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Discounted California State Parks – Monterey District Vehicle Pass

California State Parks Monterey District Vehicle Passes At A Discount: When in California, one of the best ways to explore the state is by visiting the beautiful & awesome state parks. The Monterey area is home to some of the most beautiful and scenic state parks in California, making it a great place to visit for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

With so many different parks to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones to visit. However, with the California State Parks Pass, you can explore all of the Monterey area state parks without having to worry about picking and choosing.

The State Parks Pass is a great deal for anyone planning on visiting multiple state parks in California. Your vehicle pass is good for all of the Monterey area state parks, including –

  1. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
  2. Andrew Molera State Park
  3. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
  4. JP Burns State Park

So, all 4 parks can be visited without having to buy a separate pass for each one. Currently, there are 2 types of discounted State Parks Passes available for purchase, depending on how long you plan on visiting the parks.

Keep on reading to find out about the discounted pricing of these passes, senior discounts, annual passes, and a lot more about California State Parks in the Monterey District area.

Buy California State Parks – Monterey District Vehicle Passes At A Discount In 2022

If you love spending time outdoors exploring all that California has to offer, then you’ll want to purchase a state parks pass for the Monterey area.

Purchasing the vehicle pass at a discount in 2022 will allow you to explore all of the state parks in the area, including Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and JP Burns State Park.

With so many different parks to choose from, you’ll be able to find one that suits your interests and provides the perfect setting for a day (or three) of exploration.

Whether you’re interested in wildlife watching, hiking, or simply enjoying a scenic drive, the Monterey area state parks have something for everyone. So take advantage of the discount and purchase your vehicle pass today!

Discounted Vehicle Passes

As of 2022, the two discounted passes for the Monterey district are the Single Vehicle Day Use Pass and the Three Day Vehicle Use Pass.

The main difference between these two passes is the duration of time that they are valid for. Here’s a table showing the cost & validity of these California State Parks Passes –

Vehicle PassValidityDiscounted Price
Single Vehicle Day Use Pass1 day$10
Three-Day Vehicle Use Pass3 days$30
California State Parks Monterey District Vehicle Passes Cost

The Single Vehicle Day Use Pass is only good for one day, while the Three Day Vehicle Use Pass is good for three consecutive days.

Both passes allow you to enter all of the state parks in the Monterey area that charge an entrance fee.

So, basically, the Three Day Vehicle Use Pass just gives you a little more flexibility in terms of when you can visit the parks.

As per the pricing, the State Parks Single Vehicle Day Use Pass costs $10 while the State Parks Three Day Vehicle Use Pass costs $30.

So, if you are planning on visiting multiple parks over the course of a few days, then the Three-Day Vehicle Use Pass is definitely the better deal.

However, if you only plan on visiting one or two parks for just one day, then the Single Vehicle Day Use Pass might be a better option.

It’s important to note that both passes are non-refundable and non-returnable, so once you make your purchase, you’re committed to using them.

Annual Passes

As of 2022, the California Department of Parks and Recreation offers 15 different types of annual passes. They are –

Annual PassCost
State Park Adventure PassFREE
Golden Bear PassFREE
Boat Use Annual Pass$100
California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass$195
Disabled Discount Pass$3.50
Distinguished Veteran PassFREE
Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass$125
Historian Passport Day Use Admission Annual Pass$50
Limited Use Golden Bear Pass$20
OHV Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass$50
Oversized Vehicle Pass Sticker$75
SNO-Park Season Pass$25
SNO-Park Season Day Permit Pass$5
Tahoe Regional Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass$75
California State Parks Annual Passes Pricing

So, there are free annual passes specially designed for 4th graders of California, disadvantaged families, and war veterans residing in California state.

State Park Adventure Pass

The State Park Adventure Pass is one of the California State Park Annual passes that is provided free of cost to all fourth graders in California.

One of the biggest benefits of the pass is that it gives free access to 19 different state parks for the fourth grader and their family.

Additionally, the pass is valid for an entire year, from September 1st to August 31st, giving fourth graders plenty of time to explore all the different state parks that California has to offer.

The parents or guardians of fourth graders can apply for the State Park Adventure Pass online through ReserveCalifornia.com or by calling (800) 444-7275.

Once the pass is obtained, fourth graders can either keep it on their phones or print it out to show at any of the 19 state parks that are included in the program.

Golden Bear Pass

California state is highly known for its welfare programs, one of which is the free annual Golden Bear Pass.

The government, in its pursuit to provide more opportunities for the underprivileged, decided to provide free access to 200+ state parks for those who are disadvantaged.

The said pass is available for SSI recipients, CalWORKs Program participants, and senior citizens aged 62 and above.

In order to qualify, applicants must meet the income eligibility requirements specified on the application form.

So, if you’re a California resident who meets the said criteria, then availing this Golden Bear Pass would definitely be a great opportunity as it provides free access to many state parks!

Boat Use Annual Pass

If you love boating, the California State Park Boat Use Annual Pass is for you! It’s basically a small sticker that you can put on your California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass hangtag or the Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass hangtag (or a separate card if you already have one of those passes).

The Boat Use Annual Pass costs $100 and is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. So, the advantage of having the Boat Use Annual Pass is that you don’t have to pay the boat use fee each time you visit a state park that charges one.

However, please keep in mind that the Boat Use Annual Pass doesn’t include access to State Vehicular Recreation Areas where designated off-highway vehicle trails and/or open areas are available.

Additionally, if you are visiting a state park that has a per-person entry or tour fees (such as museums), the Boat Use Annual Pass will not cover those costs.

Also, please note that there’s a separate fee that you need to pay for each motorized vessel, sailboat over 8 feet, or personal watercraft (PWC).

So, if you have more than one of those, you’ll need to purchase a separate Boat Use Annual Pass for each one.

California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass

A California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass is a pass that allows free entry into most California State Parks that charge a vehicle day use fee.

It is currently priced at $195 and comes with a validity of 12 months from the month of purchase.

So, it provides great value for people who frequently visit state parks in California, especially those located along the Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego Coasts.

However, this annual pass doesn’t include other fees such as those for camping, boat use, and oversized vehicles.

Any extra vehicles will also incur an additional fee. Lastly, this pass is only valid for parks operated by California State Parks—it won’t work for State Vehicular Recreation Areas or other similar locations.

Disabled Discount Pass

The California Department of Parks and Recreation designed a special program for persons with permanent disabilities to obtain a Disabled Discount Pass that gives them a 50% flat discount on camping, vehicle day use, and launched boat fees at California State Park-operated units.

As of 2022, the price for this pass is $3.50 and benefits are valid for the lifetime of the cardholder.

However, the pass holder is required to renew his/her passcard every 10 years.

In order to apply for the Disabled Discount Pass, applicants must complete an application form and provide supporting documentation of residency and disability.

Applicants may apply online via ReserveCalifornia.com or in person at one of the designated locations throughout the State Park system.

Also, note that it takes 8-10 weeks to process your Disabled Discount Pass application and receive your pass card.

Distinguished Veteran Pass

As of 2022, California State Parks issues the Distinguished Veteran Pass at zero cost. So, if you are an eligible veteran, then the card will be issued to you at no charge.

The benefits of this card include free lifetime access to all basic facilities in California State Parks. This includes day use, camping, and boating.

However, there are some restrictions on what this card can be used for. For example, the card cannot be used commercially.

Even groups cannot use the card to get a discount. This pass is just valid for only the pass holder and needs to be renewed every 10 years.

In order to qualify for the Distinguished Veteran Pass, an individual must be a resident of California and have either a combined disability rating of 50% or greater from service-connected injuries, been held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, or be a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass

One of the most popular California State Park annual passes, the Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass, costs $125 and provides free day-use access at many of the state’s most popular parks, including Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Morro Bay State Park, Montaña de Oro State Park, and Hearst Castle.

The pass also provides discounts on camping, boat use fees, and other activities at some state parks.

So, if you plan on visiting any of these parks frequently throughout the year, the Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass could save you a lot of money.

The validity of the Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass is 12 months from the month of purchase.

It is valid at all state parks that honor the pass, but not at State Vehicular Recreation Areas and Southern California beaches which require a separate pass.

You will also need to pay for any campsite, boat launch, or other use fees that may apply.

Summary

There are two discounted California State Park vehicle passes that can be used in the Monterey area – the Single Vehicle Day Use Pass and the Three Day Vehicle Use Pass. The cost of the Single Vehicle Day Use Pass is $10, and it allows you to enter all of the state parks in the Monterey area that charge an entrance fee for one day. The cost of the Three Day Vehicle Use Pass is $30, and it gives you access to all of the state parks in the Monterey area for three consecutive days.