How to Get a Free Lifetime National Parks Pass if You Have Celiac Disease 🏞️
By: Kelsey Chadwick MS, RDN, LDN
There are 63 National Parks in the United States. I’ve been able to visit three of them so far — Yosemite National Park, Acadia National Park and Yellowstone National Park. They were all so different and I really enjoyed exploring them all. I hope to visit many more over the coming years.
A few days ago I finally signed up for my lifetime National Parks Pass. Sometime last year I learned that as a celiac I can sign up for a lifetime pass for free, which is awesome!
The America the Beautiful pass is free for any U.S. Citizens and residents with a permanent disability. Celiac Disease is a disability covered under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) because it substantially limits a major life activity.
I put together this guide to help you sign up and get your pass too:
Step 1: Get proof of your disability
When signing up for your pass, you will need to submit proof of having celiac disease. If you have an upcoming doctor’s appointment you can ask your physician to provide a letter. My next appointment isn’t for a few months, so I reached out to my doctor via my online portal and they were able to upload it there. I’ve been seeing my doctor for years, so they are aware of my celiac diagnosis. I wouldn’t recommend requesting a letter through the portal if you haven’t established care with your provider yet.
Be sure to have your physician include the following in your letter:
Step 2: Head to Recreation.gov
Once you have your letter, you can add the America the Beautiful pass to your cart and check out. You will need to upload your disability letter and a form of identification, such as your license or your passport.
For us, with celiac disease this pass is free. However, if you desire a physical pass card be mailed to you, the cost is $7.50. Otherwise you can opt out and receive a 100% free pass and add a digital one to your Apple wallet. You will also get a PDF that you can print out and use as your pass (pictured below). Be mindful though, that this is the ONLY time you can request a physical pass. You cannot order a physical card at any other time so if you think you’ll want one I’d recommend ordering it when you are checking out!
If you decide to purchase the physical card, you will add your credit card and billing details and then your order is complete.
Step 3: You will then receive four emails
Your receipt for the transaction
Your pass is “under review”
Your pass is approved (mine was approved in about an hour!)
Your digital pass information to add to your Apple or Google wallet and print
Step 4: Print your pass or add it to your Google or Apple wallet
Once you are approved you will get one last email with your digital pass to add to your Apple or Google wallet. They also include a PDF pass that you can print.
If you ordered a physical card it takes up to three weeks to arrive. I’m looking forward to receiving my physical pass in the next couple of weeks and hope to hit some new national parks soon 🏔️🦬🫎🌲
If you are gluten-free but don’t have celiac disease. Or if you’re one of my family and friends who subscribe and support me :) Check out the free entry days for 2026:
February 16
May 25
June 14
July 3–5
August 25
September 17
October 27
November 11
