Glacier National Park / Justin Housman photo
If you're looking to save a few bucks and visit a national park this month, Veteran's Day, November 11, is a great day to do it.
In honor of Veteran's Day, all national parks are waiving entrance fees. It's the last free entrance day of the year for our national parks. And it's not just the 63 national parks, but all 431 units of the National Park Service, including national seashores, monuments, and, of course, historic forts and battlegrounds.
There are more than 100 national park sites with direct ties to military history in some form or another, many of which will be hosting commemorative events on Veteran's Day.
“National parks are the living memory of our nation, the conscience of America, and many of them have direct relevance to the U.S. military and the sacrifices of those who served,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “Visits to national parks while I was a young sailor in the Navy were incredibly meaningful and formative. Seeing treasured natural and cultural landmarks firsthand connected me to our country’s shared history and provided inspiration to serve and defend.”
The National Park Service suggests the following if you'd like to observe Veteran's Day at a national park this year:
With eligible photo identification, obtaining a free military pass. Current members of the military and their dependents are eligible for free annual park passes. Veterans and Gold Star Family members can acquire a free lifetime pass. The passes provide free admission to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal recreational areas. Other free or discounted passes are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth grade students, volunteers, and senior citizens who are 62 years or older.
Touring a national park dedicated to a notable person who also served in the military, such as Jimmy Carter, César Chávez, Medgar Evers, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Pinckney, Edgar Allan Poe, Theodore Roosevelt, Carl Sandburg, Harry S Truman, or Harriet Tubman.
Visiting the NPS American Military website which provides information about additional events and military-related connections to national parks, including profiles of NPS employees and volunteers who are veterans.
Uncovering untold stories about our country’s first veterans by participating in the Revolutionary War Pension Transcription Project. This joint effort between the NPS and the National Archives invites public volunteers to transcribe handwritten, first-hand accounts of the American Revolution. The transcriptions will become a permanent part of the historical record at the National Archives and will help researchers and the public learn more about these early Americans and the times in which they lived.
Planning a park trip using the interactive map on NPS.gov that highlights national parks near Department of Defense and Veterans Administration facilities nationwide, making it easier than ever for veterans, service members, their families, and caregivers to find recreational opportunities that support physical, social, mental, and spiritual fitness.
