Did you know U.S. military Veterans and Gold Star families can get a free lifetime pass to access America’s public lands?
The America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass is available free to U.S. military Veterans and Gold Star families. The card provides access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks, wildlife refuges and forests, creating easier access for Veterans and their families to access the American outdoors. The pass covers entrance fees and day use fees for lands managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Current U.S. military service members and their dependents are also eligible for the free America the Beautiful Military Annual Pass.
Free park entrance on Veterans Day
All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee are free to everyone on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. It’s one of several “free entrance days” at 400 national parks in 2024. Note that the entrance fee waiver doesn’t cover other user fees, like charges for camping, boat launches, transportation or special tours.
Also on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the U.S. Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites on lands it manages. The agency has released its list of free entrance days in 2025.
Pick up a pass at a participating REI store on Nov. 11, 2024
On Nov. 11, REI Co-op is bringing the opportunity for Veterans, Gold Star Families and current military personnel to pick up their free America the Beautiful Military Pass in-store at eight REI store locations (see list below). Before visiting a participating REI store below, please check required documentation to bring with you at https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass. (Note: You do not need to complete your pass order online, only verify required documentation at the site.)
Visit one of the following REI stores on Nov. 11, to pick up your free pass from the National Park Service. Park officials will be available on-site day-of during the following hours (local time listed).
| REI Store | Hours passes are available |
| Anchorage, Alaska | 10am–5:30pm |
| Bloomington, Minnesota | 10am–4pm |
| Corte Madera, California | 10am–6pm |
| Dallas | 10am–3pm |
| Denver | 10am–2pm |
| San Antonio | 10am–4pm |
| Seattle | 10am–6pm |
| Timonium, Maryland | 10am–8pm |
To search a list of all locations where you can purchase or pick up a pass, visit the National Park Service’s webpage Places to Get Interagency Passes.
Get a pass online
Can’t make it in-person to pick up a pass? Passes can be requested online for a $10 processing fee through the USGS Store at https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass.
Additional resources:
- Learn more about the Military Pass and requirements at the USGS store
- About the America the Beautiful Pass
- Interagency locations that issue the America the Beautiful Pass
The post How Veterans Can Visit National Parks for Free appeared first on Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication.
