Get Outside

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.

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
Recreation.gov
To receive a free digital pass, visit Recreation.gov. You can also request a physical pass during the checkout process, which will include a $7.50 shipping fee.

Order a Military Lifetime Pass from Recreation.gov
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

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
Recreation.gov
To receive a free digital pass, visit Recreation.gov. You can also request a physical pass during the checkout process, which will include a $7.50 shipping fee.

Order a Military Annual Pass from Recreation.gov
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

For FAQs and more information, please visit the National Park Service website.

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