Park Passes — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

TPWD offers a variety of passes:

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Texas State Parks Pass

The Texas State Parks Pass is good for one year and includes:

• Unlimited free entry to 89 state parks for you and your guests (pass holder must be present to get free entry). Park capacity limits apply, passholders are not guaranteed entry if the park has reached capacity.
• Discounts on camping (restrictions apply), park store purchases and equipment rentals
• Other special offers.

A Texas State Parks Pass costs $70 and is issued to one person (the card holder). You can buy a second pass for someone who lives at the same address as you for $25.

You cannot purchase a pass for someone else. If you want to give a pass to another person, please purchase a gift card instead.

For more information, read Texas State Parks Pass Details.

Buy a Texas State Park Pass on our reservation website or at any state park, or call (512) 389-8900 to order a pass (plus shipping and handling). Secondary passes can only be purchased at a park.

Texas Parklands Passport

You may qualify for a free Texas Parklands Passport. Parkland Passport benefits apply only to the pass holder and one companion. Parkland Passports do not guarantee entry if the park has reached capacity.  We offer four parklands passports:

Obtain these passes at any state park.

Senior Partial

If you are 65 years old or older and are a Texas resident, you qualify for the Senior Partial passport good at Texas state parks that charge entry fees. With this pass, you and a companion pay 50 percent off the entry fee rounded to the next whole dollar. For example, if the entry fee is $3, each of you will pay $2. 

Present one of the following items to get your passport:

• Driver’s license
• Birth certificate
• Military discharge papers
• Other papers that confirm your age, identity and home address.

Senior Full 

If you were born before Sept. 1, 1930, you qualify for the Senior Full passport. With this pass, you and a companion can enter any Texas state park for free. 

Present one or more of the following items to get your passport:

• Driver’s license
• Birth certificate
• Military discharge papers
• Other papers that confirm your age and identity.

Disabled Veterans

The Disabled Veterans passport allows free entry to Texas state parks for a U.S. veteran with a 60 percent or more service-connected disability or loss of lower extremity. A companion gets free entry, as well.

Present valid identification (such as a driver’s license) and one of the following to get your passport:

• Disabled Veterans of Texas license plate receipt
• Veteran’s award letter (which establishes the degree of disability)
• Tax exemption letter for Texas veterans.

Disability

If you are medically disabled, you qualify for the Disability passport, good at Texas state parks that charge entry fees. With this pass, you and a companion pay 50 percent off the entry fee rounded to the next whole dollar. For example, if the entry fee is $3, each of you will pay $2. 

You must renew the pass each year. Present the following to get your passport:

• Identification (such as a driver’s license) and
• At least one of the following
  • An Award of Benefits Letter or a Statement of Benefits from the Social Security Administration which says that you are permanently disabled.
  • Vehicle registration document showing applicant has received a disability license plate within the last year
  • Permanent disability placard (blue) issued to the applicant within the last 4 years.
  • Statement signed by a licensed medical professional attesting the applicant has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity

Youth Group Annual Pass

The Youth Group Annual Pass allows free entry to state parks for nonprofit youth group members and a reasonable number of adult sponsors.

The pass costs $100 and is valid for one year. Up to a total of 50 kids and sponsors can enter the park with the pass.

To purchase, you must show proof of nonprofit status and certify that your group serves children ages 13 to 17.

To apply for the pass, download an application and submit: Youth Group Annual Permit – Application Packet (PDF 455 KB).

We must receive all application documents at least six weeks before your next park visit so that we have time to process and mail your pass. If you do not present the pass when you check in, the park staff will have to charge you standard entrance fees. Parks will not accept a sales receipt in lieu of the pass.

Restricted Annual Activity Passes

Some parks issue passes that give access to specific things like swimming or golfing.

These passes grant entry to the park only for specific activities. You will have to pay entry fees to use other park facilities.

Rules, terms and applications vary; please contact parks for details.

Gift Card

Purchase gift cards for any value between $5 and $500. You can buy gift cards online or at a state park.

Redeem gift cards at most state parks to purchase park passes, retail items, or to pay for park entrance or overnight fees.

Gift cards are fully transferable and must be treated like cash. Funds on gift cards expire three years from purchase.