How to Get Your ‘Every Kid Outdoors’ National Parks Pass — And Where to Use It

I recently did something I have been looking forward to for years. I plunked my newly minted fourth grader in front of my computer, had him answer a couple of questions about what he likes to do outside and then I hit print.

That’s how easy it was to get our year-long Every Kid Outdoors free fourth-grade national parks pass. Okay, it’s officially my son’s pass, but since most of the big national parks charge by vehicle entry, it means that our little family of three can get a free ride all year long to local gems such as Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park; farther-flung treasures such as Crater Lake National Park, the Grand Canyon and Utah’s incredible Bryce, Zion and Arches — and many more.

Here’s some background on the free national parks pass, how to use it and a few surprising public-lands adventures to consider while you have your pass. Don’t have a fourth grader right now? Bookmark this page for the future; you won’t want to miss it.

About the Every Kid Outdoors pass

Courtesy of President Barack Obama, the fourth-grade pass was born in 2015 as the Every Kid in a Park program, with a stated goal of inspiring “the next generation to discover all that America’s public lands and waters have to offer.”

In 2019, the program was authorized by Congress and renamed Every Kid Outdoors. The program was reauthorized through 2031 under the EXPLORE Act, which became law in 2025.

A bunch of agencies sponsor the pass, so you not only get free entry into famous national parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite, but also to national monuments, historic sites, national seashores, national wildlife refuges and national forests. More than 2,000 sites total are included.

The pass covers entrance fees, standard amenity fees and day-use fees for a driver and passengers in a personal vehicle at per-vehicle areas, or all children younger than 16 and up to three accompanying adults at places that admit on a per-person basis. Note the pass does not include things such as parking, camping, boat rides, special tours or other expanded amenity fees.

So, yes, your fourth grader is your family’s ticket to all kinds of adventuring.

Get the pass

Getting it is simple. Go to the Every Kid Outdoors website, have your child answer questions about preferred outdoor activities, fill out a short form and you’ll get a paper pass you can print out. You can use the printed pass as-is, exchange it for a more durable pass at a participating federal recreation site or convert it to a digital pass through Recreation.gov. Electronic copies of the paper pass are not accepted, so don’t rely on a photo or screenshot of it.

If you live in Seattle, one of the closest national park sites is the Klondike Gold Rush site, located in Pioneer Square. A free-admission museum with robust multimedia exhibits about the gold rush era that shaped Seattle, it’s worth a visit at any time. It even offers a Junior Ranger program where kids can fill out a booklet and earn a badge. You can also exchange the paper pass for a durable pass at Seattle’s flagship REI store.

Note that you’ll need to show your pass to a ranger when you enter a national park or site, or leave it on the dashboard of your car. You must have a valid printed, durable or digital pass with you and you must have your fourth grader with you (so no running off for a couple’s outdoor weekend with your kid’s pass). You can get the pass starting on Sept. 1 of the year your child enters fourth grade, and it expires on Aug. 31 of the following year.

National park trip ideas

The one problem with the pass is that it only lasts one year, and we’re all busy with, you know, school and work and stuff. So you have to plan ahead, especially for multi-day adventures that you might do over the spring and summer breaks.

You can start with the national parks in Washington state: Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park. Keep in mind that North Cascades does not charge an entrance fee, so you can visit for free even after your fourth grader’s pass expires. And if you’re considering a big multi-day trip to iconic parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier or the Grand Canyon, get started planning now. Popular campgrounds, lodging and activities may require separate reservations, which are not covered by the pass.

No matter the season, there are plenty of adventures to do locally with your family and your pass. 

Editor’s note: Ahead of any park visit, be sure to check the National Park Service website for current alerts, road conditions and reservation requirements, as wildfires, snow and other conditions can affect access and available services.

Summer magic

• Lassen Volcanic National Park: While Utah’s Mighty 5 canyon parks are alluring, Lassen is a closer option and a geological wonder. Located in Northern California, it’s one of the few places on earth where every type of volcano is present. Summer offers the best chance of finding the park road and trails snow-free, although higher-elevation snow can linger into July.
• Crater Lake National Park: That deep blue lake is the deepest in the United States. Combine this adventure with a trip to nearby Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Even in summer, snow and construction can affect roads, trails and facilities at Crater Lake, so check current conditions before visiting.

Fall adventures

• The Naches Peak Loop trail: Just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, this 3-mile loop on national forest land has stunning views the whole way. (Do the loop clockwise for the best views.) The trail typically remains accessible only until seasonal snow closes Chinook Pass, so check road and trail conditions before setting out.
• Staircase: The stunning, under-the-radar Staircase area of Olympic National Park is relatively close (a 1.5-hour drive from Tacoma, two hours from Seattle) and is chock-full of flat, beautiful hikes. Try the Staircase Rapids Trail.
• Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: Just five minutes off the highway between Tacoma and Olympia, this estuarine preserve has a cool visitor center, boardwalk trails and lots of wildlife to see. The refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset, while visitor center hours are more limited. A small entrance fee applies, but the Every Kid Outdoors pass is accepted.

Winter fun

• Hurricane Ridge: You might not see the views if Hurricane Ridge lives up to its name, but you’ll get bragging rights that you went skiing (or tubing) in Olympic National Park, one of the nation’s few national park ski areas. The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge was destroyed by fire in May 2023, and services in the area remain limited. During winter, Hurricane Ridge Road is typically open Friday through Sunday and on select holidays, weather and road conditions permitting. All vehicles must carry tire chains or approved traction devices.
• Paradise: When there’s enough snow, the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park opens a sledding and snow-play area. It’s generally open late December through mid-March, depending on staffing, snow conditions and the weather.

Spring outdoors

• Olympic Coast: Snow is still in the mountains, which means it’s a perfect time for a trip to the wild, gorgeously scenic Olympic Coast. Top national park sites include the Kalaloch and Ruby Beach area and the 9.2-mile Ozette Loop, where hikers can explore coastal forest, a rugged wilderness beach and petroglyphs created by ancestors of the Makah people at Wedding Rocks, complete with Makah petroglyphs and wild beach.
• Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve: This otherworldly geological site in Idaho is so moonlike that astronauts associated with the Apollo 14 mission visited in 1969 to study volcanic geology and practice identifying scientifically valuable rock samples. Spring can be a good time to visit before the hottest summer weather arrives, although snow may linger and parts of the park’s Loop Road may remain closed early in the season.

More inspiration

The Every Kid Outdoors website is a great place to explore more ideas. The National Park Service, National Parks Traveler and Recreation.gov are also fantastic resources for gathering ideas, as is a book titled “National Parks: A Kids’ Guide to America’s Parks, Monuments and Landmarks,” designed for children ages 8–12.

The Every Kid Outdoors website also lists locations that may exchange a paper pass for a waterproof plastic pass. Availability varies, so contact the site before making a special trip. And remember that not every destination shown on a federal recreation website necessarily accepts the Every Kid Outdoors pass. Don’t forget to check whether each National Park Service site offers a Junior Ranger booklet or activity, and look for other programs that will help your family learn along the way and understand what you are seeing. Many Junior Ranger activities are also available online or can be downloaded before your visit.

Now, start planning your adventures!

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2019, and was updated and fact-checked most recently on July 22, 2026, by ParentMap’s editorial team, because the Every Kid Outdoors pass is still a must-have for families.