were close, I'd probably buy it for versatility, unless there is a chance you won't be coming to the US.

HappyTrvlr

It does cover, other than National Parks, in many state or local parks in AZ such as Sedona.

DebitNM

There are also discounted passes available if you meet requirements:
http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

longhorn55

HappyTrvlr, I was unable to find any information on the National Parks website or the Arizona State Parks website indicating the NPS passes could be used for Arizona state or local parks. That's something I'd like to know for the future--can you advise further?

WhereAreWe

Joshua Tree = $15
Grand Canyon = $25
Montezuma = $5/person*
Tonto = $3/person*

*a person with the $80 annual pass will be admitted with up to 3 adults at no extra charge

So...it's either 15+25+15+9 = $64 if you pay for each park individually or pay $80 for the annual pass which will cover all 3 of you.

Red Rock State Park is not covered by the Federal pass. There is no charge to drive the Apache trail. Not sure which desert botanical garden (either Boyce Thompson or the botanical garden in Phoenix) but neither is covered by the Federal pass.

Stargatesg30

Thanks for all , think it will be cheaper to just pay at the parks.

tomfuller

There are several free admission days per year to the National Parks.
Today is one of them. Get out to a National Park, Seashore etc. and enjoy.
I got my Lifetime America the Beautiful Pass several years ago ($10). You do have to show photo ID indicating your age to be 62 or older to buy the Lifetime Pass.

sf7307

You do have to show photo ID indicating your age to be 62 or older to buy the Lifetime Pass.

And you have to have your card and your photo id indicating age with you each time you enter (the parks pass does not have a photo)

mlgb

In addition, Senior Pass is only available to US citizens or permanent residents.

sludick

If the overall cost is similar (and it seems so), I would suggest you go for the annual pass.

For us, we feel that National Parks are worthy of support, and really that they should charge more for that annual pass. We have maintained a U.S. National Park Pass for many years, even times when we didn't have use for it. Nowadays, DH has the Senior Lifetime Pass. So with that, we find other ways to make up the financial support.

When we are able to visit Canada (normally Banff), we purchase an annual pass even though it's not always cost effective - we consider those few extra $$ well spent.

sludick

Keep in mind, that annual pass is also good at federal recreation areas (2,000+). You may well find additional uses.

sf7307

sludick, I agree - it's crazy that the senior lifetime pass is so cheap. Seriously, they could charge $20 or $25 and no one would balk.

Birdie

It can be worth much more than the sum of the price of admission. Unless cutbacks have affected it, many of the large parks had separate entrance lanes for pass holders when we visited. It would be worth it to me to bypass even just a couple of lines filled with campers paying fees.

WhereAreWe

"If the overall cost is similar (and it seems so), I would suggest you go for the annual pass.

For us, we feel that National Parks are worthy of support, and really that they should charge more for that annual pass."

Yes, but keep in mind that when someone gets into a park with the annual federal pass, that park gets a small percentage of the money. However when you pay for each park individually, each park keeps 80% of the fee and the other 20% gets sent to parks that do not charge admission. So, if you want to directly benefit the park you are visiting, it is actually better to pay their entrance fee rather than get an annual pass.

"It would be worth it to me to bypass even just a couple of lines filled with campers paying fees."

Campers don't sit in park entrance lines paying their camping fees. Those are collected at the entrance to the campgrounds. And the Grand Canyon is the only major park the OP is visiting, I would not expect long lines at any of the other parks.