There are 59 national parks encompassing millions of acres throughout the United States. And if you’re a senior citizen and love the outdoors, you can get into these parks for the rest of your life for only $10 — but not for long.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons, the fee for a lifetime pass for citizens 62 and older will increase from $10 to $80 before the end of 2017. An annual pass will cost $20, which they can apply to the cost of a lifetime pass at a later point if they decide they want one.
The National Park Service said it is not sure when in 2017 the price increase will go into effect. However, the federal agency did say the price hike is not expected during the next few months, which gives senior citizens a small window to lock in the $10 rate. The AARP said that the park service is spreading the word on the price increase informally.
If you purchase a lifetime pass before the change goes into effect, it will only cost $10 at any of the parks. There are numerous locations across the country where a pass can be purchased in person. To see the list, click here.
If you purchase the passes online, an additional $10 service charge will be added.
The extra money raised by the fee hike will help pay for projects and enhancements at the parks.
The senior pass not only provides access to national parks, but also more than 2,000 sites managed by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.
