Vehicle Admission Passes
Wisconsin State Park System
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
A vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas. Admission passes can be purchased online, at individual properties or from DNR service centers.
Purchase a Wisconsin state park and forest vehicle admission pass online.
12-month vehicle admission pass rates
A 12-month vehicle admission pass to Wisconsin state parks and forests is valid for 12 months from the time of purchase.
The 12-month vehicle admission passes are marked to indicate the month/year in which they expire. The month the pass expires will be marked/punched at the time of purchase. The pass will remain valid until the final day of the month/year in which it is marked.
| Vehicle | 12-month Pass | 12-month Reduced Rate Pass* |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles with Wisconsin license plates | $28 | $15.50 |
| Vehicles with Wisconsin license plates, residents age 65 and older | $13 | n/a |
| Vehicles with out-of-state plates | $38 | $20.50 |
| *Reduced-rate passes are for additional vehicles registered to the same household address. Reduced rate passes must be purchased at the same time as a full-price pass (or customer must provide valid proof of purchase of full price pass). | ||
Daily vehicle admission pass rates
Daily vehicle admission passes are valid from the date of issue.
| Vehicle | Daily Pass* | Devil's Lake Daily Pass | Peninsula & Willow River Daily Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles with Wisconsin license plates | $8 | $13 | $10 |
| Vehicles with Wisconsin license plates, residents age 65 and older | $3 | $3 | $3 |
| Vehicles with out-of-state plates | $11 | $16 | $13 |
| Bus, with Wisconsin license plates | $11 | $16 | $13 |
| Bus, out-of-state plates | $15 | $20 | $17 |
*Daily pass rate applies to all properties except Devil's Lake, Peninsula and Willow River state parks. **Daily rates effective through Dec. 31, 2024. | |||
There's an additional $5 fee for anyone who fails to pay for admission before using the park, forest, trail or recreation area. If a visitor refuses or fails to buy a pass, a citation can be issued.
How to purchase vehicle admission passes
Buy online: Vehicle admission passes can be purchased online. A 12-month or daily Wisconsin Resident, Wisconsin Resident Senior and Nonresident passes can be purchased online. Additionally, one Reduced Rate 12-month pass (for a vehicle registered to the same household address) can be purchased online at the same time as a full-price pass. A single vehicle admission pass or pass package can be purchased at a time through the online service. A combination of passes can be purchased in one transaction at a state park property.
Buy at a state park: 12-month and daily vehicle admission passes and state trail passes can be purchased at most State Park properties via the following methods:
- In person at a property during office hours (credit cards, cash or checks accepted).
- An electronic sales kiosk is available at many properties from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (credit cards accepted).
Please note: Vehicle admission passes are not sold at Heritage Hill State Park. There is a per-person admission fee charged at Heritage Hill.
Buy at a DNR service center: Vehicle admission passes can also be purchased in person at open DNR service centers.
Vehicle Admission Pass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I purchase passes for members of my organization?
Many companies and organizations purchase Wisconsin State Park 12-month vehicle admission passes for their members. If you are interested in purchasing a bulk order of 12-month passes on behalf of yourself or your organization, please contact DNRFWPPRWIParksStore@wisconsin.gov and a Wisconsin State Park System representative will work with you to process your bulk order. You must submit your email with the subject line “Bulk Order Request –Vehicle Admission Passes – (Name of Organization, if any)” and include the following information:
- Contact Info
- First and Last Name
- Organization name (if any)
- Full Shipping Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Order Info
- Vehicle Admission Pass Type(s), such as resident, nonresident, senior etc.
- Quantity
- Minimum of 20 passes per bulk order
- Payment Info
- Whether you intend to pay with either a credit card or check.
- DO NOT provide your credit card details via email
- Whether you require an invoice or not.
- Whether you intend to pay with either a credit card or check.
Orders take about two weeks to process/ship. Please remember there is no discount for bulk orders, all passes are at the same rate regardless of quantity.
Thank you for thinking of the Wisconsin State Park System!
- Contact Info
I have more than one car in my household, can I move one pass between the two cars?
No, Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission passes are NOT transferable. The pass must be completely attached to the inside driver’s side of the windshield by its own adhesive (inside the lower left-hand corner).
Reduced rate vehicle admission passes are available for households with additional vehicles registered to the same address. One reduced-rate 12-month vehicle admission pass can be purchased online at the same time as a full-price 12-month pass. Reduced rate passes are also sold at individual park properties if you are purchasing more than one reduced rate pass for your household.
What do I do if I want to go to a park but haven't received my online order?
Visitors must have an admission pass adhered to their vehicle as instructed on the pass or show proof of purchase for entry to Wisconsin State Parks. For more information about proof of purchase receipts, please see Admission Pass Receipts.
Can I get a replacement pass if mine is lost/stolen?
No, Wisconsin State Parks is not responsible for lost or stolen admission passes or state trail passes. If your pass is lost or stolen, you will need to purchase a new one.
Can I get a refund for my vehicle admission pass or state trail pass order?
No, 12-month or daily Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission passes and state trail passes are non-refundable.
Can I get a replacement 12-month vehicle admission pass if I'm getting a new car?
If you are trading in your car or replacing a windshield with a valid 12-month vehicle admission pass adhered to it, you can get a replacement pass for your new windshield by following the steps below:
- Note the serial number of your existing pass.
- Scrape the old pass off your windshield (it will come off in pieces) to prove you have it. Make sure that the punched month can be identified when the pass is scraped off.*
- Bring the old pass with you to a state park system property office or;
- Mail the old pass to Attn: Sticker Replacement; Devil's Lake State Park; S5975 Park Road; Baraboo, WI 53913.
*Please Note: If the punched month is not clear, bring a valid proof of purchase (online or kiosk receipt) of the original pass with you to the property office, or include the proof of purchase when you mail in your old pass.
What if I have a motorcycle?
The vehicle admission pass rule applies to motorcycles. If your motorcycle does not have an adequate windshield or the pass may damage the windshield, fasten the pass in one of these places: on the front fork; behind the license plate; or under the seat. In some cases, a ranger may not see the pass and issue you notice. If this happens, return to the park or forest office to show your pass and void the notice.
What if I have a rental car?
The same vehicle admission rules apply to rental cars. Admission passes must correspond to the license plate of the vehicle (a rental vehicle with out-of-state license plates must purchase a nonresident admission pass). Per state statute, an admission pass is non-transferable and must be affixed to the front windshield by its own adhesive to be valid. If you have not received your pass yet, follow the guidelines above.
Do I need a vehicle admission pass if I’m camping?
Yes, a vehicle admission pass is required for any motor vehicles brought into the property, including campgrounds. A camper without a 12-month pass will need to buy one daily pass for each night of camping. Free daily passes are available for vehicles towed or carried into the property by a vehicle with a purchased pass.
Are there any discounts for admission passes?
The Wisconsin State Park System offers several types of waivers for admission fees: