How to use the national park pass break even calculator
- Enter the annual pass price. Look up the current price for the pass you are considering, since it changes.
- List each park you plan to visit, its entrance fee per visit and how many visits you expect. Use Add a park for more.
- Read the total gate fees without a pass, what the pass saves or costs, and the number of visits needed to break even at your average fee.
- If the result is close, think about trips you might add and who rides in the vehicle, since some fees are per vehicle and some are per person.
Formula
Gate fees = sum of (entrance fee x visits) across your parks
Savings = gate fees - pass price
Visits to break even = pass price / average fee per visit, rounded up
The average fee is total gate fees divided by total visits. The break even count assumes every future visit has that average fee.
Worked example
A traveler plans three parks with entrance fees of $35, $30 and $20, one visit each, against an $80 pass. Gate fees are $85, so the pass saves $5.
The average fee is $28.33, so the pass breaks even at $80 / $28.33 = 2.8, which rounds up to 3 visits. With only the $35 park on the list, the pass would cost $45 more than paying at the gate.
Use real fees
Entrance fees and pass prices change and differ by park, season and vehicle type, so this tool does not assume any. Look up the current figures on the official park or agency websites, such as the pages for an annual interagency pass like the America the Beautiful pass, and enter them as you find them.
What a pass may or may not cover
A pass typically covers entrance or standard amenity fees, not necessarily camping, tours, parking at some sites or special permits. Rules on how many people or vehicles it admits differ by pass. Read the terms before you buy, then plan the rest of the trip with the trip budget planner.
Count the trip, not just the parks
If the pass is close to break even, a few extra visits during the year can tip it. Driving costs also matter, so estimate them with the fuel cost calculator. The pass is worth it when your realistic visits exceed the break even count.
Assumptions and limits
- The pass price and every entrance fee are values you enter. None is a published figure in this tool.
- Each visit pays the fee you list, once per vehicle or person as appropriate to your case.
- Fee free days, senior or military discounts and what a specific pass covers are not modeled.
- Check the official park or agency page for current prices and terms before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How many park visits does it take for a pass to pay for itself?
Divide the pass price by the average entrance fee and round up. With an $80 pass and a $28.33 average fee, three visits break even.
Is an annual pass worth it for one trip?
Only if that single trip has enough paid entrances, such as a route through several parks, to exceed the pass price. List each park and compare.
Does one pass cover everyone in the car?
It depends on the pass and the park's fee type. Many fees are charged per vehicle, but some are per person. Check the terms for the pass you plan to use.
Do I need to count camping fees?
Only if the pass covers them. Many passes do not, so leave them out of both sides unless you know they are included.