Free Entrance to National Parks for Current Military, Veterans, and Gold Star Families

Duration:

1 minute, 8 seconds

The National Park Service in partnership with Operation Live Well would like to thank military personnel and their families for their service and invite them to enjoy their national parks.

Current US military and dependents, Gold Star Families, and US military veterans are eligible to receive free annual or lifetime passes which cover entrance or standard amenity (day-use) fees at national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal recreational lands. These free passes are a way to thank US military members for their support of our country and to encourage them to explore recreational opportunities on their public lands and waters.

Military Annual Pass

Who Is Eligible for a Military Annual Pass

Current members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are eligible for a Military Annual Pass.

How to Get a Military Annual Pass

In Person

You can pick up a Military Annual Pass for free at many national parks and federal recreation sites. You’ll need to bring one of three valid forms of identification:

• Unexpired Common Access Card (CAC)
• Unexpired DD Form 1173
• Unexpired Next Generation Dependent ID (Replacement of DD Form 1173)

Find a place to get a Military Annual Pass in person

USGS Store

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Store for a $10 processing fee. Passes ordered from the USGS Store are not digital passes and may take weeks to ship.

Order a Military Annual Pass from the USGS Store

Military Lifetime Pass

Who Is Eligible for a Military Lifetime Pass

Veterans of the US Armed Forces and members of Gold Star Families are eligible for a Military Lifetime Pass.

For purposes of this program, a veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the US Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves.

Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the US Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the US Armed Forces. Eligibility requirements are in section 3.2 of Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36.

How to Get a Military Lifetime Pass

In Person

You can pick up a Military Lifetime Pass for free at many national parks and federal recreation sites.

Find a place to get a Military Lifetime Pass in person

If you are a veteran, you will need to bring one of four valid forms of identification:

• Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement)
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Veteran ID Card (The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) only provides a digital version)
• Veteran designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or identification card

If you are a member of a Gold Star Family, you will need to bring a Gold Star Voucher to present to park staff.

Print a Gold Star Voucher

USGS Store

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Store for a $10 processing fee. Passes ordered from the USGS Store are not digital passes and may take weeks to ship.

Order a Military Lifetime Pass from the USGS Store

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Military Passes Cover?

Passes cover entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by:

• National Park Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• US Forest Service
• US Army Corps of Engineers

What is not covered by the Military Passes?

Military Passes do not cover or provide discounts on other fees such as camping, tours, special recreation permits, reservation fees, fees for organized groups, or concession-operated facilities or activities.

Do the passes include others traveling with the pass holder?

The free Military Passes admit the pass holder as well as occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR the pass holder and three persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. The passes are nontransferable and are void if altered.

Are passes available for disabled veterans or other people with disabilities?

Yes. The Access Pass is a free lifetime pass for any US citizen or permanent resident with a permanent disability. An Access Pass may also provide discounts for expanded amenities like camping, guided tours etc. For more information visit USGS Online Store - Access Pass.

What if I already have or qualify for another type of America the Beautiful Pass?

If you already have a pass, bring it with you. You do not need a Military Pass if you already have one of the other passes.

Learn about all of the lifetime or annual passes available in the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series.

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  American Military

  Explore military history in national parks, learn about our military heritage, and find opportunities for veterans in parks.

• 

  America the Beautiful Passes

  Learn all the options for entrance passes, including a free entrance pass for current U.S. Military personnel and their dependents.

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  Plan Your Visit

  Begin planning your trip to national parks with information to find parks, events, maps, fees and passes, trip ideas, and more.