How can I tell if I have a real ID? Look for this symbol on your Arizona license
When the requirements for Real ID finally take effect nationwide on May 7, air travelers must have a star on their state identification to get through security and board their flight.
As the May 7 deadline approaches, people are applying for Real IDs at state motor vehicle offices and approved third-party offices. They arrive with the necessary documents so they'll be ready to fly and avoid the consequences of not having one.
But how do you know if your drivers license is Real ID-ready?
Here's how to tell if you have a Real ID and what an Arizona Travel ID, the state's version of Real, ID, looks like.
The Arizona Travel ID — which is a Real ID — is distinguishable from a standard drivers license by a gold or black star on the upper right corner. Starting May 7, your ID must have that gold or black star in the corner to pass through airport security checkpoints or enter federal buildings.
Most states' Real ID cards have a solid gold or black star, or a clear star inside a gold or black circle. The California Real ID has a clear star inside a gold bear, which plays on the California state flag that shows a grizzly bear atop a patch of grass.
Recently issued state credentials that are not Real ID-compliant will include the label, "Not for federal identification."
A gold star on the upper right corner of an Arizona Travel ID indicates that it's Real ID compliant.
Get weekend plans. Sign up for our Things to Do newsletter.
Travel IDs issued since 2023 contain a black star.
Regardless of whether the star is gold or black, it signifies a Real ID.
The Arizona Travel ID costs $25.
An Arizona Real ID is good for eight years.
Phoenix airport guide: All the airlines, food and lounges in Terminal 3, Terminal 4
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.
Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does Real ID look like? How to tell if you have one
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Out-of-towners want to move to these 2 small Arizona cities, report shows. Here's why
Arizonans know the state's population is growing: we can see the changes happening right before our eyes. The data backs this up. Of the 100 cities across the United States that grew the most in 2024, nine were in Arizona, according to Census Bureau data. But it's a different question entirely to ask where Americans dream of moving. That's the question U.S. News & World Report set out to answer by looking at the cities and states that have the most searches online during the first quarter of 2025. The report found that Americans have a strong interest in the Sun Belt, which is comprised of sun-soaked states in the bottom third of the United States, like Texas, Florida and the Carolinas. Of the top 20 most searched cities, 16 were in the Sun Belt. Despite being a part of the Sunbelt, only two Arizona cities made the top 50 list. Here's where. The report ranked Prescott as the No. 29 most searched city. The analysis pointed to its status as a retirement destination as a possible reason for its ranking. "Retirees looking for a warm, arid place to settle down will find that in Prescott, Arizona. The city is located between Phoenix and Flagstaff and surrounded by mountains, with outdoor activities as its calling card," the report stated. Surprise also made the list at No. 37. Like many of the cities in the top 50, it has a relatively low cost of living. Reach the reporter at Follow @reia_reports on Instagram. Population changes explained: These 9 Arizona cities are among fastest-growing in US. Here's how many people moved there This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: These are the best cities in Arizona to move to, report shows
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
When's the next full moon? Here's what to know after June's strawberry moon
The last full moon of Spring is rising at sunset on Tuesday evening. The strawberry moon appeared Tuesday, June 10. The moon in June is also one of the lowest-hanging of the year, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. While the strawberry moon does appear with a reddish tone, the name derives from the Native American Algonquian tribes, who lived in the northwestern United States. The Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota tribes also used the name, which marked the wild strawberries in June, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Here's everything to know about catching a glimpse of the strawberry moon. According to while the strawberry moon typically happens in June, this year we are in a major lunar standstill — the two-year period of the lunar cycle when the moon's tilted orbit is at its greatest inclination relative to the celestial equator. The strawberry moon's low altitude will be made more extreme by the lunar standstill, which means we'll experience the lowest full moon in over a decade. The following dates list out the rest of the expected full moons in 2025: July 10- Buck Moon Aug. 9- Sturgeon Moon Sept. 7- Harvest Moon Oct. 6- Hunter's Moon Nov. 5- Beaver Moon Dec. 4- Cold Moon USA Today contributed to this story. Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@ @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook. More: El Paso is No. 2 'Best Big City to Live in the US,' according to US News & World Report This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: When's the next full moon? Here's what to know after strawberry moon
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
13 stunning natural wonders in the American West you have to see to believe
From mountain ranges to lakes to national parks, the western United States has an abundance of staggering natural beauty. This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking – and perhaps, underappreciated – views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure throughout the nation. Here are a few of our favorites from the West: Glacier Bay National Park, in southeast Alaska, is a jaw-dropping wilderness where massive tidewater glaciers calve into icy waters and humpback whales surface with breathtaking grace. The park is accessible primarily by boat or plane. Most visitors arrive via cruise ship or guided excursion from Juneau, which is reachable by air from Seattle. Once in the park, expect a surreal landscape of snow-capped mountains, deep fjords, and glacial ice in hues of aquamarine. — USA TODAY staff One of Arizona's most photographed and Instagrammed sites, Horseshoe Bend is near the Arizona-Utah state line where the Colorado River flows. It's part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is adjacent to the Navajo Nation. Horseshoe Bend gets its name from the sinuous river meander around a sandstone formation. It has a lot in common with the Grand Canyon: Horseshoe Bend was carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years and is one of Arizona's most visited natural landmarks. It costs $10 to park a car or $5 to park a motorcycle at Horseshoe Bend. The closest town is Page, about 5 miles north. More info at: — Michael Salerno, Arizona Republic MORE DETAILS Presented by Arizona Republic Joshua Tree National Park treats visitors to a glimpse of how two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, can make for extraordinary sights with its impressive rock formations and the curiously shaped Joshua trees. Springtime wildflowers, cactus, and other shrubs dot a landscape that is at times flat and in some other cases elevated, and a perfect lookout. Thousands of acres comprise Joshua Tree National Park, and all that undeveloped land makes for a noticeable quietness and serenity, making it easy to get great views of the sky. — Palm Springs Desert Sun MORE DETAILS Presented by Palm Springs Desert Sun Found in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest dunes in North America. The dunes themselves are an incredible sight to behold during the day. Still, the park is also an International Dark Sky Park at night that features some of the best stargazing opportunities in the nation. In a state with thousands of breathtaking views, the combination of daytime and nighttime sightseeing is unmatched at Great Sand Dunes National Park. — David Dishman, The Coloradoan Rising 10,023 feet above sea level, Haleakalā is a dormant volcano whose summit often sits above the clouds – especially at sunrise, when the sky erupts in color and reveals the island of Maui below. Most visitors drive up from Kahului (about a two-hour trip), with many booking sunrise reservations months in advance. But beyond the iconic sunrise, Haleakalā offers hiking trails through surreal volcanic landscapes, rare native species, and stargazing unrivaled by anywhere else in Hawaii. — USA TODAY staff The Sawtooth Mountains are a stunning mountain range in central Idaho that author Ernest Hemingway loved. Sawtooth National Recreation Area has more than 700 miles of trails, 300 mountain lakes and 40 major peaks. Come for the scenic views and stay for the hiking, fishing, boating, rafting and cycling opportunities. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network Located in scenic Glacier National Park in Montana, Swiftcurrent Lake features beautiful views and opportunities for hiking and tour boating. Swiftcurrent Lake is located in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, north of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and many hiking trails originate in the area. Swiftcurrent Lake is also home to the largest hotel in Glacier Park, the Many Glacier Hotel. Boat tours of Swiftcurrent Lake are available as well as shuttles for the many hiking opportunities in the area starting on July 1. — Grady Higgins, Great Falls Tribune A few miles to the west of Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, affording breathtaking views of big blue skies, abundant wildlife and the eponymous red rocks. It's a popular spot for cycling, hiking, horseback riding and cooling off from the desert heat (its elevation is nearly 2,000 feet higher than the Strip); more than 1.2 million visitors make the trek each year. — Brett McGinness, Reno Gazette Journal MORE DETAILS Presented by Reno Gazette Journal Towering above the landscape in northern New Mexico, Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí ) stands over 7,000 feet in elevation on the Navajo Nation. The formation, a National Natural Landmark, is one of the most recognizable vistas in the state, having been featured in film, photography and postcards for decades. Before it gained popularity as a media darling, the Shiprock formation held a prominent place in Navajo history and culture. — Las Cruces Sun-News staff Somehow, Oregon is home to only one national park. But if we're forced to pick just one place, an exploded volcano filled with some of the world's purest water in the deepest lake in the United States makes a logical choice. Crater Lake National Park gets so much snow that it's only open to summer activities for a relatively short time. So if you want to drive the Rim Road, take a boat tour, hike mountaintops, or swim the lake's bone-chilling water, focus your trip between July and September. — Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal MORE DETAILS Presented by Salem Statesman Journal Utah is known for its national parks and the plethora of scenic views they offer visitors. However, North Arch in Arches National Park may contain the most treasured of those views. Once visitors pull into the trailhead, the red rock arch is immediately visible, looking almost like a window into the heavens or a perfect frame for the gorgeous scenery surrounding it. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network Puget Sound, pronounced "Pew-jet," stretches from the Straight of Juan de Fuca, at the northernmost corner of the United States, down through Elliott Bay and the bays and intricate inlets to the south. The Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas border to the west and Western Washington's urban centers of Seattle and Tacoma are east of the body of water. — David Nelson, Kitsap Sun MORE DETAILS Presented by Kitsap Sun Though Grand Teton National Park is well-known for its majestic scenery, Jenny Lake may be the park's greatest gem. The cool, clear waters of the lake give visitors an awe-inspiring view of several mountains and valleys. The lake also offers many boating and hiking opportunities. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From deserts to glaciers: 13 breathtaking views in the Western US
