National Parks
Free and discounted access to over 2,000 federal recreation areas — national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, and more.
The U.S. government provides free passes for veterans, active duty service members, Gold Star Families, and disabled veterans to access federal recreation sites managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
These passes cover entrance fees and standard amenity fees at over 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
View all military passes on Recreation.gov →Available Passes
Who qualifies:
- • U.S. veterans with an honorable discharge (DD-214)
What you get:
- • Free lifetime America the Beautiful pass
- • Covers entrance and day-use fees at all federal recreation sites
- • Admits the pass holder and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (or pass holder + 3 adults at per-person fee sites)
- • Children under 16 enter free
How to get it:
- • In person at any federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee
- • Online through Recreation.gov
- • Must present DD-214 or other proof of honorable discharge, or a VA health ID card (VHIC)
Cost:
- • Free (no cost)
Who qualifies:
- • Current U.S. military members serving on active duty
- • Members of the Reserve and National Guard
- • Current military dependents with valid military ID (CAC or DoD Form 1173)
What you get:
- • Free annual America the Beautiful pass (valid for 12 months)
- • Same coverage as the veteran lifetime pass — entrance and day-use fees at all federal sites
- • Admits pass holder and passengers in a single vehicle (or pass holder + 3 adults)
How to get it:
- • In person at any federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee
- • Online through Recreation.gov
- • Must present valid military ID (CAC card)
- • Renewable annually while on active duty
Cost:
- • Free (no cost)
Who qualifies:
- • U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability
- • Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability qualify (separate program from the Veteran Lifetime Pass)
What you get:
- • Free lifetime America the Beautiful Access Pass
- • Covers entrance and day-use fees at all federal recreation sites
- • May also provide a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees (camping, swimming, boat launching, specialized interpretive services)
- • Same vehicle/passenger admission as other passes
How to get it:
- • In person at any federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee
- • Online through Recreation.gov
- • By mail with completed application
- • Must provide documentation of permanent disability (e.g., VA disability award letter, SSDI determination, or statement from a licensed physician)
Cost:
- • Free (no cost)
Who qualifies:
- • Gold Star Families — next of kin of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their life in a qualifying situation
- • Includes parents, spouses, children, and siblings of the fallen service member
What you get:
- • Free lifetime America the Beautiful pass
- • Covers entrance and day-use fees at all federal recreation sites
- • Same vehicle/passenger admission as other passes
How to get it:
- • In person at any federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee
- • Online through Recreation.gov
- • Must present a Gold Star lapel pin or provide proof of eligibility
Cost:
- • Free (no cost)
- • These passes cover entrance and day-use fees only — they do not cover camping reservations, cabin rentals, or other expanded amenity fees (except the Access Pass, which may offer 50% off some amenities)
- • Passes are non-transferable and must be presented with valid photo ID at the gate
- • Veterans can hold both a Veteran Lifetime Pass and an Access Pass if they qualify for both
- • The pass covers sites managed by NPS, USFS, USFWS, BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, and USACE — not state or local parks
- • Some sites do not charge entrance fees and no pass is needed
Disclaimer: Fireguard is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Recreation.gov, or any federal agency. The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current eligibility requirements or policies. Always verify details directly with the official sources linked above before making decisions based on this information.