America the Beautiful Military Pass for Veterans & Active Duty

Who qualifies

How to redeem

1. Obtain your pass at any federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee, or through select National Park Service visitor centers.
2. Active duty: present a Common Access Card (CAC), military ID, or other official active duty documentation.
3. Veterans: present a Veterans ID Card, DD-214, or other official documentation of honorable discharge.
4. Gold Star families: present official documentation at a fee-collecting federal site.
5. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee sites, or the pass holder and three additional adults at per-person fee sites.

Key exclusions & notes

• The annual pass for active duty must be renewed each year — it is not a lifetime pass
• Veterans receive a free lifetime pass (not subject to annual renewal)
• The pass covers entrance fees only — it does not cover amenity fees such as camping, boat launches, or swimming
• Pass holders must be present for the pass to be used
• Not valid at sites operated by state or local governments

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the active duty pass and the veteran pass?
Active duty military receive a free annual pass that must be renewed each year. Veterans and Gold Star families receive a free lifetime pass that never expires. Both cover the same 2,000+ federal recreation sites.

Where can I use the America the Beautiful Pass?
The pass is valid at over 2,000 federal recreation sites managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Army Corps of Engineers.

Can I get the pass by mail or do I have to visit a park?
You can request the pass in person at any fee-collecting federal recreation site. Some sites also have mail-in options — check the NPS.gov passes page for current processing options.