17 Clever Ways to Get the Most out of Your New York Empire Pass

So you’ve decided to buy a New York Empire Pass. Congratulations — I think you’ll really enjoy exploring New York’s state parks with this annual entry pass!

(If you have no idea what an Empire Pass is or are still debating whether you should get one, read more here. Or maybe you’re thinking about upgrading to a Lifetime Empire Pass?)

Using your New York state park pass is pretty straightforward: show it at the entrance of one of the many state parks, historic sites, beaches and other attractions run by the  New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (here’s a complete list of places accepting the Empire Pass) and get day-use access for your vehicle (and everyone inside).

But there are some finer points to getting the most out of your pass.

NOTE: The 2023 Empire Pass is now available for purchase on the official website.

Here are my tips:

Plan your purchase

• Buy your annual park pass early in the year. The price doesn’t get prorated if you purchase it in a later month, so it’ll be the same in August as in April. The Empire Pass is valid until December 31 of the purchase year.
• Check the official guide to see which parks sell the pass, since not all of them do, and whether they accept credit cards.
• If you pay the single entrance fee and decide you want the Empire Pass after all, you can apply the fee to the pass on the same calendar day.
• You can also buy the Empire Pass online, but you need to allow a few days for shipping. While a phone app is available, you won’t be able to scan your pass into the app until you’ve received it by mail.

Plan your visit

• Think outside state parks: The Empire Pass is also valid at certain Department of Environmental Conservation forest preserve areas, boat launch sites, arboretums, and park preserves. Check here for a complete listing of sites that accept the pass.
• Read the Empire Pass brochure or check each park’s website to see if there are any exceptions to getting free vehicle entry with the pass. These are mainly for special events operated by other organizations.

Care for your card

• Share! The pass is now a wallet-sized card instead of the old decal that was stuck to one vehicle, so you can share the pass within your household with family members, caregivers, grandparents etc.
• Remember to bring the card with you (duh!) — otherwise you need to pay the entry fee. OR use the Parks Explorer App to upload your card for digital use. (As of 2023, the card can be added to the app of only one device, maximum.) HOWEVER, I want you to be aware that as of mid-2023, the app loses your Empire Pass information when it updates (at least on my Android phone), so you may end up in a situation where you have to pay at the park entrance after all because you don’t have your card info available. (Having encountered this problem before, I thought I was being clever by having the QR code stored in my phone as backup, but the ticketing machine at Niagara Falls couldn’t read it.)
• Don’t lose or damage your card, because it costs $17 (in 2023) to replace. Special note: DO NOT alter the pass in any way. It may be tempting to punch a hole into it like it’s your college ID, but don’t! It’ll destroy the embedded technology.

Get an Empire Pass discount

• Keep your plastic card and renew it online (and online only — this can’t be done at any park offices). You’ll receive a discount of $5 to $15 (depending on the date you renew), and you don’t have to wait for a new pass to arrive in the mail, though reactivation can take 24-48 hours. For the greatest discount, renew before the end of the previous calendar year (12/31). 
• Buy a multi-year pass to save money. In 2023, the 3-Season Empire Pass costs $205 ($35 compared to single-year purchases), the 5-Season Empire Pass costs $320 (saving $80). If you’re in it for the long haul, consider a Lifetime Empire Pass for $750. (Read my post to decide whether it’s worth it for you.)

Use your parks in many ways

• Visit the playgrounds: Many of the parks have awesome playground facilities. In Ithaca, we like to pop into the Buttermilk Falls or Robert H. Treman state parks just to use the large, varied playgrounds. They have setups for both older and younger kids.
• Picnic in the park: One of my favorite features of having the Empire Pass is that we can get together at a local park with friends to have a cookout or picnic. Many have picnic tables and grills available. Bring bags so you can carry out your own trash.
• Celebrate: Use the picnic tables and grills, or rent the pavilions available in some parks.
• Go camping: Some parks have camping sites. NOTE: The Empire Pass will cover your vehicle entry fee, but you still have to pay for the camp site.
• Use parks as a rest stop: When you’re taking a day trip or just out and about, stop at a park for a nap, some play time, or a picnic.
• Go swimming: Many parks have lake or ocean beaches or swimming holes. Only use the sites according to the official rules, of course.
• Go throughout the seasons: State parks are not just great in the summer. The frozen falls at Taughannock are a sight to behold! Break out your cross-country skis and snow shoes, too. And for a special event, check out First Day hikes every January 1 — a fun and outdoorsy way to start the new year.

I hope these ideas help you get lots of use and joy out of your Empire Pass. I’d love to hear how you use your pass and whether I missed anything.

Comment below!

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