Military Pass

• $10 processing fee on USGS Store, Free in person at sites that issue passes
• Available to Current US Military and Dependents. Documentation is required (See below for details).
• Covers entrance to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service sites, and covers Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.
• Admits the pass owners and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person.
• If purchased from the USGS Store, your name will be printed on your pass

Who qualifies?

Current Military and Dependents:

• Current members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force and National Guard
• Dependents of current U.S. military members 
• U.S. Military Cadets
• U.S. Active Reservists (Do not need to be deployed) 

What documentation is required when obtaining the pass in person?

• Unexpired Common Access Card (CAC)
• Unexpired DD Form 1173
• Unexpired Next Generation Dependent ID (Replacement of DD Form 1173)

***Common Access Cards (CAC) are NOT accepted online for verification but they are accepted at physical sites that issue Military Passes

The following individuals/groups DO NOT  Qualify for the Military Annual Pass: 

• Foreign military members (Including those stationed in the US) 
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees 
• Public Health Service (PHS) members 
• Inactive U S Reservists 
• Civilian military contractors 
• Civilian military employees 

• In addition to the Interagency Military Annual Pass for current military and dependents, there is now a Military Lifetime Pass for Gold Star Families and Veterans.
• If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident age 62 or older you qualify for a Senior Annual Pass or Senior Lifetime Pass. Review the Senior Pass section above for additional details.
• If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have a medically determined permanent disability you may qualify for a free Access Pass. Review the Access Pass section for additional details. The Access Pass and both the Senior Annual and Senior Lifetime Pass are the only passes that may provide a discount on some expanded amenity fees such as camping.

• $10 processing fee on USGS Store, Free in person at sites that issue passes.
• Available to Gold Star Families and Veterans . See section below for specific documentation required.
• Obtained in person at Federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees.
• Covers entrance fees at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites and covers Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.
• Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person.
• If purchased from the USGS Store, your name will be printed on your pass.

1. Gold Star Families

• 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, as explained in Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36
• Gold Star Family members must self-certify by applying for a Military-Lifetime Pass online at https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass or downloading and printing a special voucher to either present to the ranger, exchange for a Military Pass in person, or place on the vehicle dashboard at unstaffed sites. Gold Star Vouchers may be downloaded from https://www.nps.gov/customcf/goldstar/voucher.htm

2. Veterans

• Individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and are able to present one of the following valid non-expired forms of identification when entering or using federal lands:

1) Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement)

2) Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

3) Veteran ID Card

• As of September 2022, the VA only provides a digital version.

4) Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S.driver’s license or identification card

Unacceptable Documents

• Expired Common Access Card (CAC)

• Business cards 

• Email screenshots 

• Proof of verification through other verification services 

• Dependent application for VA benefits 

• Documents that are not issued by the US government, for example: 

• Veterans Advantage card 

• VFW membership card 

• American Legion 

• USAA documentation 

• If you have a Military Annual Pass, Access Pass, or one of the other Interagency Passes, you can simply use that pass for free access. All passes are non-transferable.
• If you have recently purchased an Interagency Annual or Senior Pass, unfortunately no refunds are permitted.