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

Free
(All Gold Star Families or US Military Veterans)
+298 Deal Score
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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 & Price Research

Written by
  • 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
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Original Post

Written by
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit...access.htm

The National Park Service in partnership with Operation Live Well would like to thank military personnel and their families for their service and invite them to enjoy their national parks.

The free Military Pass is a way to thank current US military members and their dependents, Gold Star Families, and US military veterans for their support of our country and to encourage them to explore recreational opportunities on their public lands and waters.

A free lifetime Military Pass is available for Gold Star Families and US military veterans. A free annual Military Pass is available for current US military members and their dependents. The passes provide free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.

ON THIS PAGE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSNAVIGATIONON THIS PAGE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS NAVIGATION

What is the Military, Veterans, and Gold Star Family Free Access Program?
The Interagency Military Pass covers entrance fees and standard amenity fees (day use fees) at lands managed by the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers for current US military members, and dependents of current military members, US military veterans, and Gold Star Families. In recent years, they were able to receive annual passes. The new interagency Military Lifetime Passes will be available starting November 11, 2022.

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.

For more information about the Interagency Military Pass Program, please visit USGS Online Store - Military Pass Frequently Asked Questions.

Who is eligible to get a free Military Annual Pass?
Current members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents can enter national parks for free with an Interagency Military Annual Pass through the America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Interagency) Program. There are a total of eight Interagency Passes available. For more information and to obtain these passes, please visit the USGS Online Store.  

Who is eligible to get a free Military Lifetime Pass as a veteran?
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, and is able to present one of the following forms of identification to get the Interagency Military Lifetime Pass when entering a national park:

Unexpired Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement)
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Veteran ID Card
Veterans designation on a state-issued US driver's license or identification card

Who is eligible to get a free Military Lifetime Pass as a member of a Gold Star Family?
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 does a member of a Gold Star Family get a free Military Lifetime Pass?
Before visiting a national park site, Gold Star Family members must download and print a voucher to present to park staff, exchange for an Interagency Military Lifetime Pass, or place on the vehicle dashboard at unstaffed sites (representations of the voucher are prohibited; the physical voucher or pass must be present). By downloading and signing the voucher, Gold Star Family members are self-certifying that they meet the required criteria as identified in sections 3.2 and 3.3 of Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36.

Download the Gold Star Family Voucher.
Gold Star Family members can obtain a free Military Lifetime Pass online through the USGS Online Store. There is a processing fee for passes ordered through the USGS Online Store.

Does the pass include others traveling with the veteran or Gold Star Family member?
The free Military Lifetime Pass admits the veteran or the holder of the Gold Star Family voucher as well as occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR the veteran or voucher-holder and three persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged. The passes are non-transferrable and are void if altered.

What agencies are participating in the free Military Pass program?
The program waives entrance or standard amenity fees for the following agencies:
National Park Service
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Forest Service
US Army Corps of Engineers

How long will free access be available?
Veterans and Gold Star Families receive free lifetime access.

What is covered by the free Military Pass program?
The Gold Star voucher and Military Lifetime Pass cover entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands and on lands managed by the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Army Corps of Engineers.

What is not covered by the free Military Pass program?
The pass does not cover expanded amenity fees such as camping, tours or special recreation permits; reservation fees and fees for organized groups or concession-operated facilities or activities.

Are passes available for disabled veterans or other people with disabilities?
Yes. The Interagency Access Pass is a lifetime pass that is free for any US citizen or permanent resident, including a veteran or Gold Star Family member, who has a permanent disability. An Access Pass may also provide discounts for expanded amenities like camping, guided tours etc. For more information visit USGS Online Store - Access Pass.

What if I have a current Interagency Military Pass or other type of Interagency Pass?
If you already have a Military Pass, Access Pass, or one of the other Interagency Passes, you can simply use that pass for free access.
If you have recently purchased an Interagency Annual or Senior Pass, unfortunately no refunds are permitted.

All Interagency Passes are non-transferable.
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Created 11-10-2022 at 09:57 AM by pikappaphiEE252
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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 Wink.
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

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Joined Oct 2007
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> bubble2 377 Posts
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11-10-2022 at 10:38 AM.
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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11-10-2022 at 10:56 AM.
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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11-10-2022 at 05:45 PM.
thanks
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> bubble2 31 Posts
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11-10-2022 at 06:17 PM.
Thanks, ordered. There is a $10 processing fee btw.
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11-10-2022 at 08:13 PM.
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
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> bubble2 245 Posts
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11-10-2022 at 11:49 PM.
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.
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> bubble2 1,651 Posts
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11-11-2022 at 12:20 AM.
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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Joined Aug 2013
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> bubble2 146 Posts
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11-11-2022 at 12:45 AM.
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.
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11-11-2022 at 01:09 AM.
Thank you to all Veterans for your service!!
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