Fees & Passes

Digital Entrance Fees and Passes Now Available!

Entrance fees and Great Falls Park Annual passes may be purchased online through Recreation.gov.
These are digital passes. You will receive a QR code that you will need to present when you arrive at the park.
Passes are non-transferrable, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen, and are void if altered or reproduced.
Physical passes are available for purchase on site.

After purchasing your online pass at recreation.gov, please download your pass (QR code) BEFORE arriving at the park! There is limited cell service on site and you may have difficulty downloading once at the park.
 
Plan Your Visit

Key Information

  1. Get an entrance pass

    All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

    Pass Price
    Standard Pass $10.00–$20.00
    Annual Pass $35.00
    America the Beautiful Pass (includes Senior Passes) FREE–$80.00

    Help me choose an entrance pass

Choosing an Entrance Pass

Do you have or qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful Pass?

If you already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, that's the only entrance pass you need. Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass.

America the Beautiful Pass

How often do you plan to visit national parks in the next 12 months?

If you don't qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful pass, we recommend choosing an entrance pass based on your trip plans.

I'm visiting... We recommend
This park, once Standard Pass
This park, multiple times Annual Pass
More than one national park or federal recreation site America the Beautiful Pass

Entrance Passes

Standard Entrance Pass

$10.00–$20.00

Passes are non-transferrable, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen, and are void if altered or reproduced. After purchasing your online pass at nps.gov or recreation.gov, please download your pass (QR code) BEFORE arriving at the park! There is limited cell service on site and you may have difficulty downloading once at the park. Accepted Forms of Payment: Cash: United States currency Charge Cards: Master Card, VISA, Discover, or American Express Admission to Great Falls Park is valid for seven consecutive days including date of purchase.

For Vehicles

If you enter the park in a motorized vehicle, your entrance pass covers both you and your passengers. Your passengers do not need a separate pass.

Costs for vehicles with more than 15 passengers are listed below under Organizations and Businesses.

Includes driver and passengers. Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers. Organized groups are not eligible for the vehicle permit. Also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Admission to Great Falls Park is valid for seven consecutive days including date of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Great Falls Park Fee Booth

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

Admits one single private motorcycle and its passengers. Individuals 15 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge. Also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Admission to Great Falls Park is valid for seven consecutive days including date of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Great Falls Park Fee Booth

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

For Individuals without a Vehicle

If you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.

Applies only to people entering by foot, bicycle, or horse. Individuals 15 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge. Also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Admission to Great Falls Park is valid for seven consecutive days including date of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Great Falls Park Fee Booth

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

For Organizations & Businesses

Includes church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc. All holders of annual passes and those under 15 years old will be exempt from payment of fees. Non-Commercial Groups in vehicles with a capacity of 15 or less are charged the $20.00 vehicle permit. Vehicles with a capacity of 16 or more are charged a fee of $10.00 per person. Removal of seats from a vehicle does not then qualify for the lower rate. The total fee will not exceed the $100 fee per vehicle.
More information

Vehicles with capacity of 7-25 passengers: $40. (No per person fee)
More information

Vehicles with capacity of 7-25 passengers: $40. (No per person fee)
More information

Vehicles with capacity of 1-6 passengers: $25 plus $3 per person.
More information

Vehicles with capacity of 26+: $100. (No per person fee)
More information
Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$35.00

Valid for twelve months from the date of purchase. Pass is valid at Great Falls Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park for entrance fees only. Admits the pass holder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR pass holder and three person (16 and older) where per person entrance fees are charged. Not valid for organized groups or concession operated facilities or activities.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Great Falls Park Fee Booth

    Cash or Credit/Debit

America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

A stack of all six versions of the America the Beautiful Pass

Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by

  • National Park Service
  • US Fish & Wildlife Service
  • US Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • US Army of Corps of Engineers

Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
One private vehicle fee
or
Four per person fees

Type Available to Price
Annual Pass Everyone $80.00
Senior Annual Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $20.00
Senior Lifetime Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $80.00
Military Annual Pass Current US military and dependents Free
Military Lifetime Pass Gold Star Family members and veterans Free
Access Pass US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability Free
4th Grade Pass US 4th graders Free
Volunteer Pass Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours Free

America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.

How to Get an America the Beautiful Pass

In Person (Recommended)

Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.

Purchase and pickup locations

Order Online, Receive by Mail

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Online Store . Online orders are for physical passes, not digital passes, and may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. We recommend ordering at least three weeks in advance of your visit, or picking up a pass in person instead.

2024 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

 
nps logo
Fee Waiver Information

Academic Fee Waivers

The following information has been taken directly from National Park Service Regulations (NPS-22). This is the guideline to be followed in granting education fee waivers. Bona fide educational or scientific institutions may qualify if the following conditions are met. Please Read Carefully. Your application package must contain all of the following.

  1. Current official documentation of recognition of affiliation as an educational institution by a Federal, State or local government entity, or other evidence attesting to educational status is attached. It is insufficient to merely state or imply this on official letterhead. Your fee waiver CANNOT be processed without one of these documents submitted with your application.
  2. There must be a direct relationship between the visit purpose and the use of the park. The visit must be to study some aspect/resource specific to Great Falls Park. A general statement to the effect that the visit is for "educational purposes" is insufficient by itself. An explanation of what the educational purpose entails and how is related to Park resources is required. (Course outlines, lesson plans, or a copy of the curriculum meet this requirement.) Fee Waiver Information and Form must be received in the Fee Management Office 2-3 weeks in advance of the anticipated visit.
  3. To submit the completed Fee Waiver Form, please email it to: grfa_educational_fee_waiver@nps.gov
  • REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
  • FEE WAIVERS WILL NOT BE GIVEN AT THE ENTRANCE STATION.
  • Fees will be waived ONLY if each vehicle has a copy of the fee waiver.
 
U.S. fee area

U.S. Fee Area Program

The Fee Program employees not only collect fees, but they also perform activities related to resource stewardship, education, and visitor-use management. Services funded by the fee program include park protection, resource management, information and orientation, maintenance of park facilities, and interpretation.

Last updated: April 25, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Great Falls Park
c/o Turkey Run Park
George Washington Memorial Parkway

McLean, VA 22101

Phone:

703 757-3101
Visitor information

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