The U.S. National Park Service offers a $10.00 America the Beautiful Lifetime Pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents for seniors age 62 and over.  The pass which you can purchase at a federal recreation site ( in Maine, that means Acadia National Park) covers entry into more than 2,000 national sites and will cover the senior pass holder and anyone in a non-commercial vehicle at sites where you pay per carload, or the senior pass holder and three companions at pay-per-person sites.  The guests do not have to be seniors.  For an additional $10.00 for processing, you can also order your pass online. Go to http://recreation.gov  and click on annual pass.

Maine also sells annual park passes, which offer access to most, but not all , state parks.  Maine seniors, age 65 and older, do not need individual passes, as day-use park admission is free for them.  If, however, a senior would like a vehicle pass, which covers day-use entry at participating parks plus passengers in vehicles that hold up to 17 people, then the cost is $30.00.

If you need/want to purchase a state park pass, then you can visit any participating state park during the in-season months, or you can call the state’s Campground Reservations Call Center at (207) 624-9950.  Passes are also available for purchase online or you can buy one by checking a box on your state income tax form and having them deduct from your refund.