Every Kid Outdoors Pass: How 4th Graders Get Free Park Entry

The federal Every Kid Outdoors initiative provides all U.S. fourth graders (and home-schooled 10-year-olds) with free entrance to all national parks and public lands for an entire school year, running from September 1 through August 31. The pass covers the fourth grader and their entire family traveling in a single passenger vehicle.

Key takeaways

• Eligibility: Open to all children in fourth grade (including homeschoolers and 10-year-old equivalents) enrolled for the current school year.
• Validity window: Valid from September 1 of fourth-grade year through August 31 of the following summer (spanning a full 12 months).
• Vehicle coverage: Admits the fourth-grade student and all passengers in a single private, non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle entrance fee sites.
• Per-person sites: Admits the fourth grader plus up to three accompanying adults (children 15 and under enter free anyway).
• Crucial requirement: You must print a physical paper voucher from the official Every Kid Outdoors website; digital copies on smartphones are not accepted at entrance booths.

How to obtain the Every Kid Outdoors paper voucher

Securing the pass is simple, free, and does not require submitting sensitive financial or personal data. The fourth grader visits the official website (everykidoutdoors.gov), completes a short, interactive educational adventure activity, and generates a printable paper voucher with an individualized barcode.

The paper voucher must be printed on physical paper before arriving at the park. Entrance station rangers will verify the paper voucher and, at staffed sites, will exchange it for an official plastic Every Kid Outdoors pass that the student can keep as a souvenir. If you arrive with only a phone screenshot, rangers are required to charge standard entry fees because the paper voucher must be surrendered or stamped.

Which public lands and agencies accept the pass?

The Every Kid Outdoors pass is not limited to National Park Service sites. It is honored across seven federal land management agencies spanning hundreds of millions of public acres:

• National Park Service (NPS): Covers iconic parks like Zion, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite.
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS): Covers trailheads and day-use sites in National Forests (e.g., Mount Hood, White Mountain, Coconino).
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Covers scenic red rock recreation areas, canyon overlooks, and desert trailheads.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): Covers national wildlife refuges.
• Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): Covers federal lake facilities, boat ramps, and dams.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Covers visitor centers at national marine sanctuaries.

Pairing the pass with Junior Ranger badges

For families traveling with fourth graders, the pass pairs naturally with the NPS Junior Ranger program. Nearly every national park unit offers a free activity booklet at the visitor center. Children complete scavenger hunts, interview rangers, and attend short interpretive talks to earn a wooden or plastic badge.

Combining free fourth-grade vehicle entry with Junior Ranger activities makes a national park road trip one of the highest-value family vacations available. For age-appropriate trip planning, explore our Junior Ranger badge guide and best months for a family national park trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can educators or scout leaders print passes for their classrooms?

Yes. Teachers, youth group leaders, and home educators can visit everykidoutdoors.gov/educator to download printable vouchers for an entire class of fourth-grade students, facilitating school field trips and family exploration.

Does the 4th-grade pass cover camping or ferry tickets?

No. The pass covers standard day-use entrance and vehicle fees only. It does not cover concessionaire-run services, camping fees, boat tours, ferry tickets (such as the ferry to Dry Tortugas), or special activity permits.

Can an older or younger sibling use the pass if the fourth grader stays home?

No. The qualifying fourth-grade child must be physically present in the vehicle when passing through the entrance station.