Golden Age Passport/Card?

How old do you have to be to qualify for this and where do I find one? ??? Thanks alot!

Golden Age Passport is no longer available anywhere.
It has been replaced by the "America the Beautiful" card which has replaced it. You can get the new card anywhere it is accepted (National Park Service, Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and others). It still costs $10 for a lifetime and offers the same benefits at the passport--at least for now.
For the Golden Age Passport you must be able to prove that you are 62 years old or older. "America the Beautiful" cards also come in "access" for to replace the Golden Access Passport. It is the same as the other card except that there is no age limit but you must prove that you are receiving federal disabilty benefits (Social Security of VA mostly). The "access" card also is FREE.
For more information, go here: www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
Glenn

thanks Glenn for sharing information on America the Beautiful. I went to Shiloh National Military Park and was issued the Access card for life free of charge.

Joel

As I had anticipated, there are problems. We spent a week at a campground in the Ocala National Forest and the $6 per night fee became $3 per night with the ATB card. On our way out of the forest we decided to check out another campground and the woman there wouldn't even let us in, even after I flashed my ATB card. She said I needed a Golden Access Passport, even called her supervisor who confirmed the fact. As we were beginning a long drive that morning I didn't have time to educate her. But that is one of the things I am concerned about. The other is the opportunity for any or all of the participating agencies to just drop the 50% discount as the wording on the back specifically says "MAY" and is indeed in all capital letters.
Glenn

And, am I correct that the GAP or the ATB is honored by the national parks but not the vendors inside?

I usually use NFs or NPs when I don't use the MWR and have never had one deny the GAP discount -- although the vendors almost never honor it for services. Some state parks even honor the GAP for a discount on the campsite ...

Yes, you are correct but with the addition of the all caps MAY to the back of the ATB card it leaves it wide open for the agencies to deny its use.

The Golden Passports have become understood over the years. We are told America The Beautiful is the same thing but not all of the agencies have properly informed their staffs.

Specifically, the Ocalla National Forest. Their literature says Golden Passports everywhere but on one sheet of paper where Golden Passports have been replaced with America The Beautiful. What was so ironic about my situation is that one campground in Forest accepted my card for a week's stay while one just down the road but still in the Forest wouldn't even let me through the gate without paying (which I refused to do but the only way they could get me out was to let me drive through the campground--which is all I wanted to do in the first place).

Enough of my rant. I just don't look forward to educating box people during the next couple of years.

Glenn

Box People (Noun)--Those gatekeepers at campgrounds and parks who live in little boxes and grant or deny access to those so applying.