User Fees

If you’re planning a visit, one of our recreation pass programs may benefit you.  These passes when issued or purchased provide access to and use of facilities including swim beaches and boat ramps where day use fees are charged.  Some passes also provide discounts on camping fees.  The passes discussed below may only be used at Corps’ operated areas.  If you’re visiting sites operated by NC or VA State Parks, please contact them to learn more about their pass programs.   There are many different options including the Corps’ Annual Day Use Pass and the America the Beautiful Pass Program.  It's important to note that day use fees are not charged at all recreation areas. There are directional signs to alert you when you’re entering a day use fee area and you will stop at either a gatehouse or automatic fee machine to provide payment.  Fees are charged on a per vehicle basis or by person if walking or bicycling into an area to use the day use facilities. 

Recreation Fee Discount Passes that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is Authorized to Sell, Issue, and Accept

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Annual Day Use

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,  Annual Day Use Pass, $40, Valid for 12 months, May be used at any Corps' site across the country.  Passes may be purchased at automatic fee machines, at some staffed gatehouses, or at a Corps' Visitor Center.  If using an automatic fee machine, be sure to stop by the Visitor Center and get your permanent pass before the date posted on your receipt.

America the Beautiful Passes 

An America the Beautiful Pass is valid at more than 2,000 Federal recreation sites where Entrance, Standard Amenity Fee(s), or (Day use fees) are charged by the following agencies:

• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Fish and Wildlife Service  
• USDA Forest Service
• National Park Service and again the
• US Army Corps of Engineers 

Please remember that at Corps' lakes they are only valid at Corps' operated areas.

Passes may be obtained  at a Corps' Visitor Center and some are available at Corps' gatehouses.  Contact the lake you're planning to visit for more information.  Additionally, they can be obtained online at the USGS store or at other federal sites.

America the Beautiful Passes to Purchase

• Annual Pass, $80.00 - anyone 16 years and older can purchase, Valid for 12 months.
• Senior-Lifetime Pass, $80.00 - valid for the lifetime of the pass owner; must be 62+ older, U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident, The senior-lifetime pass provides a 50% discount on camping fees at Corps’ campgrounds.
• Senior-Annual Pass, $20 - valid for one year from month of purchase; must be 62+ older, U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident.  The senior-annual pass provides a 50% discount on camping fees at Corps’ campgrounds. *Be sure to save your expired senior-annual passes.  Passes may be exchanged at any time for a senior-lifetime pass.

America the Beautiful Passes Issued with Proper Documentation

• Access Pass, Free- Valid for lifetime of the pass owner; must have medically determined permanent disability, U.S. citizens or permanent resident.  The access pass provides a 50% discount on camping fees at Corps’ campgrounds.
• Military-Lifetime Pass, Free– valid for lifetime of the pass owner; issued to Gold Star Families and Veterans with valid documentation.
• Military-Annual Pass, Free – valid for one year from month of purchase; issued to current U.S. military and dependents with valid documentation.

Passes may be obtained  at a Corps' Visitor Center and some are available at Corps' gatehouses.  Contact the lake you're planning to visit for more information.  Additionally, they can be obtained online at the USGS store or at other federal sites.

Special America the Beautiful Passes

• Volunteer Pass, Free – valid for one year from month of issue; earned with 250+ hours of volunteer service in public lands) 
• Every Kid Outdoors Pass is available free of charge to U.S. 4th Graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age).  The pass is valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year through the following summer (September - August). To be issued a pass, students must have a paper voucher printed from the Every Kid Outdoors website to obtain the Annual 4th Grade Pass.  A Park Ranger is also happy to present a program to a group of 4^th graders where at the conclusion of the program the passes may also be issued.  Please contact any of our lakes to schedule a program for your 4^th graders.

These passes must be obtained in person. 

Note

As part of the America the Beautiful pass Program, a plastic hangtag will be provided.  These hangtags are used as a way to display passes at areas without entrance booth staff.

Also, for open-top vehicles, there is an annual decal to display at areas without entrance booth staff. Decals must be obtained in person annually and you must show the following: your pass, driver's license, and vehicle registration. The name on all three documents must match.