Entrance Fees
Entrance Fees and Passes
Your fee dollars help us provide a memorable visitor experience. They fund trail maintenance, interpretive signage, visitor facilities and more. We greatly appreciate your support.
Back Bay NWR collects a vehicle daily entrance fee from April 1 - October 31. From November 1 - March 31 the East and West Dikes are closed for the winter waterfowl migration. During this time no daily entrance fee is charged.
The Refuge also sells and issues passes for the America the Beautiful Federal Recreation Lands Pass Program and the Federal Duck Stamp. Details about all entrance fees and passes are found below. Passes are available year-round at the wildlife refuge. Please call (757)301-7329 ext. 4 for the current pass sales schedule. We are excited to announce that Back Bay NWR is now able to accept credit cards for pass sales! Additionally, the $5.00 Vehicle Entrance Fee (Site Day Pass) and Back Bay NWR Annual Passes can be purchased before arrival at the wildlife refuge's Recreation.gov page.
Pass Options
| Hikers and Bikers | FREE |
| Back Bay NWR Vehicle Daily Entrance Pass | $5.00 |
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Back Bay NWR Annual Pass Valid for one year from date of purchase | $20.00 |
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Federal Duck Stamp Valid July 1 to June 30, covers entrance fees at National Wildlife Refuges | $25.00 |
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America the Beautiful Annual Pass Valid for one year from date of purchase | $80.00 |
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America the Beautiful Military Annual Pass Issued to active service members and their dependents, U.S. military cadets and active reservists; valid for one year from date of issue | FREE |
| America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass | |
| Issued to retired service members, veterans and Gold Star families (Note: dependents are not eligible for the Lifetime pass) | FREE |
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America the Beautiful Senior Lifetime Pass U.S. citizens or residents 62 yrs. or older | $80.00 |
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America the Beautiful Senior Annual Pass U.S. citizens or residents 62 yrs. or older Valid one year from date of purchase; may be collected over multiple years to cover cost of Lifetime pass | $20.00 |
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America the Beautiful Access Pass (Lifetime) Issued to permanently disabled U.S. citizens or residents | FREE |
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Every Kid Outdoors Pass U.S. 4th graders; Valid at federal recreation sites September 1 to August 31 | FREE |
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Commercial Vehicles - Daily Pass 20 people or less More than 20 people |
$25.00 $30.00 |
America the Beautiful Military Pass Details
Annual Pass: Military personnel and their dependents who present, in person, a U.S. Department of Defense CAC identification or DD Form 1173 (dependent identification) and are in the following military personnel classifications are eligible for a Military Annual pass:
- Current members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard
- Dependents of current U.S. military members with DD Form 1173
- U.S. Military Cadets
- U.S. Active Reservists - Do not need to be deployed
Lifetime Pass: Military personnel who present a veteran identification card, license with a veteran's insignia or identification card from the Department of Veteran's Affairs are eligible for a Military Lifetime pass. Please note that dependents of veterans are not qualified for the lifetime pass.
- Retired members of the Armed Forces
- Veterans of the Armed Forces
- Gold Star Families
The following individuals/groups do not qualify for the interagency Military Annual Pass:
- Foreign military members (including those stationed in the U.S. and who have a CAC card)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees
- Public Health Service (PHS) members
- Inactive US Reservists
- Civilian military contractors
- Civilian military employees