Senior Travel Tips: Discounts, Health Planning and Easy US Trips

The best travel tips for seniors are to buy the $80 lifetime America the Beautiful Senior Pass if you’re 62 or older, request free wheelchair or mobility assistance when you book flights, carry medications and a medication list in your carry-on, check how your Medicare or health plan covers you away from home, and plan slower trips with fewer hotel changes. Ask for senior discounts everywhere, especially on park camping, trains, museums and hotels. Choose ground-floor or elevator rooms, and give yourself rest days.

Many people do their best traveling after 60. There’s more time, often more flexibility and a clearer sense of what you actually enjoy. There are also more practical things to plan for: medications, mobility, insurance and energy. None of them are reasons to stay home. They are simply reasons to plan a little differently. This guide covers the discounts worth claiming, the health planning that matters most and trip styles that suit a slower, richer pace. It is written for travelers in their 60s, 70s and beyond, and for adult children helping parents plan trips. Not every tip will apply to you. Pick the ones that do.

• $80Lifetime national parks Senior Pass, age 62+
• FreeAirport wheelchair assistance on request
• 50%Off many federal campsites with the Senior Pass
• Fewer movesThe secret to an easier trip

The best senior discount in America

US citizens and permanent residents aged 62 and older can buy the America the Beautiful Senior Pass: $80 for a lifetime pass or $20 for an annual pass. It covers entrance fees at national parks and more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for the pass holder and passengers in a private vehicle at per-vehicle sites. At many federal campgrounds, it also gives a 50 percent discount on camping fees and some other amenities.

The lifetime pass costs the same as one year of the standard annual pass. It may be the best bargain in American travel. Buy it at a park entrance station or online. Bring proof of age and residency, like a driver’s license or passport. Online orders carry a small processing fee and take time to arrive by mail, so buy early if you want it for a specific trip. Several annual passes can be credited toward the lifetime pass. Our America the Beautiful pass guide explains all the pass types.

Travelers with permanent disabilities can get a free lifetime Access Pass with the same benefits.

Other discounts to ask for

Discounts aren’t always the lowest price. Online sales or advance purchase fares can beat senior rates, so compare before you book. Senior airfares are rare now on US airlines.

At the airport

Request assistance. Airlines must provide free wheelchair or mobility assistance from check-in to the gate, through connections and to baggage claim. Request it when you book or at least 48 hours before your flight, then confirm at check-in. You don’t need to use a wheelchair at home to request one for a long airport walk. Tip the attendant if you like, though it isn’t required.

Security. TSA screening is easier than it used to be, with most travelers keeping shoes on at standard lanes. Travelers 75 and older have long had modified screening, such as keeping light jackets on. You can request a private screening or a pat-down instead of a scanner, and tell the officer about joint replacements, pacemakers or medical devices. TSA Cares, a helpline, can arrange extra help at the checkpoint if you call at least 72 hours before your flight. Our TSA rules guide covers the details.

Choose flights wisely. Nonstop flights avoid long connections. Midday flights avoid early alarms and late arrivals. Aisle seats make it easier to stand and stretch. Consider PreCheck for shorter lines; see our PreCheck guide.

Health planning: the most important part

Medications. Pack all medications in your carry-on, never in checked luggage, in original labeled containers, with several extra days’ supply in case of delays. Carry a printed list of medications, doses, allergies and your doctors’ contact details. Keep a photo of it on your phone, too. Use a pill organizer, and set reminders for time zone changes. Our jet lag guide explains how to plan doses across time zones; ask your doctor about time-sensitive medicines.

Medicare and health insurance. Original Medicare generally covers care throughout the United States. But many Medicare Advantage plans use networks, and non-emergency care outside your area may not be covered, or may cost more. Emergency and urgent care are usually covered nationwide. Call your plan before you travel and ask what applies at your destination. Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover care outside the US, with very limited exceptions.

Travel insurance. For expensive trips, consider travel insurance, especially for cancellation if you or a family member gets sick. Many policies cover pre-existing conditions only if you buy within a short window after your first trip payment, often 14 to 21 days. Read the policy carefully. Our travel insurance guide explains when it makes sense.

Altitude and heat. High-altitude destinations like Denver, Colorado’s mountains, Santa Fe and parts of Utah’s parks can affect anyone, and people with heart or lung conditions should talk to a doctor first. Summer heat in the desert Southwest and humidity in the South call for careful hydration and midday rest. Our altitude sickness guide has more.

Pace your trip

The single best way to make a trip easier is to move less. Instead of seven hotels in seven nights, stay three or four nights in each place and take day trips from there. Unpacking once saves energy for the things you came to do. It also means you see more of each place: the café you return to, the evening walk you repeat, the shop owner who remembers you. Slow travel often turns out to be better travel, at any age.

• Plan one main activity per day, with time to rest.
• Build in a rest day every three or four days.
• Choose hotels near the sights, so you can return to rest midday.
• Ask for ground-floor rooms or rooms near elevators.
• Look for walk-in showers and grab bars if you need them; ask for accessible rooms.
• Use rideshares, shuttles and tours for long distances.

Easy trip ideas

Scenic drives in national parks. You can see spectacular scenery without long hikes on drives like Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many parks have accessible paved paths, shuttles and ranger programs. See our best national parks list.

Museum cities. Washington, DC, has dozens of free museums, with benches, elevators and cafés. See our DC itinerary.

Walkable historic towns. Charleston, Savannah and Boston’s historic districts are compact and full of history. Trolley tours cover the distances.

Train trips. Long-distance Amtrak routes, like the California Zephyr across the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, let you watch the scenery from a seat or a private roomette.

River cruises. Cruises on the Mississippi and Columbia rivers combine comfortable lodging, meals and shore excursions without packing and unpacking.

Educational travel. Organizations specializing in learning trips for older adults run group programs with expert guides, handled logistics and like-minded travelers.

Packing smarter

Packing light matters more as we age. Heavy suitcases strain backs and shoulders, and lifting a bag into an overhead bin is one of the most common ways travelers get hurt. Choose a lightweight four-wheeled suitcase that rolls upright beside you. Check a bag rather than wrestling a heavy carry-on; on many airlines, the convenience is worth the fee. Pack comfortable, broken-in walking shoes with good support. Bring a compact folding cane or trekking poles if you use them on uneven ground. Add a small flashlight for unfamiliar hotel rooms at night, and a night light if you get up often. Keep reading glasses, medications, chargers and a sweater in your personal bag.

Traveling with grandchildren

Trips with grandchildren are some of the most rewarding journeys anyone takes, and a growing number of grandparents travel with grandkids without the parents. A few tips help. Bring a signed letter of permission from the parents and copies of the children’s health insurance cards. Know their allergies and medications. Choose destinations with variety for different energy levels, like national parks with Junior Ranger programs, beach towns and cities with hands-on museums. Plan downtime for everyone. And let the kids help choose activities; it makes the trip theirs too. Our family road trip tips have more ideas.

Solo travel after 60

Many older travelers set out alone, whether by choice or after a change in life. Solo travel at any age works best with a little structure: a small-group tour for part of the trip, hotels in walkable areas, regular check-ins with family and a mix of social and quiet days. Learning trips and organized tours are great ways to meet people. Our solo travel guide covers the best destinations and safety habits.

Stay safe

Older travelers are frequent targets of scams. Book through official websites, never pay with gift cards or wire transfers and be suspicious of urgent calls or emails about bookings. Our guide to vacation rental scams explains the warning signs. Share your itinerary with family, carry a charged phone and keep emergency contacts in your wallet. Use hotel safes for passports and extra cash. And trust your instincts. If a deal or a stranger feels wrong, step away. You are allowed to say no, hang up or walk out, without explanation.

Road trips at any age

Driving your own car gives older travelers the most control over pace, stops and comfort. A few habits keep it safe and enjoyable. Limit driving to four or five hours a day, and stop every 90 minutes to two hours to stretch and walk. Avoid driving at dusk and after dark in unfamiliar places, when glare and fatigue are worst. Share driving if you can. Get your car serviced before a long trip, and carry a roadside assistance membership. Use navigation with voice directions so you don’t have to read a screen. And plan overnight stops in advance so you’re not searching for a hotel at the end of a long day. Our road trip packing list covers the gear.

Accessibility in national parks

National parks have worked hard on access in recent decades. Many visitor centers, viewpoints and short paved trails are wheelchair accessible. Several parks run accessible shuttles. Some offer accessible campsites and lodge rooms. Each park publishes an accessibility guide on its website, and many have large-print and audio materials. Ask rangers about accessible trails and viewpoints; they often know quiet spots with great views and short walks that never appear in guidebooks.

Frequently asked questions

Plan your next trip

1. Buy the lifetime Senior Pass if you’re 62 or older.
2. Call your health plan about coverage away from home.
3. Request airport assistance when you book flights.
4. Plan fewer stops and longer stays.