By Larry Dandridge
According to the VA YouTube Video titled, “VR5: Free Lifetime Passes to U. S. National Parks” (https://bit.ly/3wpPYRO) and the National Park Service (NPS) webpage (https://www.nps.gov/), all military members, veterans, and Gold Star families are eligible for free lifetime U.S. National Park Service (NPS) passes.
Two types of NPS free and lifetime passes to choose from
All veterans, currently serving military members, disabled veterans, and Gold Star Families are eligible for two different NPS Passes that are free and good for the pass owner’s lifetime. They can pick which pass they want. The passes are:
- the Forever Life Pass (sometimes called the Military Pass); and
- the Forever Life Access Pass.
All veterans, currently serving, past veterans, their Gold Star Families, and disabled veterans are eligible for a free lifetime NPS pass. Both passes are free and forever when requested in person.
More than 2,000 National Parks and other Federal Sites
These passes provide access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas including national parks. In addition to national parks, veterans and Gold Star family members with a free lifetime NPS Pass can also get entrances to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Sites that charge entrance fees.
Veterans and Gold Star family Free and Forever NPS Passes also cover your standard amenity fees at Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation Sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer sites.
Get your NPS pass in person or online
All veterans, disabled veterans, Gold Star Family members, and service members can sign up for these passes. There is no application required or filling out of a form to get this free lifetime pass. The National Park Service webpage and its app are the best places to get your free pass and plan for your visit to a National Park.
When you are on the NPS webpage, just click the “Plan Your Visit” link to go to where the passes are. Veterans can also obtain their free and lifetime pass at any national park that charges an entrance fee.
Where to get your pass in person with VA ID
The NPS website includes a list of places where veterans can pick up the free lifetime pass in person. All the veteran needs to do is show an Identification Card (ID) that indicates the veteran’s status (active duty, retired, veteran, etc.). The ID can be a valid VA ID, VA Health Identification Card, a Department of Defense ID Card, or a state-issued driver’s license with a veteran designation. Learn more about the “Types of Veteran ID Cards” at https://bit.ly/49ACC3X.
NPS Sites in SC to get passes in person
- Reconstruction Era National Historical Park: 706 Craven Street
Beaufort, S.C. 29902. Phone: 843-962-0039. Passes available: Access Pass, Fourth Grade Pass, and Military. - Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park: 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482. Phone: 843-883-3123. Passes available: Access Pass, Fourth Grade Pass, and Military Pass.
- Congaree National Park: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, S.C. 29061. Phone: 803-647-4396. Passes available: Access Pass, Annual Pass, Fourth Grade Pass, Military Pass, and Senior Pass.
- Kings Mountain National Military Park: 2625 Park Road, Blacksburg, S.C. 29702. Phone: 864-936-7921, Ext. 3. Passes available: Access Pass, Annual Pass, Fourth Grade Pass, Military Pass, and Senior Pass.
No fee for in-person pickup of passes
There is no fee to obtain the veterans’s free lifetime pass when you apply in person. There is a $10 processing fee if a veteran applies online. It takes up to three weeks for the pass to be delivered when ordered online.
The free forever NPS Passes cover the pass owner and all accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle at a “per vehicle fee area” or the pass owner and up to three additional adults “at sites that charge fees by the person.”
National Parks are our nation’s crown jewels
United States parks are America’s crown jewels. There are 423 National Parks that include 85 million acres of breathtaking scenery. Every state has a national park. There are seven national parks or national monument sites in S.C. and 12 in Georgia. More than 300 million visitors visit our national parks each year. Our beautiful national parks provide inspiration, recreation, education, relaxation, exploration, and the opportunity to rejuvenate.
National Parks offer a variety of physical, mental, and social benefits, and an opportunity to spend time with nature. Many National Parks, Sites, and National Cemeteries are Military History Sites.
NPS web site activities and topics search features
Veterans and Gold Star families can search 40 different activities and 83 different topics under S.C. on the NPS website when searching which park to select to visit. NPS South Carolina “Activity” search options include things like Arts, Culture, Astronomy, Auto, ATV, Biking, Boating, Camping, Climbing, Fishing, Flying, Golfing, Guided Tours, Hiking, Hunting, Living History, Museum Exhibits, Paddling, Park Film, Playground, Swimming, Tubing, Water Skiing, Wildlife Watching, and more.
NPS South Carolina “Topic” search options include African American Heritage, American Revolution, Animals, Archeology, Architecture, Arts, Aviation, Birthplace, Cemetery and Gravesite, Climate Change, Coasts, Islands, Colonization and Settlement, Dams, Dunes, Engineering, Scenic Views, Science, Technology, Social Movements, Tragic Events, Trails, Transportation, Unique Species, Wars and Conflicts, Waterfalls, Wilderness, and many more.
History
The National Park Service is one of the United States’ leading agencies for understanding history and culture. NPS preserves historic sites both within national park boundaries and beyond. NPS offers opportunities to help communities preserve their history. Whether you want to visit a historic national park, discover America’s stories, or find assistance to preserve the places that matter to you, you can discover something new about our shared history at a National Park.
The bottom line
Military members, veterans, disabled veterans, and Gold Star Families can enjoy “for free” our National Parks, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Sites, Bureau of Reclamation Sites, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer sites. Take advantage of NPS free lifetime passes and enjoy our national treasures – our National Parks and other free sites.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
