Every Kid Outdoors: Free National Park Passes for Fourth Graders

If you have a child in fourth grade, make sure to grab a pass to enjoy our National Parks for FREE this summer!

In Michigan, this means FREE entry to Sleeping Bear Dunes {a $25 value, and valid for 7 days} — our other National Parks here in Michigan don’t have an entrance fee. However, there are plenty of parks across the country that participate, so make sure to check it out before taking any trips this summer! {For example, we used it while visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial in North Carolina.}

This program will expire for current fourth graders on August 31, 2023. Keep this date in mind if you have an incoming fourth grader too, as it’s a wonderful excuse to get outside and explore a new place!

Find more information about the fourth grade program here. It coordinates with the year of school your student is currently in or recently finished.

How to get FREE National Park Passes for fourth graders 

1. Download the voucher using the page that fits best for your student.
2. Print the voucher and keep it in a safe place until you are ready to use it. 
3. Plan your visit to a national park, wildlife refuge, or other federal land (see more below). 
4. Show your voucher to a ranger when you enter. If there is no ranger, leave it on the dashboard of your car.

How it works

• Show your pass to a ranger when you enter. If there is no ranger, leave it on the dashboard of your car.
• If you visit a site that charges entrance fees per person— The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults for free.
• If your group visits a site that charges vehicle entrance fees – The pass admits all children under 16 and all adults in up to one passenger vehicle. Commercial vehicles can’t use a pass to get in.
• If you arrive at a site on bicycle— The pass admits all children under 16 and up to three adults on bicycles.
• The pass doesn’t cover things like parking fees, camping, boats, and special tours. Also, some sites are managed by private operators. They may not honor the pass. Check with the site ahead of time to find out.
• The pass doesn’t cover fees for local, city, or state parks and recreation areas unless they say that they accept this pass.
• Paper passes can be exchanged for plastic passes at certain sites.

Official rules

• The pass is for U.S. fourth grade {or home-school equivalent} students.
• The pass is for the 2022 to 2023 school year. It expires August 31, 2023.
• Students can’t transfer the pass to anyone else.
• The program can’t accept electronic versions of this paper for access or to exchange for a pass.
• No refunds are given for previously purchased passes, or if you forget your pass when you visit.
• If you lose your pass, get a new one by visiting the website and signing up again.
• Educators can get one paper pass for each of their students.
• This program only provides passes for fourth graders.

Enjoy your summer travels!