Passes 

A series of passes covers the entrance and standard amenity fees charged for using federal recreational lands – including national wildlife refuges. 

Existing Golden Eagle Passports and National Parks Passes with an expiration date will be honored until they expire. Paper versions of the Golden Age or Golden Access Passports should be exchanged for the new Senior or Access passes. However, plastic Golden Age or Access passes are valid for the pass holder's lifetime and do not need to be exchanged.

The Senior and Access passes are good for the lifetime of the holder and make available (to the pass holder only) 50 percent discounts on some expanded amenity fees.

For the first time, decals and hangtags are available: decals for those who park open-topped vehicles (like Jeeps) or motorcycles at unstaffed federal recreation sites, and hangtags for those who anticipate parking closed vehicles at unmanned facilities.

Please visit the National Wildlife Refuge System Web site for more information about passes.  

Permits

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues permits under various wildlife law and treaties at a number of offices throughout the country.  Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law.  Service permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife.  Additionally, some permits promote conservation efforts by authorizing scientific research, generating data, or allowing wildlife management and rehabilitation activates to go forward.

Permits are handled by permitting programs in International Affairs (Management Authority), Endangered Species, Law Enforcement, and  Migratory Birds. 

Visit the National Wildlife Refuge System Web site for Special Use Permits.

For more detailed information, go to How to Obtain a Permit, FAQs/Facts or Application Forms.

 Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge 

Passes and Permits

During the months of March through October, a $3.00 fee per car is charged, $15.00 for a commercial bus or van with 20 or fewer people, and a $25.00 fee for over 20 people. There is a $3.00 fee per family for bicycles or walking. Blue Refuge entrance fee payment envelopes can be found at the entrance kiosk at the beginning of Smith Road. Winter months have free admission. Passes for entry in lieu of the daily fee include a Refuge Annual Pass, Annual Federal Duck Stamp, and Interagency Access, Senior, and Volunteer Passes.  

There is no charge for groups participating in refuge conducted environmental education (EE) programs or for schools conducting a self-facilitated environmental education program of their own. However, an entrance fee waiver must be completed for all EE activities conducted on the Refuge. 

Visitor access is limited to a 2,200 acre Public Use Area. The remaining portions of the Refuge are preserved as a wildlife sanctuary, with disturbance even by refuge staff kept to a minimum.  

Special Use Permits  

Any use of a National Wildlife Refuge that would require special access and is not covered under existing rules and regulations for wildlife dependent visitation of the refuge will require application for a Special Use Permit through the individual refuge. These special uses include any commercial activities (timber harvest, haying or grazing), research activities, wood cutting or special events.

Attention Annual & Lifetime Pass Holders!

This year, Turnbull is initiating the "Duck the Fee Station".  Annual and lifetime pass holders can "fly by" the fee station! Simply register your visit using our online Duck-the-Fee-Station form. If you forget to do this before your visit, simply scan the QR code on the Duck the Fee poster at the kiosk using your smartphone.