California is a treasure trove of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational activities, making it a top destination for tourists from around the world. As the state with the largest and most diverse collection of these attractions in the entire country, California has something for everyone. From breathtaking national parks and pristine beaches to world-renowned museums and vibrant cities, visitors can experience the best of what the Golden State has to offer. With the help of some California Park Essentials you can explore California by EV and discover your next adventure!”
There are three annual passes that make things easy (and less expensive) when traveling to parks in California. California has 280 California State Parks, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, and 5,200 miles of trails. In addition, California has nine National Parks and nineteen National Monuments. These parks and monuments add to the possibilities for a lifetime of road trips throughout California. Locally, Orange County has over 20 parks that we can visit for day trips.
We’re seniors, so we have the following three annual passes that are California Park Essentials and useful when traveling to parks in California:
- Orange County Annual “OC Parks Pass”. There are several versions: County Beaches only, County Parks only, or both Beaches and Parks. They have regular and Senior versions of each. These passes cover entrance and parking fees. Check out your county for similar annual passes.
- California Limited Use Golden Bear Pass (for Seniors, 62 and older). We have the Limited Use Pass that covers entrance and parking fees for all months except June, July, and August. This only costs $20 (when I went to get a renewal in January 2023, I found out they added 2023 for free!). We found this works well for us, but if you need the three summer months, you can get the 12-month annual version. This pass came in handy when we visited Pismo Beach and San Clemente State Beach.
- National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass. This is an unbelievable lifetime pass to all National Parks and Monuments, National Forests and National Wildlife Areas. This a true California Park Essential and must for visiting all those wonderful National Park locations!
