Are you eligible for a free Discover Pass?! The answer might surprise you! We have found great deals on the Washington State Discover Pass for seniors, veterans, foster families and more.
Unfortunately, many of Washington’s greatest parks and recreation areas feature signs declare the need for a Discover Pass. This is very discouraging to low income Washingtonians who can’t enjoy everything the state has to offer. The good news is that some Washington residents can skip the purchase altogether!
How to Get a FREE Discover Pass
There are several ways that you can get a free Discover Pass in Washington State. Each option has its own eligibility requirements, so please review these options carefully to find the one that is right for you.
Discover Pass for Seniors
If you are over the age of 62, you may qualify for a special program called the Senior Citizen Limited Income Pass. This is a special Washington State Discover Pass for seniors who meet strict income limits. This pass is completely free and it lasts for five years!
In order to qualify, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be at least 62 years old.
- You must have a household income that is $40,000 per year or less.
- You must have lived in Washington State for at least three consecutive months.
If you qualify for this special Discover Pass for seniors, you will receive the following benefits:
- FREE day-use access to state parks
- FREE watercraft launching
- FREE trailer dumps
- 50% discount on nightly camping
- 50% discount on moorage fees
- 50% off the Senior Off-Season Pass (which we’ll tell you about later in this article)
If you are eligible for this pass, you will need to fill out the Senior Citizen Limited Income Pass Application. You can either print this PDF or fill it out on Docusign. You can also request that the office mail you an application by calling (360) 902-8844.
Once you receive your pass, make sure to take care of it! Although the pass is free, Washington State charges $15 every time you need to replace this special Discover Pass for seniors.
Disability Discover Pass
Washington State residents with disabilities may be able to get free access to state parks! This pass is completely free. It lasts up to five years!
In order to be eligible, you must be legally blind, profoundly deaf, or meet the Social Security Administration’s criteria for disabilities.
The Disability Discover Pass provides these benefits:
- FREE day-use access to state parks
- FREE watercraft launching
- FREE trailer dumps
- 50% discount on nightly camping
- 50% discount on moorage fees
- Access to ADA-accessible campsites
You can apply for the Disability Discover Pass by printing this application or completing it on Docusign. Under state law, you do NOT have to complete the application if you have a disabled parking ID card, disability placard or disabled license plate because you are already entitled to those benefits.
This pass only covers state parks, though. You will still need a Discover Pass if you are visiting lands managed by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) or the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass
Washington State residents with a documented service-connected disability of at least 30% are eligible for a free Lifetime Pass! This is an incredible deal.
In order to be eligible, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be a disabled veteran.
- You must have a VA disability rating of at least 30%.
- You must have lived in Washington State for at least three consecutive months.
The Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass provides:
- FREE day-use access to state parks
- FREE watercraft launching
- FREE trailer dumps
- FREE camping
- FREE moorage
- No reservation fees
If you are eligible, you can apply by printing out the Disabled Veteran Pass application or completing it on Docusign. You will also need to submit a VA disability award showing that you have been rated at least 30% disabled.
If you get this pass, you’ll be eligible for:
- FREE state parks access (this does not cover WDFW or DNR land)
- FREE boat launching
- FREE trailer dumping
- FREE camping and moorage
You also won’t have to pay any reservation fees! Reservation fees are typically charged when you book a campsite through the park website… but disabled veteran passholders don’t have to pay those fees!
You can apply at the park, at the region offices, by downloading and mailing the application, or by calling (360) 902-8844 (or 800-833-6388 for the Telecommunication Relay Service).
Foster Family Pass
Foster families, kinship families, guardians and other caregivers may be eligible for free access to Washington State Parks as well. The Foster Family Pass is free and lasts for two years!
In order to be eligible, you must meet these requirements:
- You must provide out-of-home care to at least one child. This includes foster families, kinship caregivers, legal guardians and other caregivers.
- You must have lived in Washington State for at least three months.
- The parent and child must visit the park together.
If you are eligible, you can receive a free Foster Family Pass that provides free day-use parking and free camping at Washington State Parks. This pass does not work at WDFW or DNR land, though.
You can apply by printing the Foster Family Pass Application or completing it on Docusign. You will need to attach proof of residency and proof of out-of-home care in order to complete the application.
Volunteer
Volunteers don’t need a Discover Pass while volunteering! After 24 hours of volunteering, volunteers can earn a free Discover Pass! Married spouses can even combine their volunteer hours to add up to 24 hours.
If you’d like to get started, find eligible volunteer projects near you on the WA State Parks website.
Discover Pass Discounts
If you don’t qualify for a free Discover Pass, you may still be able to get a great discount on one. There are many programs that offer discounts to residents who qualify.
Discover Pass Senior Discount
All senior Washington State residents can purchase an off-season senior citizen pass. This pass offers free nightly camping or moorage between October 1 and March 31 (and Sunday through Thursday in April). Utilities cost just $10 per night.
Unfortunately, this pass is not free. It costs $75, or $37.50 for seniors with a limited income. The pass is available for purchase at most state parks or the state parks headquarters after September 1 each year.
In order to apply for the Senior Off-Season Discount Pass, you will need to fill out this application. You can do it at home or fill it out on-site at many state parks.
Other Options
There are a few other ways that you may be able to avoid paying for a Discover Pass. Let’s explore your options.
Hunting & Fishing Licenses (WDFW Land Only)
When you purchase a hunting or fishing license, you receive a Vehicle Access Pass that grants you access to land owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you are hunting or fishing, you do NOT need a Discover Pass to access land managed by WDFW.
However, you will still need a Discover Pass to access state parks or DNR land.
Chelan PUD Customers (Limited)
Chelan PUD customers may be able to avoid paying for a Discover Pass if they want to visit one of the three state parks covered by the Public Power Benefit Day Use Pass. This pass allows Chelan PUD customers to get free day use parking passes that are valid at Wenatchee Confluence, Lincoln Rock and Daroga State Parks.
Every Chelan PUD customer can apply. Each family can receive one pass, which will be issued between January and September of each year. The pass is only valid for one calendar year, beginning January 1.
You can apply online or by calling (509) 661-4551 (option 4). It takes 3-5 days to receive your pass after you apply, so be sure to apply at least a week or so before your trip.
Don’t Bring a Vehicle
The Discover Pass is only for motor vehicles. If you are visiting state recreation lands by other means, such as bicycle, horse, or by foot, then you don’t need a pass. You don’t need a Discover Pass if you visit by boat, either!
According to the state, you can also skip the pass if you’re just driving through but not leaving your vehicle. If you get out of your vehicle at all, though, you will need a pass.
Visit on a FREE Day
Every year, the state sets aside a number of FREE Discover Pass days. On these days, everyone can visit Washington State Parks without worrying about whether or not they have a pass.
Although the exact dates of these free days vary every year, they typically happen on certain holidays:
- New Years Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Billy Frank Jr.’s Birthday
- WA State Park’s Birthday
- Earth Day
- National Get Outdoors Day
- Free Fishing Day
- Juneteenth
- National Public Lands Day
- World Mental Health Day
- Veterans Day
- Autumn Day (the day after Thanksgiving)
For the exact date of this year’s free days, check the state website.
About the Discover Pass
If you’ve landed on this post, we assume you already know what the Discover Pass is… but just in case, we want to make sure that we cover all the bases so nobody’s left confused.
What is the Washington State Discover Pass?
Discover Pass is the official name for the Washington State Parks Pass. The Discover Pass unlocks access to millions of acres of adventure throughout Washington State, including:
- 100+ developed state parks
- 350+ primitive recreation sites (including campgrounds and picnic areas)
- 80+ natural areas
- 30+ wildlife areas
The Discover Pass also gives you access to nearly 700 water access points and nearly 2,000 miles of water and land recreation trails.
How much does the Discover Pass cost?
If you purchase the Discover Pass at full price, it costs $30 per year. If you purchase it at a license vendor, over the phone or online, you also have to pay an additional $5 in transaction and dealer fees. That means the annual pass costs $35 for most users.
There is also a single-day Discover Pass option. It’s $10 but with dealer and transaction fees, you’ll end up paying $11.50. If you plan to visit Washington State Parks more than three times a year, the annual pass is the more affordable option.
What if I don’t buy one?
If you’re caught without a Discover Pass on state recreation lands, you could be fined up to $99! That’s more than three times the cost of the annual pass. You’ll still have to pay $59 even if you buy a Discover Pass after being notified of your violation.
If you’re eligible for a free Discover Pass, it’s better to get it in advance instead of asking for forgiveness later. It’s not hard to claim one when you follow the steps in this article!
Relief Recap
We’ve reviewed all of the ways that you can get a free Discover Pass, including the Discover Pass for seniors and Disabled Veterans Lifetime Pass! If you live in Washington and love saving money (who doesn’t?), then don’t forget to check out our list of Washington State EBT discounts, free museum days and more!
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.
Cristina Bravo
Friday 7th of April 2023
@Mark Maye, I agree I am making a list of all the requests I noticed to write to my reps. Sometimes I get charge for GOOD TO GO fees, the Dept of Transportation, WST sent me everytime I want to help and visit a friend in Camano Island, and also I get charge close to $5,000 now in Property Taxes, I am a senior and I do not have money left to go on Vacation. The State steals my money, in addition to the income tax and car tab licenses. My children are out of school, but I still have to pay for it. Enough is enough we are paying for the increase salaries of the CEO, CFO, etc. who make the rules which benefit a few.