Yes. Empire Pass (library lending) lets New York library cardholders borrow a free state-park day-use pass. Verified against parks.ny.gov, checked 2026-09-04.
| Program | Empire Pass (library lending) |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Free admission for one motor vehicle to most facilities operated by the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and DEC (100+ parks, beaches, trails, boat launches). Excludes camping, overnight parking, golf, museum/historic-site admission, and vehicles used for hire. |
| How to borrow | Checked out like a book at participating NY public library systems (very widespread — e.g. Monroe County/Rochester Public Library, Onondaga County, Ontario, Suffolk's Emma S. Clark, Brighton Memorial); typical loan period is 7 days (some libraries do 3-day checkouts); borrower generally must be 18+ with a library card in good standing; no holds/renewals at most libraries. |
| Day-use cost otherwise | Most NY State Parks charge $6-$10/vehicle for day use; a full-season Empire Pass costs $80 for the 2026 season (discounts for renewal/digital-only; Lifetime Pass $750). |
| Source | parks.ny.gov · checked 2026-09-04 |
The lending is organized library-system by library-system (leveraging the state's own Empire Pass product), rather than a single dedicated state-run loan scheme, but it is official and broad enough that NY is commonly cited as the flagship statewide 'library park pass' example.
Passes circulate like books: a limited number per branch, usually one checkout per household, with holds allowed and loan periods of one to three weeks. Summer weekends empty the shelf first — place a hold early. And remember the pass covers day-use entry only; camping is a separate booking and fee everywhere.
California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida — same situation (Statewide library programs). Or browse all 50 states.
Yes — Empire Pass (library lending) circulates day-use passes through public libraries. Checked out like a book at participating NY public library systems (very widespread — e.g. Monroe County/Rochester Public Library, Onondaga County, Ontario, Suffolk's Emma S. Clark, Brighton Memorial); typical loan period is 7 days (some libraries do 3-day checkouts); borrower generally must be 18+ with a library card in good standing; no holds/renewals at most libraries.
Most NY State Parks charge $6-$10/vehicle for day use; a full-season Empire Pass costs $80 for the 2026 season (discounts for renewal/digital-only; Lifetime Pass $750).. That's what each borrowed-pass visit saves.
No — these programs lend day-use entry passes. Campsites, cabins and boat launches are booked and paid separately everywhere.