The US National Park System has over 300 million visitors annually. That's a significant number of people who travel to our nation's historic sites and nature parks throughout the year.
To honor military families, the National Park Service has an America the Beautiful program that allows free access for active duty military, veterans, and Gold Star family members. And the pass is easily available without jumping through a lot of hoops.
We have traveled over the years to several parks as we lived in the Washington, DC area. (You can't go 10 feet in the city without tripping over one!) Some were already free and others had a nominal fee at the front gate. We had previously heard about the free entry program for military members, but we had forgotten to look into it in the past. It never seemed to make my "to-do" list. This past week we were visiting Savannah, Ga. and popped down to Fort Pulaski on the way to Tybee Island. As we entered the front gate, the gatekeeper asked if we were a military family. When my fiancee said he was a veteran and showed his ID card, the gatekeeper gave him an immediate free access card for life. There was no application, no paperwork, no hoops!
The NPS program will give veterans and Gold Star families free access for life, and active duty military members receive a free annual pass. For veterans and active duty, just show your ID at the entrance gate, but Gold Star families do need to fill out a quick application online.
This pass is for entrance fees only. It is not for fees related to campgrounds, rentals, programs, etc. It does not let you into a park where a permit is required ahead of time. And it does not let you jump-the-line for access to parks that are part of the lottery system. But it does let you and the people in your car into a national park for free.
This does allow you to save a little money on your travels so you can explore more of our country's history and natural beauty. Over time, if you are an avid park enthusiast, this can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on your travel budget.
To get more information about the program and the form for the Gold Star family pass, visit the NPS website below:
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