In two weeks, on Aug. 28, the National Park Service’s lifetime pass for seniors is set to jump from $10 to $80. The significant increase and looming deadline are spurring hundreds to flock to San Diego’s only national park, the Cabrillo National Monument, to cash in on the deal.
“There’s a bit of a scramble and rightfully so to obtain that pass at the ten dollar cost,” said Eileen Martinez, chief of interpretation and education for the Cabrillo National Monument. “That is happening right here at our entrance station every day, and yesterday I think we sold 500 passes.”
The senior pass gives people 62 years and older lifetime access to more than 2,000 national parks across the country, including Cabrillo National Monument.
The passes can be purchased at any national park, but since San Diego is home to just one, it has drawn large crowds.
“We have had long lines, we’ve brought on extra staff and volunteers to work the lines and we’re trying to get people through as quickly as possible,” Martinez said. “But there’s a huge volume.”
The passes can also be obtained online, but an additional $10 fee is added for processing.
Congress raised the fee last year to fund national park investments, projects and maintenance.
