Photo: Mikel Manitius, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every Georgia state park charges a parking fee, called the ParkPass. In 2026 it costs $10 per vehicle for the day or $70 for a full year. Here is exactly what the ParkPass covers, where to buy it, the discounts most people miss, and how many visits it takes for the annual pass to pay for itself. We checked every price on this page against Georgia State Parks on October 21, 2026.
- Daily ParkPass$10 per vehicle, good at any state park on the day you buy it
- Annual ParkPass$70, valid for 12 months from the date of purchase
- Discounts50% off the annual pass for ages 62 and up; 25% off for active military and veterans (buy in person)
- Free optionBorrow a ParkPass with a Georgia public library card
- What It Costs
- Is the Annual Pass Worth It?
- Where to Buy
- What It Covers
- Overnight Stays
- Historic Sites
- Common Questions
What the ParkPass Costs in 2026
The ParkPass is a parking fee, not a per-person entrance fee. One pass covers one car and everyone in it. Large vans and buses pay more.
| Pass | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Daily ParkPass | $10 | One vehicle, every state park, on the day of purchase |
| Annual ParkPass | $70 | One vehicle, every state park, for 12 months |
| Annual, ages 62 and up | 50% off ($35) | Buy in person at a park office |
| Annual, active military and veterans | 25% off ($52.50) | Buy in person at a park office |
| Large van (13 to 30 passengers) | $50 a day or $90 a year | One van |
| Bus or motor coach (more than 30) | $100 a day or $275 a year | One bus |
| Lost annual pass replacement | $20 | Replaces your hangtag |
A daily pass bought at one park still works at a second park the same day, so you can see Amicalola Falls in the morning and Vogel in the afternoon for one $10 fee. The pass is not valid the next morning, though, even if you stay in the area.
Is the Annual ParkPass Worth It?
Yes, if you will visit state parks seven or more times in a year. At $10 a day, the $70 annual pass breaks even on your seventh visit and every trip after that is free. For seniors the math is even better: the $35 annual pass pays for itself on the fourth visit.
Buy the annual pass if…
You live within an hour of a state park and walk, bike, fish or swim there regularly; you are planning a summer of camping trips; or you are 62 or older and visit even a few times a year.
Stick with daily passes if…
You visit two or three times a year, mostly for a single big trip. Remember that a daily pass covers every park you visit that day.
Consider the library option if…
You only need a pass for a weekend. Many Georgia public libraries lend a ParkPass for free with a library card, the same way you would check out a book.
Annual passes also make good gifts. Georgia State Parks sells them online year-round, and the 12 months start when the pass is purchased, not when it is first used.
Where to Buy a ParkPass
You can buy a daily pass on arrival at almost every park. Annual passes take a little more planning if you buy them online.
At the park
Pay at the park office or visitor center, at the self-pay kiosk, or by scanning the QR code posted at the entrance. The emailed confirmation is your receipt.
Online
Annual passes are sold on GaStateParks.org. Allow 7 to 10 business days for the hangtag to arrive by mail (Georgia State Parks notes it can take 2 to 3 weeks), so buy at a park office if your trip is soon.
From your library
Georgia public libraries lend free ParkPasses and Historic Site Passes to library card holders. Checkout periods and limits are set by each library, and passes are often reserved weeks ahead, so check your library’s catalog.
Senior and military discounts on the annual pass are only available in person, so bring an ID to a park office. The pass is a hangtag; hang it from your rearview mirror so rangers can see it.
What the ParkPass Covers, and What It Doesn’t
The ParkPass covers parking at Georgia’s state parks, from Tallulah Gorge to Skidaway Island. Several popular places in Georgia look like state parks but are run by someone else, and the ParkPass is not valid at any of them:
Not covered: Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain Park is run by a private company and charges its own parking fee. See our Stone Mountain Park guide.
Not covered: national parks
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park are run by the National Park Service.
Not covered: lakes and islands
Army Corps of Engineers parks on the big lakes, Lake Lanier Islands and Jekyll Island charge their own fees. (Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier is a state park and does take the ParkPass.)
Not covered: WMAs and fishing areas
Wildlife Management Areas and Public Fishing Areas require a Georgia hunting or fishing license or a Lands Pass instead.
A few groups do not need a ParkPass at all: golfers (parking is included in the greens fee), organized school groups, and diners at a state park lodge restaurant or people attending a day-long meeting there.
Do Campers and Cabin Guests Pay the Parking Fee?
Yes, but only once per stay. Parking is not included in campsite, yurt or cottage reservations. Overnight guests pay the daily ParkPass fee one time at check-in, and it covers the whole stay no matter how many nights. If you already have an annual pass, just hang it in your car. Every vehicle in your party needs its own pass.
Booking a stay? See our guides to Georgia state park cabins, cottages and yurts and the best Georgia state parks for camping.
State Historic Sites Need a Different Pass
The ParkPass does not cover Georgia’s State Historic Sites, such as Etowah Indian Mounds, New Echota, the Dahlonega Gold Museum and Roosevelt’s Little White House. They charge their own daily admission, sold on site. If you plan to visit several, the annual Historic Site Pass covers regular admission at most of them:
| Historic Site Pass | Price | Admits |
|---|---|---|
| Family | $50 | Up to 4 people |
| Adult | $30 | 1 adult, 18 or older |
| Student | $25 | 1 person under 18, or a college student with ID |
The Historic Site Pass does not include special events, and there is no senior discount. Jefferson Davis Memorial, Lapham-Patterson House and Robert Toombs House are not included. To plan a whole year of visits, print our Georgia state parks checklist or browse the 25 best state parks in Georgia.
Common Questions
How much is a Georgia State Parks pass?
The daily ParkPass is $10 per vehicle and the annual ParkPass is $70 in 2026. Ages 62 and up get 50% off the annual pass, and active military and veterans get 25% off, when bought in person.
Does one ParkPass work at every Georgia state park?
Yes. A daily pass works at any state park on the day you buy it, and an annual pass works at all of them for 12 months. It does not cover State Historic Sites, Stone Mountain, national park sites, Jekyll Island or Corps of Engineers lake parks.
Do you pay per person at Georgia state parks?
No. The ParkPass is a parking fee per vehicle, so everyone in the car is covered. Some activities inside parks, such as boat tours, golf or equipment rentals, cost extra.
Can I get a free Georgia State Parks pass?
Many Georgia public libraries lend a ParkPass for free to library card holders. Check your library’s catalog, since passes are popular and each library sets its own checkout rules.
Do I need a ParkPass if I am camping or renting a cottage?
Yes. Parking is not included in reservations. Overnight guests pay the daily fee once per stay at check-in, or hang an annual pass.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources on October 21, 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm before you go:
- Georgia State Parks: ParkPass: daily, annual, senior, military, van and bus rates; where to buy; what the pass does not cover; exemptions
- Georgia State Parks: Things to Know: overnight guests pay the parking fee once per stay
- Georgia State Parks: Historic Site Pass: 2026 Historic Site Pass prices and exclusions
- Georgia State Parks: Library Loan Program: free ParkPass and Historic Site Pass checkout at public libraries
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.