How to Get an Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds Senior Pass

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pass is your ticket to over 400 lakes and waterways. Some of these areas charge day-use fees, but the pass allows you to access day activities like hiking, boating, fishing, mountain biking, snorkeling, whitewater rafting, and hunting. If you’re wondering how to get an Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds Senior Pass, here’s everything you need to know.

How to Get an Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds Senior Pass

Unfortunately, there is no Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds Senior Pass. Instead, there is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) annual pass that you can purchase for $40, which is the same price everyone who buys the pass will pay. In other words, there is no discount price for seniors. Also, the pass is only good for one year from the date of purchase, so you’ll have to pay the fee again once the year is up if you decide it’s worth it. To purchase the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pass, you’ll need to visit a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site. The pass is not available online.

What’s an Army Corps of Engineers Annual Pass?

Some of the areas that the Army Corps of Engineers manage charge day use fees. So, you can expect to pay a daily fee of $5.00 per passenger vehicle. This will grant you access to their boat launching facilities, swimming beaches, hiking trails, playgrounds, and other facilities they have on site. However, this fee won’t cover camping.

Now, the Army Corps of Engineers offers an annual access pass for $40 to enter those day-use recreation areas. You can purchase the pass by mail, or over the phone if you use a credit card. Some field offices and visitor centers have automated fee machines where you can buy the annual pass.

However, cash is not accepted at the office. You’ll receive a plastic hang tag with a pass sticker and date. This annual pass will grant you unlimited visits to all Army Corps of Engineers parks nationwide. It’s valid for one calendar year from the month of sale.

Camping at Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds

Commonly known as COE campgrounds, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds are loved by many RVers because of their friendly rates, laid-back vibe, and diverse recreational opportunities. In total, there are around 450 COE campgrounds scattered across the nation.

Many of them offer water-based pursuits like boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, and swimming. On amenities, some are pretty developed with electric and water hookups, dump stations, flush toilets, and showers, while others just offer basic restrooms.

Camping at these COE areas costs between $18 to $56 for an individual campsite, depending on the location and amenities provided. Group sites may cost more. Although the Army Corps of Engineers Annual pass doesn’t cover the cost of camping, owning the America the Beautiful Senior Pass allows you to get a 50% discount on camping fees. It also enables you to purchase the COE annual day pass at half the price.

Wondering how to find Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds? Here are some helpful resources:

Corps Lakes Gateway Website
USACE Recreation Brochure
Allstays App
RV Trip Wizard Tool
The Wright Guide to Camping with the Corps of Engineers Book

After you’ve found a campground, use Recreation.gov to check site availability and reserve your spot.

Alternative to the USACE Pass: America the Beautiful Pass

However, as an alternative, you can purchase an America the Beautiful Senior Pass, which is available as an annual pass and also as a lifetime pass. An America the Beautiful Senior Pass is actually an interagency pass, with a special price for seniors, which covers entrance and standard day-use fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, including Army Corps of Engineers sites, national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and national grasslands, which are managed by the following federal agencies:

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

How Much Does the America the Beautiful Pass Cost?

The America the Beautiful Senior Pass has 8 categories:

Annual Pass ($80) – Available to everyone.
Military Annual Pass (Free) – Only applies to active duty U.S. military members and their dependents.
Military Lifetime Pass (Free) – Available to U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families.
4th Grade Pass (Free) – Applies to U.S. 4th graders and their families. It also includes home-schooled learners who are 10 years of age.
Senior Lifetime Pass ($80) – For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 and older, with valid ID.
Annual Senior Pass ($20) – For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 and older.
Access Pass Lifetime (Free) – Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a permanent disability.
Volunteer Pass (Free) – For individuals who volunteer at least 250 hours with federal agencies that are involved in the America the Beautiful Pass Program.

Impressively, pass holders don’t have to pay entrance fees to the more than 2,000 federal recreation sites covered by the pass. However, the pass does not cover camping fees, standard amenity fees, or admission to state parks.

How to Get an America the Beautiful Senior Pass

There are three ways you can purchase the America the Beautiful Senior Pass, which will grant you access to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites and thousands of other federal recreation areas. Here’s how.

Get the Pass in Person

Visit any of the locations on this site in person to purchase the lifetime or annual senior pass. Note that availability of passes is not guaranteed, plus some recreational areas close depending on the season. Always contact the site you want to buy from prior to traveling to learn whether they are open and if the passes are available.

Get the Pass Online

You can order the lifetime pass or the annual pass from the USGS Online Store. If you use the online method, an extra $10 processing and shipping fee will be added to the price. So, expect to pay $90 for the lifetime pass or $30 for the annual pass. The processing and shipping takes at least 5 days, and you can only use credit cards. Transit time is between 1 to 10 days, depending on the service you choose.

Get the Pass By Mail

For those who cannot order a Senior pass online, there’s an option to submit a Paper Application by mail to the USGS. Similar to the online method, using the paper application includes an additional $10 for processing the application.

Other Things To Know About the America the Beautiful Senior Pass Program

For all options, applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. To purchase online, photograph your document and upload it to the order. For paper applications, provide a photocopy of proof of age and citizenship or residency.

Currently, the National Park Service and other agencies don’t issue replacements for misplaced, lost, or stolen passes. They must be purchased again. However, pass owners with worn or damaged passes can replace them.

Top Tip: If you purchase four annual Senior Passes in consecutive years, you can request a free lifetime pass.

USACE Annual Pass vs. America the Beautiful Senior Pass

If you’re wondering whether you should purchase the USACE Annual Pass or the America the Beautiful Senior Pass, here are some things to consider. If you are a park-hopping traveler who loves water activities, owning an Army Corps of Engineers Annual Pass is a must-have. However, to further cut down your camping and recreation expenses and get free admission to more federal lands, purchase the America the Beautiful Senior Pass if you’re 62 or older.

When you look at the cost of the passes, it should become even more clear, which one you should purchase. The USACE Annual Pass is $40 per year, while the America the Beautiful Senior Annual Pass is only $20 and includes access to USACE sites. Finally, the America the Beautiful Senior Lifetime Pass is $80, but that’s lifetime access. So if you know you’ll use the pass for at least four years, the Lifetime pass would be worth the cost, rather than buying a new America the Beautiful Senior Annual Pass each year.

FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the USACE pass and the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.

What’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is an engineering formation of the United States Army made up of approximately 37,000 dedicated civilians and soldiers. Beyond military construction and disaster relief operations, they plan, design, construct, and maintain the nation’s water resources. That includes building dams, lake reservoirs, and bridges.

Today, they oversee more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states and manage around 12 million acres of public lands and more than 93,000 campsites. In addition, they maintain access to day-use facilities and lake access areas like boat ramps, picnic areas, fishing piers, and viewing areas. Impressively, 90% of the COE recreation areas are situated within 50 miles of a major metropolitan center, making them pretty accessible.

Do Families of 4th Graders Enter National Parks for Free?

Yes, the 4th Grade National Park Pass Program grants free entry for fourth graders, plus all children under 16 in the group and up to three accompanying adults to more than 2,000 federal recreation lands and waters. The pass does not cover extra amenity fees such as camping, canoes, kayaks or paddle boats. It’s valid for the school year — September through August.

Can I Buy an America the Beautiful Senior Pass as a Gift?

Unfortunately, senior passes can’t be purchased as gifts since the recipient must first present proof of residency and age. The passes are purchased through the United States Geological Survey, which has verification steps before issuing the pass.

America the Beautiful Pass: A Discounted Way to Experience the Country’s Treasures

America the Beautiful Pass is a discounted ticket to endless adventures. It gives the pass owner and all occupants in a personal vehicle access to 2,000+ federal recreation sites across the United States. Further, the holder gets amazing discounts on camping, boat launching, special-use permits, guided tours, and other amenity fees.

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Cynthia Measom

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Cynthia Measom is the founder and main content creator of RV Top Tips. Not just a writer, she’s a dedicated RV owner and enthusiast, alongside her husband, Joe, who is an experienced RV tech. With their joint knowledge, the two are up on the latest trends and technologies in the RV industry, as well as practical camping and lifestyle tips.

The couple own a 2020 Coachmen Chaparral fifth-wheel that they absolutely love. Their secret to being so satisfied? They purchased the model after a solid year of researching different fifth-wheel campers in person and online to find the perfect fit for their family of three.

How to Get an Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds Senior Pass