Veterans, Gold Star Families to get lifetime free access to national parks, refuges

November 11, 2020

Veterans and the families of service members lost in the line of duty can now get free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior.

The department announced all entrance fees for National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sites and standard amenity recreation fees for Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation sites will be waived for veterans and Gold Star Families.

“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.

Veterans will need to present their Department of Defense identification card, Veteran Health identification card, veteran ID card or a state-issued driver’s license or identification card with veteran designation.

Gold Star Families can download and print a voucher for identification.

The decision will give free access to more than 2,000 public locations over 400 million acres of public lands, including the Indiana Dunes National Park, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and other federal sites in Indiana.

Previously, veterans and Gold Star Families could receive free limited, annual passes through the Interagency America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program.

Veterans, Gold Star Families to get lifetime free access to national parks, refuges

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