diff --git a/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf b/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf
index f2f8b13..e31d2b2 100644
--- a/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf
+++ b/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ module "eks" {
       ami_type = "AL2023_x86_64_STANDARD"
       platform = "al2023"
 
+      use_latest_ami_release_version = true
+
       cloudinit_pre_nodeadm = [
         {
           content_type = "application/node.eks.aws"
@@ -125,6 +127,8 @@ module "eks" {
       ami_type = "BOTTLEROCKET_x86_64"
       platform = "bottlerocket"
 
+      use_latest_ami_release_version = true
+
       # This will get added to what AWS provides
       bootstrap_extra_args = <<-EOT
         # extra args added
diff --git a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/README.md b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/README.md
index 7685237..82c3515 100644
--- a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/README.md
+++ b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/README.md
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ module "eks_managed_node_group" {
 | [aws_ec2_instance_type_offerings.this](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/data-sources/ec2_instance_type_offerings) | data source |
 | [aws_iam_policy_document.assume_role_policy](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/data-sources/iam_policy_document) | data source |
 | [aws_partition.current](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/data-sources/partition) | data source |
+| [aws_ssm_parameter.ami](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/data-sources/ssm_parameter) | data source |
 | [aws_subnets.efa](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/data-sources/subnets) | data source |
 
 ## Inputs
@@ -176,6 +177,7 @@ module "eks_managed_node_group" {
 | <a name="input_update_config"></a> [update\_config](#input\_update\_config) | Configuration block of settings for max unavailable resources during node group updates | `map(string)` | <pre>{<br>  "max_unavailable_percentage": 33<br>}</pre> | no |
 | <a name="input_update_launch_template_default_version"></a> [update\_launch\_template\_default\_version](#input\_update\_launch\_template\_default\_version) | Whether to update the launch templates default version on each update. Conflicts with `launch_template_default_version` | `bool` | `true` | no |
 | <a name="input_use_custom_launch_template"></a> [use\_custom\_launch\_template](#input\_use\_custom\_launch\_template) | Determines whether to use a custom launch template or not. If set to `false`, EKS will use its own default launch template | `bool` | `true` | no |
+| <a name="input_use_latest_ami_release_version"></a> [use\_latest\_ami\_release\_version](#input\_use\_latest\_ami\_release\_version) | Determines whether to use the latest AMI release version for the given `ami_type` (except for `CUSTOM`). Note: `ami_type` and `cluster_version` must be supplied in order to enable this feature | `bool` | `false` | no |
 | <a name="input_use_name_prefix"></a> [use\_name\_prefix](#input\_use\_name\_prefix) | Determines whether to use `name` as is or create a unique name beginning with the `name` as the prefix | `bool` | `true` | no |
 | <a name="input_user_data_template_path"></a> [user\_data\_template\_path](#input\_user\_data\_template\_path) | Path to a local, custom user data template file to use when rendering user data | `string` | `""` | no |
 | <a name="input_vpc_security_group_ids"></a> [vpc\_security\_group\_ids](#input\_vpc\_security\_group\_ids) | A list of security group IDs to associate | `list(string)` | `[]` | no |
diff --git a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf
index 3e9ce1d..b10b71e 100644
--- a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf
+++ b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf
@@ -329,6 +329,45 @@ resource "aws_launch_template" "this" {
   }
 }
 
+################################################################################
+# AMI SSM Parameter
+################################################################################
+
+locals {
+  # Just to ensure templating doesn't fail when values are not provided
+  ssm_cluster_version = var.cluster_version != null ? var.cluster_version : ""
+  ssm_ami_type        = var.ami_type != null ? var.ami_type : ""
+
+  # Map the AMI type to the respective SSM param path
+  ssm_ami_type_to_ssm_param = {
+    AL2_x86_64                 = "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/${local.ssm_cluster_version}/amazon-linux-2/recommended/release_version"
+    AL2_x86_64_GPU             = "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/${local.ssm_cluster_version}/amazon-linux-2-gpu/recommended/release_version"
+    AL2_ARM_64                 = "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/${local.ssm_cluster_version}/amazon-linux-2-arm64/recommended/release_version"
+    CUSTOM                     = "NONE"
+    BOTTLEROCKET_ARM_64        = "/aws/service/bottlerocket/aws-k8s-${local.ssm_cluster_version}/arm64/latest/image_version"
+    BOTTLEROCKET_x86_64        = "/aws/service/bottlerocket/aws-k8s-${local.ssm_cluster_version}/x86_64/latest/image_version"
+    BOTTLEROCKET_ARM_64_NVIDIA = "/aws/service/bottlerocket/aws-k8s-${local.ssm_cluster_version}-nvidia/arm64/latest/image_version"
+    BOTTLEROCKET_x86_64_NVIDIA = "/aws/service/bottlerocket/aws-k8s-${local.ssm_cluster_version}-nvidia/x86_64/latest/image_version"
+    WINDOWS_CORE_2019_x86_64   = "/aws/service/ami-windows-latest/Windows_Server-2019-English-Full-EKS_Optimized-${local.ssm_cluster_version}"
+    WINDOWS_FULL_2019_x86_64   = "/aws/service/ami-windows-latest/Windows_Server-2019-English-Core-EKS_Optimized-${local.ssm_cluster_version}"
+    WINDOWS_CORE_2022_x86_64   = "/aws/service/ami-windows-latest/Windows_Server-2022-English-Full-EKS_Optimized-${local.ssm_cluster_version}"
+    WINDOWS_FULL_2022_x86_64   = "/aws/service/ami-windows-latest/Windows_Server-2022-English-Core-EKS_Optimized-${local.ssm_cluster_version}"
+    AL2023_x86_64_STANDARD     = "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/${local.ssm_cluster_version}/amazon-linux-2023/x86_64/standard/recommended/release_version"
+    AL2023_ARM_64_STANDARD     = "/aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/${local.ssm_cluster_version}/amazon-linux-2023/arm64/standard/recommended/release_version"
+  }
+
+  # The Windows SSM params currently do not have a release version, so we have to get the full output JSON blob and parse out the release version
+  windows_latest_ami_release_version = var.create && var.use_latest_ami_release_version && startswith(local.ssm_ami_type, "WINDOWS") ? nonsensitive(jsondecode(data.aws_ssm_parameter.ami[0].value)["release_version"]) : null
+  # Based on the steps above, try to get an AMI release version - if not, `null` is returned
+  latest_ami_release_version = startswith(local.ssm_ami_type, "WINDOWS") ? local.windows_latest_ami_release_version : try(nonsensitive(data.aws_ssm_parameter.ami[0].value), null)
+}
+
+data "aws_ssm_parameter" "ami" {
+  count = var.create && var.use_latest_ami_release_version ? 1 : 0
+
+  name = local.ssm_ami_type_to_ssm_param[var.ami_type]
+}
+
 ################################################################################
 # Node Group
 ################################################################################
@@ -359,7 +398,7 @@ resource "aws_eks_node_group" "this" {
 
   # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/eks/latest/userguide/launch-templates.html#launch-template-custom-ami
   ami_type        = var.ami_id != "" ? null : var.ami_type
-  release_version = var.ami_id != "" ? null : var.ami_release_version
+  release_version = var.ami_id != "" ? null : var.use_latest_ami_release_version ? local.latest_ami_release_version : var.ami_release_version
   version         = var.ami_id != "" ? null : var.cluster_version
 
   capacity_type        = var.capacity_type
diff --git a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/variables.tf b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/variables.tf
index eb4cc86..b5494e9 100644
--- a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/variables.tf
+++ b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/variables.tf
@@ -346,6 +346,12 @@ variable "ami_release_version" {
   default     = null
 }
 
+variable "use_latest_ami_release_version" {
+  description = "Determines whether to use the latest AMI release version for the given `ami_type` (except for `CUSTOM`). Note: `ami_type` and `cluster_version` must be supplied in order to enable this feature"
+  type        = bool
+  default     = false
+}
+
 variable "capacity_type" {
   description = "Type of capacity associated with the EKS Node Group. Valid values: `ON_DEMAND`, `SPOT`"
   type        = string
diff --git a/node_groups.tf b/node_groups.tf
index 34a0735..457e903 100644
--- a/node_groups.tf
+++ b/node_groups.tf
@@ -310,9 +310,10 @@ module "eks_managed_node_group" {
   max_size     = try(each.value.max_size, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.max_size, 3)
   desired_size = try(each.value.desired_size, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.desired_size, 1)
 
-  ami_id              = try(each.value.ami_id, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.ami_id, "")
-  ami_type            = try(each.value.ami_type, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.ami_type, null)
-  ami_release_version = try(each.value.ami_release_version, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.ami_release_version, null)
+  ami_id                         = try(each.value.ami_id, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.ami_id, "")
+  ami_type                       = try(each.value.ami_type, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.ami_type, null)
+  ami_release_version            = try(each.value.ami_release_version, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.ami_release_version, null)
+  use_latest_ami_release_version = try(each.value.use_latest_ami_release_version, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.use_latest_ami_release_version, false)
 
   capacity_type        = try(each.value.capacity_type, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.capacity_type, null)
   disk_size            = try(each.value.disk_size, var.eks_managed_node_group_defaults.disk_size, null)