Washington’s Discover Pass, the required vehicle access permit for state parks and other public lands, will see its first price increase since the program began in 2011. Starting Oct. 1, 2025, the cost of an annual pass will rise from $30 to $45. The Discover Pass is valid at state lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Department of Natural Resources.
The fee increase was approved by the Legislature in April and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson in May. While the increase reflects more than a decade of inflation, it will not bring in significant new revenue for State Parks during the 2025–27 budget cycle. Lawmakers reduced general fund support for the agency and added new costs, leaving parks more dependent than ever on user fees. In the next biennium, about 71% of State Parks’ funding will come from earned revenue such as the Discover Pass, up from about 65% in the current cycle.
Revenue from the Discover Pass helps fund operations that keep Washington’s 124 developed parks, 1,300 miles of trails, 6,000 campsites, and more than 2,700 facilities open and staffed. Founded in 1913, Washington State Parks welcomes over 40 million visitors each year, making it one of the most popular public land systems in the region. (OTO)
