Veterans, Gold Star Families Get Free Entrance to National Parks, Refuges, Other Public Lands

Entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites are waived for current military service-members and their dependents, veterans and Gold Star Families.

They now have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle, from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping and much more.

Are you eligible? For purposes of this program, a veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and is able to present one of the following forms of valid (unexpired) identification:

• of Defense Identification Card
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Veteran ID Card
• Veteran’s designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card

Gold Star Families are next-of-kin of a member of the United States 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 United States Armed Forces.

The America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Interagency Pass) Program The Interagency Pass Program already includes a free annual pass for active duty members of the U.S. military and their dependents. Current military service members must show a valid (unexpired) Dept. of Defense ID. Dependents of current service members must show a valid (unexpired) DD Form 1173 AD or DEC.

The annual military pass has been expanded to include veterans and Gold Star Family members. Other free or discounted passes, including some lifetime passes, are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth grade students, volunteers and senior citizens age 62 years or older.

For more information about eligibility and passes, visit Free Entrance to National Parks for Veterans and Gold Star Families (U.S. National Park Service) at nps.gov.