Empire Pass
Have a question about the Empire Pass? Please visit our FAQ Page for common questions.
2025, multi-season, or lifetime Empire Passes are available for purchase throughout the 2025 season. Instead of paying the vehicle use fee on each visit, present or scan your Empire Pass and it waives the fee for day-use entry. The pass is shareable amongst a household, but may only be used by a single vehicle at a time when entering a facility. Use the NY State Parks Explorer App to store & share the Empire Pass on mobile devices. Empire Passes start at $80 with discounts available for digital only passes or renewals.
Get your Empire Pass today!
The Empire Pass is accepted at most NYS Park & NYS DEC facilities. For a listing of NYS Park facilities see the Empire Pass Guidelines For Use. For DEC facilities, visit their day-use website here
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2025 Empire Pass Renewals
If you have an existing Empire Pass, check the expiration date HERE
Go Green and renew your existing Empire Pass! You have the option to renew your physical or digital pass online to receive a discount! Your existing pass will be re-activated 24 hours after purchase, so you will not need to wait for a new card in the mail.
We offer a digital or physical version of the Empire Pass at our shop. See the benefits of each pass below:
2025 Season and Multi-Season Empire Passes
The 2025 Season Empire Pass is accepted through December 31, 2025 and can be purchased in person at some State Parks or online. Multi-season passes can only be purchased online, by mail or phone. Please contact the park directly for further information and availability.
Frequent Empire Pass purchasers may be interested in a multi-season Empire Pass. A 3-Season Empire Pass Card will be accepted through 12/31/2027; a 5-Season Empire Pass Card will be accepted through 12/31/29.
If you order a physical card online, please allow 7-10 business days to receive your Empire Pass card by U.S. standard mail. We do not have a temporary pass available, and you cannot use your confirmation email for entry into the park. You must wait to receive the physical pass to use it.
To purchase:
- Online: Any Empire Pass can be purchased online.
- In-Person (2025 Season Pass only): You may call the park directly for further information and availability. Renewals, multi season, and lifetime passes are available online only. In-person purchases are non-refundable and non-returnable.
- Mail: Complete an application with check or money order payable to "NYS Parks" and mail to:
Empire Pass
New York State Parks
Albany, NY 12238
Lifetime Empire Pass Card
For $750 you will receive an Empire Pass card with no expiration date. Buy it once and enjoy the parks for your lifetime!
Need to Replace your Empire Pass?
If the Empire Pass is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, it is replaceable with a $17.00 fee.
A replacement may be issued in person at most park facilities, over the phone (credit card), or by mail (check/money order only). All require one of the following:
- Verification of the original pass purchase
- A completed Empire Pass Replacement Request form
- The damaged or destroyed pass with a visible pass number
NOTE: The replacement fee is non-refundable. If the original pass is found after purchase, it can be used as a replacement in the future.