Use our "Geezer Pass" when reserving online?

[rtc830]

Are you sure you are wired for 230.

[dward51]

Some Tennessee Valley Authority sites also recognize the federal pass for discounts or access as well. It varies by site. There are some state managed parks that also accept it, but they are few and this varies greatly (example of one that will take it is Red Rock Canyon in NV).


Basically any of the types of "America The Beautiful" ATB park passes will at least cover entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges and standard amenity day use fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands and waters managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers. So if you only use it a couple of times even an annual pass at $80 is a great deal (even better if you qualify for a reduced price Senior pass or one of the free passes).


Also there is a free "Military pass" available for CURRENT military personnel & their dependents (not veterans unfortunately).

Current U.S. Military personnel (including current members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard), the dependents of current U.S. Military personnel, U.S. Military Cadets, and U.S. Active Reservists may obtain a U.S. Military Pass can obtain a free annual America the Beautiful Pass.

The military pass is obtained a little differently (no online app that I know of). A U.S. Military Pass must be obtained in person by presenting a U.S. Department of Defense CAC identification or DD Form 1173 dependent identification. The attached PDF lists locations where a Interagency military pass can be obtained (for free). See the link below for info on who can use it, etc....

https://store.usgs.gov/faq#US-Military

[dward51]

I have not found a PDF of the federal parks and their access fees, but I do know of a website with a searchable list of parks and what the per car or per person fees without an ATB pass will be. This will give some idea of potential savings just on the park or site access (not including any discount on camping or other services which might be offered at a particular site - this will vary by individual sites):

https://nationalparkwanderlust.com/a...s/#ListofParks

Also not on this list are sites such as Corps of Engineers lakes with parks and boat launches. If you also fish, there is normally a daily access and launch fee there, and the ATB passes also cover access at those locations (Corps lakes access fees cover the launch fee as well).

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by NJKris

larry, that is too funny that you called it Geezer Pass. Exactly what I'll be calling it when my old lady becomes eligible. She is eligible five years before me. When I was younger, I always dated older women. Now, I'm thinking of trading her in for two 30 year olds!

You’re not wired for 2/30. 🤓

[dwebster]

I told my DW that I was going to trade her for two twenty year olds. She promptly advised me that I wasn’t wired for 220.

[RoyalFrog2]

Originally Posted by NJKris

larry, that is too funny that you called it Geezer Pass. Exactly what I'll be calling it when my old lady becomes eligible. She is eligible five years before me. When I was younger, I always dated older women. Now, I'm thinking of trading her in for two 30 year olds!

Be careful what you ask for. The 70 old man was granted one wish: He said I want a wife 20 years younger than me. POOF! He became 90!

[dward51]

Originally Posted by RoyalFrog2

Be careful what you ask for. The 70 old man was granted one wish: He said I want a wife 20 years younger than me. POOF! He became 90!

Details matter!

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by dward51

Same applies for Social Security disability - free access pass (lifetime free regardless of age with disability). They do charge a one time $10 processing fee to cover the pass kit and mailing. Easy application online and you can upload your proof of disability. Also the discounts apply for other services just like the paid annual pass. Access pass is a hard card like a credit or ID card and has the disabled person name hard embossed on the card. That person will need to be present in the vehicle for the discount and access.

Yes, it does say if you loose the free access pass there is another $10 charge to replace it. I think the regular pass is full price to replace, but most of them are annual.

We both have one. My daughter lives on a Corps of Engineers lake outside Nashville and there is a federal park and campground 2 blocks from her house. If either one of us goes with them to the park and playground, everybody in the car gets into the lakeside park for free (which is why we both have access passes - we are both retired & disabled old farts). So it has uses beyond camping as sometimes she goes up to visit for a week and I'm still home in Atlanta!

Here is the link to the information and online application page for the "America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass"

https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass

Infomation on the Access Pass benefits:

https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass

If you carry your Letter of Disability Award with you, you can get the pass for free the first time you go into a park you get a card there without your name on it. The number on the back of the card is associated with you in their database. Just a FYI.

[RangeMaggotBob]

Originally Posted by DouglasReid

I do not know if this works everywhere but in the Louisiana State Park system when you make a reservation you have the option of paying it in full when making the reservation or paying for only one night.

We pay for one night and for a 4 day reservation for example we pay the second night at check in and the "Geezer Pass" gets us the two nights for free.

If we pay it in full up front then they have to refund the third and fourth nights which is a PITA.

Good to know. Thanks for the info!

[momraising5boyz]

Originally Posted by Chief T

If you have any VA disability, you can get the Access Pass for free.

DH and I are new to RV life. He is 100% disabled. Is there a link to this site?

[The Cruising Hooligans]

I just booked a reservation online yesterday and I believe in the drop down menu it was called a ‘interagency lifetime senior pass” and I just used the number on the back of my card

[benchdog]

Originally Posted by GulfHusker

....or am I just out of luck?

I left mine home one time had to purchase a pass at the gate.

[david_reaves]

Originally Posted by dward51

Same applies for Social Security disability - free access pass (lifetime free regardless of age with disability). They do charge a one time $10 processing fee to cover the pass kit and mailing.

...

Yes, it does say if you loose the free access pass there is another $10 charge to replace it.
Here is the link to the information and online application page for the "America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass"

https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass

Infomation on the Access Pass benefits:

https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass

There is also a list of federal offices (BLM, COE, and maybe a couple more agencies?) where you can request the Access Pass in person (or replace a lost pass) for free. This is NOT the gate, where you can buy a pass, but at various offices. You just have to have your proof of disability and ID.

I recently replaced a lost pass at the Corps of Engineers lake headquarters office for the local lake.

[Chief T]

Just google America the beautiful pass

Originally Posted by momraising5boyz

DH and I are new to RV life. He is 100% disabled. Is there a link to this site?

[Travelinman 2018]

This may not be an issue (at least part of the year), as there is talk of no longer giving the discount during the "busy" season, to allow young families, more access. I'm ok with that, but I don't like the fact that many of the parks and campgrounds are going to reservations only, and allowing vendors to close after Labor Day.