Here’s How Your Library Card Could Grant You Free Access to Local State Parks

Library cards give you access to way more than just free books. They let you stream movies and television shows, listen to audiobooks, borrow expensive equipment, tools, or musical instruments, utilize a variety of services, explore your local museums, and so much more. In recent years, libraries across various states have introduced a new perk for its nature lovers. If you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Florida, or South Carolina, you have the option to check out passes that allow you to park free at some of the best state parks in America that you absolutely must visit.

For example, a California library card allows you free limited access to over 200 of the state’s most stunning and underrated state parks through the California State Library Parks Pass program. The State Library Parks Pass is available at more than 1,180 libraries in the Golden State, and grants a free day-use entry to a participating state park for one vehicle containing up to nine passengers, or one highway-licensed motorcycle. This program is aimed at encouraging California residents to explore the outdoors, because being in nature has many health benefits and California has no shortage of natural beauties. The pass is valid for any day of the week, including holidays, as long as there is space available in the park. It can also be good for multiple uses, depending on your library’s policy.

California is not the only state offering this incredible perk to library patrons. Starting in 2019 with only 39 libraries, Washington State launched its Check Out Washington program. This program now gives cardholders access to the Discovery Pass — an annual or day-use pass available for purchase — at 109 libraries. The pass allows free day-use visits at Washington state parks or at lands owned by the Washington departments of Fish and Wildlife or Natural Resources. In 2022, the state began a partnership with Washington State Employees Credit Union, providing additional funding to give 400 more passes to participating libraries in communities that experience disproportionate health disparities.

Similarly, in 2023, Nevada libraries implemented their own version of this perk through the Library Park Pass program, which allows cardholders to gain free vehicle entry into all of the state’s 27 state parks. South Carolina and Florida also offer similar perks through their library systems. While most of Oregon’s more than 250 state parks do not charge for parking, 25 of them do, so a library card from the Driftwood and Newport public libraries can get you access to a free parking pass at those parks.

Keep in mind that the libraries have a limited number of passes they can lend out — with only two libraries participating, Oregon has four passes, total — and each pass comes with a return date, just like anything else you’d check out of a library. You may also be able to place a hold on a park pass, just as you would with a book. If so, make sure you place your hold in advance so the pass is available on the day you want to visit your state park.