Is a Lifetime Empire Pass Worth it?

We’re lucky to have some wonderful state parks in New York! 

And while the daily entry price per vehicle (typically between $6 and $10 during the season) is pretty reasonable, the costs can add up quickly if you visit your parks frequently.

Enter the New York State Empire Pass.

The Empire passport can be a great investment. (You can learn all about it and decide whether it’s for you in this post. If you already have a state park pass, see how you can get the most out of it — or even get one for free next time!)

Since you’re reading this post, I’m probably preaching to the choir. But what about a LIFETIME Empire Pass? Is that worth the cost of admission — $750 (in 2023)?

I’ve certainly been debating that question for our family. Over the years we’ve sometimes thought about moving somewhere else, possibly out of state. But as we’ve slowly but surely settled comfortably into the Finger Lakes region, I’m starting to wonder whether a Lifetime state park pass could make sense for us.

The upfront investment seems steep at first — $750 is not exactly small change — but it may well be worth it, if you consider a few factors. 

Here’s what I’ve learned.

What is the Lifetime Empire Pass?

Unlike the annual entry pass, the Lifetime Empire Pass is exactly that — good for your lifetime. You pay one flat fee of $750 upfront and never have to renew it again.

You even get your drivers license reissued with a special maple leaf icon, and you may optionally purchase special “I love NY Parks” license plates to show off your parks pride.

Is the Lifetime Empire Pass worth it?

Consider these factors to decide whether it makes sense for you to purchase:

Entrance fee math

There are two ways to look at this — lifetime visits vs. annual passes.

As mentioned, state parks generally charge between $6 and $10 per vehicle per day (historic sites charge less, between $1 and $6). So you’d have to visit parks between 75 and 125 times — let’s call it 100, and that’s not accounting for likely increases in entrance fees over the decades.

Comparing the cost to that of the regular Empire Pass, the lifetime pass is equivalent to about 9 or 10 years of the annual park passes, again not accounting for price increases.

Location

Will you be staying in New York for long enough to actually make all those visits? If there’s a good chance you’ll move elsewhere, maybe this isn’t the right fit.

Age

Obviously, the younger you are, the more use you’re likely to get out of a state park membership.

There’s a wrinkle to this, though: Under the New York State Golden Park Program, residents 62 or older enter most state parks, boat launch sites and arboretums for free and get a reduced entrance to state historic sites and state-operated golf courses from Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Meaning, you may conceivably not need an Empire Pass after age 62, unless you plan to visit the parks a lot on the weekends.

Getting in free

There are several ways to get into the parks for free: First, most only charge during the high season, from spring to fall, though that’s likely when you’ll want to visit and trails are open — but you can enter for free during the rest of the year.

Also, you can use the park in the evenings when there’s no charge. Or you may be eligible for free entry under one of these programs.

Support your parks

Maybe you’re not sure whether you’ll be living in state for long enough or whether you’ll be able to optimize every last bit of use out of it.

And maybe that’s just fine with you, because you simply want to support your state parks (and get those snazzy license plates). Good on you, and thanks!

The Lifetime Empire Pass is Worth it if…

Put differently, I’d say the pass is likely worth it if:

• you spend lots of time in the parks already
• you plan on living in or near New York state for the next 10+ years (or for a total of 10 years over the next few decades)
• you would buy 9 or 10 state park annual passes over the next years, OR you’ll visit at least 100 times
• you don’t qualify for free or reduced entry
• or you simply want to show your support for the state parks system

Have you been debating purchasing a Lifetime Empire Pass? If you’ve bought one, has it been worth it? Tell us in the comments below!

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