A new wallet-sized Empire Pass Card that can be shared within a household is now available. It’s a family-friendly alternative to the traditional window decal, and not assigned to a specific vehicle. The new card can be used by parents, grandparents, caregivers and others.
The Empire Pass is your key to all-season enjoyment at New York State Parks. It provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to most facilities operated by New York State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Learn where the Empire Pass is Accepted.
Empire Passes are available for different lengths of time: choose from one year, multi-year or lifetime.
Please refer to the Empire Pass Guidelines for Use and the Empire Pass Frequently Asked Questions for pass replacement, volume sales and other important information.
Annual Empire Pass: Available for $80, the 2018 Empire Pass is a new wallet-sized card that can be shared within a household and not assigned to a specific vehicle.
The annual 2018 Empire Pass is accepted through December 31, 2018.
To purchase:
Frequent Empire Pass purchasers may be interested in a multi-year Empire Pass which can be bought online, by mail or telephone. A 3-year Empire Pass may be purchased for $205; a 5-year Empire Pass may be purchased for $320. Upon purchase you will be mailed an Empire Pass. You do not need to contact our office unless your address has changed. If it has, please complete our Change of Address form.
The Lifetime Empire Pass is a convenient option for loyal Empire Pass users. The Lifetime Empire Pass will be issued by the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles as an icon that will appear on your NYS Driver License, Non-Driver ID or Learner Permit, eliminating the need for a separate document. For a one-time payment of just $750, it provides an even greater discount for day use vehicle entry than the annual or multi-year Empire Pass, with all the same benefits. With no expiration date, buy it once and enjoy the parks forever!
Special one-time bonus: Those purchasing a Lifetime Empire Pass can select to receive a free $100 State Park Gift Card with their order. The gift card can be used at more than 9000 campsites, cabins and cottages throughout the state and select state golf courses. Gift cards has no expiration date, if you prefer not to receive the gift card, just select "No thanks" during the ordering process.
Parks has teamed up with the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles to offer three beautiful "I love NY Parks" license plates that allow you to show off your pride and passion for state parks and the great outdoors. One set (front and back) of these license plates are available for Lifetime Pass holders and for sale to single and multi-year Empire Pass holders. To learn more visit
NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles.
Empire Pass Replacement:
If the Empire Pass is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, it is replaceable with a $30 fee payable by credit card, check, money order, or cash (in person only).
A replacement may be issued in person or by mail and requires the following:
Lifetime Empire Pass Replacement: