Texas State Parks
Free and discounted access to Texas State Parks for veterans, active duty members, and Gold Star Families through Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers several passport programs that provide free entry to all 80+ Texas State Parks. These are separate from federal passes and cover state-managed parks, historic sites, and natural areas across Texas.
All of the passports below are available through TPWD and can be obtained at any Texas State Park headquarters. Visit the official TPWD page for full details on each program.
View all passports on TPWD.texas.gov →Available Passports
Who qualifies:
- • U.S. veterans with an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces
What you get:
- • Free entry to all Texas State Parks for the pass holder
- • Pass covers the veteran only — other guests in the vehicle pay regular admission
How to get it:
- • Available at any Texas State Park headquarters (free of charge)
- • Must present DD-214 showing honorable discharge and valid Texas ID or driver's license
Who qualifies:
- • U.S. veterans with a 60% or greater service-connected disability rating from the VA, or loss of a lower extremity
What you get:
- • Free entry to all Texas State Parks for the pass holder and one companion
- • The companion benefit makes this more generous than the standard Veterans Passport
How to get it:
- • Available at any Texas State Park headquarters (free of charge)
- • Must present VA disability award letter showing 60%+ service-connected rating and valid photo ID
Who qualifies:
- • Current active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in or residents of Texas
- • Includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force
What you get:
- • Free entry to all Texas State Parks for the pass holder
- • Valid while on active duty status
How to get it:
- • Available at any Texas State Park headquarters (free of charge)
- • Must present valid military ID (CAC card)
Who qualifies:
- • Gold Star Families — immediate family members of a service member who died while serving or as a result of their service
- • Includes surviving spouses, parents, children, and siblings of the fallen service member
What you get:
- • Free entry to all Texas State Parks for the pass holder
How to get it:
- • Available at any Texas State Park headquarters (free of charge)
- • Must present Gold Star lapel pin or proof of eligibility and valid photo ID
- • All passports listed above are free of charge — no purchase required
- • These passports cover day-use entry fees only — camping, facility rentals, and activity fees are separate
- • Passports must be presented with valid photo ID at the park entrance
- • Texas State Park passports are separate from federal America the Beautiful passes — veterans can and should carry both for maximum coverage
- • Reservations for camping and day visits are recommended, especially on weekends and holidays, even with a free entry passport
- • Some parks may have capacity limits — a passport guarantees free entry but not guaranteed access during peak times without a reservation
Disclaimer: Fireguard is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department or any state 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 source linked above before making decisions based on this information.