Fees & Passes

Plan Your Visit

Key Information

  1. Get an entrance pass

    All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

    Pass Price
    Standard Pass $15.00
    Annual Pass $45.00
    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

$15.00

The majority of the 43-acre park is free. However, the historic zone (location of the star fort and outer battery, designated by a wooden fence) requires an entrance fee of $15 per adult (16 and older). An annual pass is available for $45 and covers the pass holder plus 3 adults. Interagency passes are accepted in the park and can cover the pass holder plus 3 adults. All passes must be physically present with a photo ID.

Access to the historic zone (where the star fort is located) requires an entrance fee.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

More information

For Organizations & Businesses

There is no group rate for the entrance fee. All groups must pay $15 per adult. Children in the groups are free, however, they must be accompanied by an adult in the historic zone. Interagency passes are allowed to be used to assist with group entry fees.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

More information
Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00
The Fort McHenry Annual Pass covers the pass holder plus three adults to enter the Fort McHenry NM & HS Historic Zone for 12 months. The pass is both available at the park visitor center, or a digital version is available on recreation.gov. In order for the pass to work, it must be physically on the passholder with a valid photo ID. To purchase the pass, visit the visitor center desk which is open 9 AM - 4 PM, or 9 AM - 4 PM in the summers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Visitor Center

    Credit/Debit Only

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
Annual Senior Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $20.00
Lifetime Senior Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $80.00
Annual Military Pass Current US military and dependents Free
Lifetime Military 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 or by phone: 1-888-275-8747, extension 1. Hours of operation are 8 am to 4 pm Mountain Time.

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 may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

 
Recreation.gov Digital Pass Icon
 
Fee Zone
U.S. Fee Area sign.

National Park Service

Entrance Fees & Passes

Entry fees can be paid at the park visitor center 9:00 AM-4:00 PM year round, or 9:00 AM-5:00 PM in the summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day). All sales in the park are cashless.

Passes can also be purchased on recreation.gov.

Fort McHenry Historic Zone 7 Day Pass $15

Covers one adult (16 and over) to enter the historic zone of the site (where the historic star-fort structure is).

Fort McHenry Annual Pass $45

A one year pass that gets the pass holder and three adults (16 and up) into the historic zone.

Children (15 and under) are free.


Passes are also available on site in the park visitor center daily from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Other Passes


All America The Beautiful Passes are available on site, either in the park visitor center, or in the park bookstore. If you already have an America The Beautiful Pass, make sure to have it physically on you with a valid photo ID. Passes cover the pass holder plus three adults.


Information about the 4th Grade Pass, please visit Every Kid Outdoors.

 


 
A park ranger at Fort McHenry giving a program in front of the water battery.
Passes

A description of all available passes for visiting National Park sites

A park ranger at Fort McHenry giving a program in the fort's outer battery.
Fee-Free Days

A list of all the fee-free days at National Parks all across the country that charge for entrance.

School buses lined up along road
Academic Fee Waiver

Quick information on academic fee waivers and how a school group can get one.

Kids waving to the camera while participating in a flag talk program.
Your Fee Dollars at Work

Information on where entrance fee dollars go and what they are used for in the park service.

Last updated: November 21, 2023

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

2400 East Fort Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21230

Phone:

410 962-4290 x250

Contact Us