You don't need one. North Carolina state parks don't charge day-use entry, so there's no pass to borrow — just go. Verified against ncparks.gov, checked 2026-09-04.
| Program | Not needed — free entry |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Most North Carolina state parks are free to enter — there is no general day-use entry fee. Paid annual passes ($70-$200) cover extra activities such as swimming, boat launches, equipment rental, and 4WD beach access. |
| How to borrow | N/A statewide (entry itself doesn't require a pass). Separately, several individual county library systems (e.g., Iredell County, Stokes County, Union County) independently lend NC State Parks Annual Passes through their 'Library of Things' collections (typically 1-2 week checkout, 18+, one per household) to cover those paid extras — this is library-driven, not a confirmed official statewide DNCR/State Library program. |
| Day-use cost otherwise | Day-use entry: $0 at most parks. Annual Pass: $70 (reservoirs) / $100 (standard) / $200 (with 4WD beach access) — covers swimming, boat launch, and equipment-rental fees. |
| Source | ncparks.gov · checked 2026-09-04 |
Because entry is already free at most parks, a library-lending program is less critical here than in fee-charging states; the county-level pass-lending programs found target the paid add-on activities, not basic entry.
Arkansas · Illinois · Kentucky · Missouri — same situation (No pass needed — parks are free). Or browse all 50 states.
There's no program because none is needed: North Carolina doesn't charge day-use entry at state parks.
Day-use entry: $0 at most parks. Annual Pass: $70 (reservoirs) / $100 (standard) / $200 (with 4WD beach access) — covers swimming, boat launch, and equipment-rental fees..