Veterans and Gold Star Families will be granted free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior starting on Veterans Day this year and every day onward.
| “With the utmost respect and gratitude, we are granting Veterans and Gold Star Families free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect starting this Veterans Day and every single day thereafter,” said Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt. |
Entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation sites will be waived for Veterans and Gold Star Families. They will have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle, from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing and climbing. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.
Many Department managed lands have direct connections to the American military, such as frontier forts, Cold War sites, battlefields, national cemeteries, and memorials. These special places pay tribute to our veterans and serve as reminders of their courage and sacrifice throughout the history of our nation, from Minuteman National Historic Park where colonists stood in defense of their rights, to Yellowstone National Park, which was protected from vandalism and poaching by the 1st U.S. Cavalry before the National Park Service was established, to Mount Rushmore where modern warriors attend reenlistment ceremonies.
Visitors are encouraged to check with the national park or recreation site before your visit, to be sure that it is open, find out the current status of fee collection and any restrictions on activities. Many sites have closed visitor centers, food service, campgrounds, etc. until further notice in order to protect patrons and employees during the coronavirus outbreak.
See a list of all federal recreation sites (PDF), including national parks, where the passes are issued.
Details on program |
For purposes of this program, a Veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and is able to present one of the following forms of identification:
- Department of Defense Identification Card
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- Veteran ID Card
- Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card
- Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States 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 United States Armed Forces.
The Interagency America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program already includes a free annual pass for active-duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Other free or discounted passes are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth-grade and fifth-grade students, volunteers, and senior citizens age 62 years or older.
As national parks begin to safely expand access and resume operations, some national parks will reinstate entrance fees. The full suite of Interagency Passes is again available for purchase. Please visit the USGS Online Store for detailed information about how to purchase a pass online and whether purchasing a pass at this time is the right decision for you.
Please remember when making your purchase that Interagency Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, cannot be extended and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
For more information about the status of Interagency Passes please visit the USGS Online Store.
| Annual Pass |
| Cost: $80 annual pass Available for: Everyone How to purchase: In-person at a federal recreation site (see PDF list of federal recreation sites that issue passes), By phone at: 888-ASK USGS (1-888-275-8747), extension 2 (Hours of operation are: 8 am to 4 pm Mountain Time) Online—Buy now from the USGS store! Additional Information: Non-transferable Frequently Asked Questions about the Interagency Annual Pass (USGS website) |
| Military Pass |
| Cost: Free annual pass Available for: Current U.S. military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. How to obtain: In person at a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173). View a list of federal recreation sites that issue passes. |
| Annual 4th Grade Pass |
| Cost: Free (valid for the duration of the 4th and 5th grade school year through the following summer (September-August) Available for: U.S. 4th graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age) with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper pass How to obtain: Paper passes can be obtained by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and can be exchanged for the Annual 4th Grade Pass at federal recreation sites that charge Entrance or Standard Amenity fees (Day Use Fee) (see PDF list of federal recreation sites that issue passes). Digital versions of the paper pass (such as on smartphones or tablets) will not be accepted to exchange for an Annual 4th Grade Pass. Additional information: Non-transferable. Educators can also be involved! Learn more at the Every Kid Outdoors website. Additional Details about the Annual 4th Grade Pass (USGS website) |
| Senior Pass |
| Cost: $80 Lifetime Senior Pass $20 Annual Senior Pass Available for: U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. How to purchase: In-person at a federal recreation site (see PDF list of federal recreation sites that issue passes) Online–buy the lifetime pass or the annual pass online now through the USGS store! Through the mail using this application form (PDF). NOTE: There is an additional cost of $10 for passes purchased online or by mail. See more information about changes to the Senior Pass. Additional information: The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. The Senior Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners. Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. Frequently Asked Questions about the Interagency Senior Pass (USGS website) |
| 2020 Access Pass |
| Cost: Free (see note in "how to obtain" for more details) Available for: U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship. How to obtain: In-person at a federal recreation site (see PDF list of federal recreation sites that issue passes) Online through the USGS Store. Note: The cost of obtaining an Access Pass online is $10 for processing (the pass is free). Through the mail using this application form (PDF). NOTE: The cost of obtaining an Access Pass through the mail is $10 for processing the application (the pass is free). Additional information: The Access Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services. The Access Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners. Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. Frequently Asked Questions about the Interagency Access Pass (USGS website) |
| Volunteer Pass |
| Cost: Free (valid for 12 months from the date of issue) Available for: Volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program Contact your local federal recreation site for more information about volunteer opportunities or visit Volunteer.gov. |
The Department also offers free entrance days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration including the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day, and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act.
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| Every Kid Outdoors Program Provides Fourth and Fifth Grade Students with Free Entrance to Public Lands |
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