When taking the whole family on special outings, the costs of things like admission tickets and parking can really add up. That’s why every family should know about the Every Kid Outdoors program, which makes fourth graders into VIPs by offering them free admission to national parks across the United States. It’s a unique opportunity for kids to explore new places and learn about nature, history, and culture.
Families must register for the free pass, but once you have it, your current fourth grader will have free access to the national parks for the entire school year, plus the summer after. They can even get your whole family into the parks for free!
How the national parks pass for fourth graders works
If you have a fourth grader for this 2026–2027 school year, go to EveryKidOutdoors.gov to get the free national parks pass. The current school year’s pass will be valid from September 1, 2026 (or whenever you sign up after that), until August 31, 2027.
Fourth graders just have to fill out a very brief, two-question survey about what adventures they want to go on, and then enter their zip code to claim the pass. Each pass has a unique code and must be either printed out or converted to a free digital pass to gain entry into the parks.
Once you have the pass in either physical or digital form, you can use it to get free parking and admissions for a whole car-full of friends or family to most national parks around the country. Read the rules for the full details.
Why is this being offered to fourth graders?
According to Every Kid Outdoors, “We chose fourth graders because research shows that kids ages nine to 11 are beginning to learn about the world around them. They’re open to new ideas, and they are likely to connect to nature and our history.”
The program is offered to fourth grade students every year, so eventually, every child in the country will get their turn to be a national parks VIP. Fourth-grade teachers can also receive the passes for an entire class of fourth graders in order to plan field trips.
Where can families go with the pass?
The Every Kid Outdoors website links to resources to plan an adventure with your fourth grader. The list includes 448 national parks, memorials, and monuments, plus 570 national wildlife refuges. Even if you don’t have a way of getting to one of the “classic” national parks like the Grand Canyon for a major vacation, you may find that there’s a smaller monument, historic site, or refuge near you run by the National Park Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Kids can help plan a trip or outing by looking at a map, identifying what type of natural or historical site they would most like to explore, or researching the animals, plants, and structures to be found there before you go. Every Kid Outdoors warns that not all sites will accept the paper pass, so be sure to call and check before you go.
When the time comes for you to sign up and plan a day trip or a longer adventure, the free national parks pass can be an exciting and empowering experience for your fourth grader — and the whole family!
