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expired Posted by pikappaphiEE252 • Nov 10, 2022
expired Posted by pikappaphiEE252 • Nov 10, 2022

Lifetime Military Pass thru America the Beautiful National Parks/Federal Lands

(All Gold Star Families or US Military Veterans)

Free

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National Park Service (NPS.gov) is offering their Lifetime Military Pass through America the Beautiful National Parks/Federal Recreational Lands for Free valid for all Gold Star Families and US Military Veterans when you download/present your signed Gold Star Family Voucher for redemption.

Thanks to community member pikappaphiEE252 for finding this deal

Note, current members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are eligible or a veteran identified as an individual who has served in the US Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves.

The free Military Pass waives entrance fees and does not cover expanded amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, transportation, special recreation permits, reservation fees or special tours.

Here is a full list of federal locations that the issue passes

Additionally, a free annual Military Pass is available for current US military members and their dependents

Editor's Notes

  • Offer valid for all Gold Star Families and US Military Veterans
  • The Gold Star Family Voucher will gain you access/entrance for the National Park Service, US. Fish and Wildlife Service, and standard amenity recreation fees for Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Forest Services sites and fees will be waived
  • Veterans and Gold Star Families will receive free lifetime access
  • Holder of voucher must present a valid photo ID/other verification upon request
  • Offer/voucher valid through November 30, 2023 or while offer last
Additional Notes
  • For additional info/FAQ, please visit this link
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by pikappaphiEE252
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
National Park Service (NPS.gov) is offering their Lifetime Military Pass through America the Beautiful National Parks/Federal Recreational Lands for Free valid for all Gold Star Families and US Military Veterans when you download/present your signed Gold Star Family Voucher for redemption.

Thanks to community member pikappaphiEE252 for finding this deal

Note, current members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are eligible or a veteran identified as an individual who has served in the US Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves.

The free Military Pass waives entrance fees and does not cover expanded amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, transportation, special recreation permits, reservation fees or special tours.

Here is a full list of federal locations that the issue passes

Additionally, a free annual Military Pass is available for current US military members and their dependents

Editor's Notes

  • Offer valid for all Gold Star Families and US Military Veterans
  • The Gold Star Family Voucher will gain you access/entrance for the National Park Service, US. Fish and Wildlife Service, and standard amenity recreation fees for Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Forest Services sites and fees will be waived
  • Veterans and Gold Star Families will receive free lifetime access
  • Holder of voucher must present a valid photo ID/other verification upon request
  • Offer/voucher valid through November 30, 2023 or while offer last
Additional Notes
  • For additional info/FAQ, please visit this link
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by pikappaphiEE252

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Top Comments

They were made National Parks so they couldn't be destroyed by industry or population sprawl. Those entry fees pay for the servicing and up-keep of the roads, bridges, forests, rivers, and amenities, and pay for the park rangers and employees who, in turn, help keep things in a condition that allows everyone to enjoy them.
You've already been given the answer to your question. National Parks have to be maintained and that maintenance comes at a $$$ cost. So either you (i) collect money from Congress (which comes from our taxes), or (ii) you collect fees from users, or (iii) a combination of both. And the chosen solution is ... drum roll ... option (iii) plus, not surprisingly, private donations.

And the simple answer to your question of why they need to charge entrance fees, camping fees, event fees, etc is because if they didn't, the combined budget wouldn't be sufficient to maintain the parks and provide the service. But then you ask why not just raise taxes. And the simple answer to that is they think they have a good balance between having all taxpayers pay for the parks (including those that don't use them) and having those that actually use them pay a little extra.

Hope that clears it up for you .
Here is a direct link to the pass. Figured it was worth the $10 processing fee to not have to track one down at a park.

https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass

198 Comments

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Nov 10, 2022
420 Posts
Joined Oct 2007
Nov 10, 2022
Bigb3134
Nov 10, 2022
420 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Bigb3134

This has actually been the case for years now. Typical government though, every year I go to Yosemite they never have the actual lifetime passes available at the ranger station and just tell me to check back in a few months. They have let me in free for the last several years as a veteran.
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11
Original Poster
Nov 10, 2022
18 Posts
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Nov 10, 2022
pikappaphiEE252
Original Poster
Nov 10, 2022
18 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank pikappaphiEE252

Quote from Bigb3134 :
This has actually been the case for years now. Typical government though, every year I go to Yosemite they never have the actual lifetime passes available at the ranger station and just tell me to check back in a few months. They have let me in free for the last several years as a veteran.
This is a new single lifetime pass. Previously, they had annual passes for military folks, but like you experienced, damn near every park that distributed them ran out.
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Nov 11, 2022
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firerose
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thanks
Nov 11, 2022
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Nov 11, 2022
ntpphong1
Nov 11, 2022
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Thanks, ordered. There is a $10 processing fee btw.
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Nov 11, 2022
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liz1114
Nov 11, 2022
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Here is a direct link to the pass. Figured it was worth the $10 processing fee to not have to track one down at a park.

https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass
2
Nov 11, 2022
245 Posts
Joined Nov 2018
Nov 11, 2022
NamN8851
Nov 11, 2022
245 Posts
Thanks! Heard about this but never have a chance to visit a national park to check it out. Now I can order the pass first.
Nov 11, 2022
1,774 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
Nov 11, 2022
hai1
Nov 11, 2022
1,774 Posts
Is there a simple link for a Veteran? I clicked about all the links and cannot seem to find a sign-up for this offer.

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Nov 11, 2022
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Nov 11, 2022
147 Posts
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Nov 11, 2022
ing3nieur
Nov 11, 2022
147 Posts
Quote from hai1 :
Is there a simple link for a Veteran? I clicked about all the links and cannot seem to find a sign-up for this offer.
The link posted above by liz114 worked for me. Just click on the Determine Eligibility button.
I selected Veteran and Add Product to Cart. Then click on the shopping cart icon to view cart and proceed to checkout.
Nov 11, 2022
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Joined Aug 2018

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Nov 11, 2022
84 Posts
Joined Nov 2012
Nov 11, 2022
miamimarty
Nov 11, 2022
84 Posts
Thank you to all Veterans for your service!!
7
Nov 11, 2022
349 Posts
Joined Dec 2014
Nov 11, 2022
nhowc
Nov 11, 2022
349 Posts
Last summer my sons and I visited most of the Nat'l parks in the midwest. 11 in total, I think.

Glacier was the only one which had the pass cards on hand. Thankfully, the other parks still let us enter free, showing just my VA photo ID and DL.

It was only an annual pass, so this lifetime pass is a 1000x better to have.

Anyway, Thanks for finding and posting this.

And to all the veterans, here... Thanks for your service.
3
Nov 11, 2022
349 Posts
Joined Dec 2014
Nov 11, 2022
nhowc
Nov 11, 2022
349 Posts
Quote from Gears_and_Beers :
The better question is why national parks are not free for all if it's public land and "owned collectively by U.S. citizens."

They were made National Parks so they couldn't be destroyed by industry or population sprawl. Those entry fees pay for the servicing and up-keep of the roads, bridges, forests, rivers, and amenities, and pay for the park rangers and employees who, in turn, help keep things in a condition that allows everyone to enjoy them.
9
Nov 11, 2022
754 Posts
Joined Nov 2012
Nov 11, 2022
Xray30
Nov 11, 2022
754 Posts
I ordered mine maybe 6 months ago and it came in like a week.

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Nov 11, 2022
2,523 Posts
Joined Aug 2017
Nov 11, 2022
social_gamer
Nov 11, 2022
2,523 Posts
Shame they don't have these for State parks
1

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