Looking to find places to use your America the Beautiful pass or wondering if the pass is worthwhile for the Mid-Atlantic region? Check out this guide on when and where to use your pass!
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Table of Contents
- About the America the Beautiful Pass (Where to Buy & Is It Worth It?)
- Places to Use the America the Beautiful Pass
- Sites with No Entrance Fees in the Mid-Atlantic
I love visiting national parks and monuments but the entrance fees can really add up! I am spoiled by all the free PA state parks that we have so anytime I need to pay a fee, I am always surprised.
Enter the America the Beautiful pass.
This annual pass allows pass holders to get into any federal recreation site, including national parks, monuments, and other sites for NO fee. The pass is a great investment if you’re planning to visit multiple sites in a year.
Below is a guide to all of the places in the Mid- Atlantic region where the America the Beautiful pass will save you money, plus some FAQs on whether the pass is worth it, where to buy the pass and more! (For the purposes of this guide, the Mid-Atlantic region is defined as Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. Delaware would be included, but it doesn’t have any parks!)
As always, follow the principles of leave no trace when you're out exploring! Pack out all trash, leave wildlife alone, and generally leave it better than you found it - for more information visit the Leave No Trace Center.
About the America the Beautiful Pass
Where to Buy
Before you can use an America the Beautiful pass, you have to purchase it!
The pass can be purchased at all parks that take the pass, as well as online as long as you purchase soon enough in advance to get the pass before your trip (NPS recommends leaving at least two weeks to receive). Check out this list of locations from the NPS to see where you can purchase your pass – https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/pickup-pass-locations.htm
REI also sells the pass, so if you’re already making a purchase for an outdoor adventure, just add it to your cart.
America the Beautiful Pass – Worth it for the Mid-Atlantic region?
Whether the pass is worth it really depends on your plans for the year. The annual pass is $80 as of 2025. While it’s not as necessary as a having it out West, I think there is still value to having the pass in the Mid-Atlantic region.
If you’re planning to visit four sites once in a year, it’s worth it. If you’re planning to visit only one site multiple times in a year, it may not be worth it, as some of the sites have a site-specific annual pass that could cost less. For example, Shenandoah has a $55 annual pass that is just for that park. I think it’s worth it to buy the full pass because you never know where adventure will take you!
Read on for a list of places where the America the Beautiful pass will save you money in the mid-atlantic states!
Places in the Mid-Atlantic Region to Use an America the Beautiful Pass
Harpers Ferry
State: Maryland & West Virginia
Description: Harpers Ferry, an amazing national historic park, is located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. The park has 22 miles of hiking trails and is great for all ages.
Pass Savings: The America the Beautiful pass will save you $20 per visit to Harpers Ferry for a private vehicle.
Antietam National Battlefield
State: Maryland
Description: Antietam was a pivotal point in the Civil War, leading to Abraham Lincoln issuing the emancipation proclamation.
Pass Savings: Visit the site of the bloodiest day in American history and the America the Beautiful pass will save you $20 per visit to Antietam for a private vehicle.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
State: Maryland
Description: This amazing trail is almost 200 miles along the historic canal. The C&O Canal park is free to visit except for the Great Falls Tavern area.
Pass Savings: Here, an America the Beautiful pass will save you $20 for a private vehicle and $10 if you’re on foot.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
State: Maryland
Description: Fort McHenry, the site that inspired America’s national anthem, is a great place to experience living history.
Pass Savings: While the majority of this park is free, the “historic zone” is not and visitors over the age of 16 must pay a $15 pass to visit.
Looking for more places to explore in Maryland? Check out my guide to best hiking near Annapolis!
Shenandoah National Park
State: Virginia
Description: My favorite national park on the east coast, Shenandoah National Park, is an amazing place to visit. Check out beautiful sunrises, epic waterfalls, and amazing hikes here.
Pass Savings: The America the Beautiful pass will save visitors in a private vehicle $30 per visit per day. Shenandoah also has a $55 annual pass for just visiting Shenandoah.
Prince William Forest Park
State: Virginia
Description: This amazing park has awesome campgrounds and primitive cabins and is a great place for those who love outdoor adventure.
Pass Savings: All visitors are required to have a pass to enter Prince William Forest Park. Private vehicle passes are $20 and on foot passes are $10 – an America the Beautiful pass will save you this fee.
Looking to visit another amazing spot in Virginia? Check out my guide to visiting Roanoke, Virginia - a perfect place for a weekend trip!
Colonial National Historical Park (Jamestown and Yorktown)
State: Virginia
Description: England’s first colony in the US, Jamestown is a great place to experience what life was like for early settlers. Jamestown is administered jointly with Yorktown, the site of the final battle of the Revolutionary War. Colonial National Historic Park is perfect for the history buff in your life!
Pass Savings: All visitors over 16 have to pay $15 at Jamestown and Yorktown. If you’ve got four people in your party, you’ll save $60 with the America the Beautiful pass, making it worthwhile to get for the year.
Note that this fee doesn’t include the additional $15 fee that Preservation Virginia charges for entrance to certain parts of Jamestown, including James Fort Site, Memorial Church, and Archaearium. Even if you have an annual pass, you’ll have to pay this additional fee if you want to visit these parts.
Assateague Island National Seashore
State: Virginia
Description: There are only 10 states in the US where you’ll be able to see wild horses. Assateague Island offers camping, kayaking, and overland adventures on the sand (with proper permits, of course). Visitors can view wild horses from a safe distance – perfect for those of us who were “horse girls” as kids (maybe that was just me).
Pass Savings: Visitors at Assateague will save $25 per private vehicle per visit. If you want to visit this park throughout the year, the park offers a $45 annual pass. If you visit this park more than one day in the year plus two other parks, the pass will be worth it!
Looking for an awesome hike in Virginia with no fees? Check out McAfee Knob - an amazing sunrise hike!
Special Circumstances
Delaware Water Gap
There is no fee to visit the Delaware Water Gap, however, certain areas have additional fees. The America the Beautiful annual pass won’t save you on these fees, but the military, senior and access passes will save 50%.
Sites with No Fees in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Here’s a list of places in the Mid Atlantic Region where the America the Beautiful Pass won’t save you money because they’re already free! If you’re weighing whether to get the pass and want to mostly go to the below places, it may not be worth it to purchase the pass.
- Hopewell Furnace Historic Site, PA
- Gettysburg National Military Park, PA
- Valley Forge National Historic Park, PA
- New River Gorge, WV
- Catoctin Mountain Park, MD
- Greenbelt Park, MD
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument, VA
- Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, VA
- Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, NY & PA
FAQs about the America the Beautiful Pass
What does the America the Beautiful pass cover?
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees to federal recreation sites, including national parks, monuments, and other historic sites run by the federal government.
What types of America the Beautiful passes are there?
There are multiple types of America the Beautiful passes so make sure pick the right pass for you.
- Annual – This pass is for everyone! It’s $80 for the year.
- Senior – There are two senior passes – the $20 annual pass and the $80 lifetime pass. You’ll be eligible as soon as you turn 62. This is a great way to kick off your retirement.
- Military – All veterans and their families are eligible for free entrance into the national parks. There’s both an annual and a lifetime pass. The lifetime pass is for Gold Star Families.
- Access – This special national parks pass is for folks with a permanent disability.
- Every Kid Outdoors – Every family with a fourth grader is eligible for free entry into the national parks during the fourth grade school year. For more information, visit the Every Kid Outdoors website.
Updated December 3, 2024