Your Michigan State Park adventures begin with a Recreation Passport.

Here's everything you need to know about Michigan's Recreation Passport, including how much it costs and how to get one.

You pull into the park entrance and up to the contact station. You've already made your camping reservation and paid for it. The ranger checks you in, and then asks, "So is your recreation passport on your license plate then?"

"Um..." you say, if you're like me.

"Yes," you say calmly, if you're like my wife. "It's on the license plate."

Why do you need a Michigan Recreation Passport and what does it cover?

The Recreation Passport funds Michigan's amazing state parks.

Michigan's state parks are largely self-funded, which means they need to collect fees to help run them. A big part of that funding comes from the Recreation Passport.

The Recreation Passport will get your motorized vehicle into every one of Michigan's 103 state parks and recreation areas, 140-plus state forest campgrounds, nearly 1,000 boating access sites and thousands of miles of trails any time of the year.

The cool thing about the pass is that the money goes right back into helping maintain and improve our parks, and protect Michigan's natural resources.

Where is the Michigan Recreation Passport NOT Valid?

The Recreation Passport is specifically for Michigan state parks, recreation areas and forests. That means several popular Michigan destinations are excluded.

National Parks require the National Park Service passes (or America the Beautiful passes), not the Recreation Passport. This includes:

Sleeping Bear Dunes

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Parks system, not the State Park system.

Pictured Rocks

The Pictured Rock National Lakeshore is also part of the National Parks system.

Other excluded parks include:

• Huron-Manistee & Hiwatha National Forests, which fall under National Forest Service fees.
• City/County/Metro Parks (like Huron-Clinton Metroparks) require separate entrance fees.

How much does a Michigan Recreation Passport cost?

Here are the 2026 Michigan Recreation Passport Fees & Rates:

For Michigan residents (annual pass only)

• At License Plate renewal: $15 ($29 for 2 years)
• Motorcyles & Mopeds: $7
• Purchased at park gate: $20 (includes $5 convenience fee)
• Towed motor vehicles (if unhitched): require their own passport

For non-Michigan residents:

• Annual pass: $42 (valid thru Dec 31 of year purchased)
• Daily pass: $12 per day
• Towed Vehicles (if unhitched): $9

Special Vehicle rates

Commercial vehicles (24k+ lbs and/or 16+ seating capacity): $22 daily rate (both Michigan and non-Michigan residents).

Recreation Report Exemptions and Special Rules

Exempt from needing a passport:

• If you enter a park on foot or bicycle
• On snowmobile (Vehicles trailering snowmobiles still need a passport to enter or park).
• Michigan-registered vehicles with:
  • Ex-prisoner of war plate.
  • Disabled veteran plate.
  • Medal of honor plate.
  • Congressional Medal of Honor plate.
• During Free Fishing Weekends
  

Mackinac Island State Park is free
Since there are no cars allowed on the island, entry into the state park (which takes up most of the island) is free. There are, however, separate fees for historic fort tours.

Learn more about Recreation Passports at the official DNR website.

How to Buy a Recreation Passport (Residents & Non-Residents)

Getting a pass isn't too complicated, but there are some things you'll need to know. Here is how and where to purchase a recreation passport:

For Michigan residents (Annual pass only)

• The easiest way to get a passport is when you renew your license plate.

  • If you renew online or at a kiosk, just say "YES" when you get to the screen asking if you want to add the Recreation Passport.
  • If you renew by mail, just check the checkbox and add the cost of the pass to your total payment.

• If you didn't get a passport the last time you renewed your license, you can get one:

  • At any State park you visit (debit/credit, cash and check).
  • At any DNR service center except Baraga and Bay City (cash or check only).

• Daily passes not available for Michigan residents

For non-Michigan residents

• Purchase yearly passes online
• Michigan state parks and recreation areas (debit/credit, cash and check).
• At any DNR service center except Baraga and Bay City (cash or check only).

What to do with your passport once you have it

How to Display Your Recreation Passport

If purchased at license plate renewal:

There will be a "P" on your renewal sticker. Just affix it to your license plate as usual and you're good to go.

Otherwise:

You'll get a sticker to affix to the lower passenger-side windshield.

Note: Daily passes bought at unstaffed gates (Iron Rangers) or online are paper stubs/receipts displayed face-up on the dashboard.

Sound off in the comments below and let us know if you have any Michigan Recreation Passport tips, or whether there's anything else you'd like to know.