Military veterans: FREE national, state park passes, list of military campgrounds
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Did you know that veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces get discounts at National Parks and Forests and have access to campgrounds that are not available to most civilians?
There are more than 400 national parks and more than 2000 recreational areas in the United States, and if you have one of the following, you quality for a LIFETIME MILITARY PASS:
DOD ID card
DD For 2
DD Form 2765
Veteran Health Identification Card
Veteran ID Card
Veterans designation on state-issued U.S. driver's license or ID card
The Military Lifetime Pass is for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, Gold Star Families, and next of kin of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a 'qualifying situation,' such as a war, an international terrorist attack, etc…
National parks vs. national forests: the differences
Are you a current member of the US Armed Forces? If so, you and your dependents can enjoy a Military Annual Pass.
You'll need one of the following to get your pass:
Unexpired Common Access Card (CAC)
Unexpired DD Form 1173
Unexpired Next Generation Dependent ID (Replacement of DD Form 1173)
The Interagency Military Annual Pass is available to current military members and their dependents. It covers entrance fees to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites and Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.
If you have an Interagency Military Annual Pass, you can take any accompanying passengers with you (in a private, non-commercial vehicle) to federal recreation sites. The pass owner can also bring up to three adults, ages 16 and up, to federal sites that charge per person.
Veterans and civilians with permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairments that limit one or more major life activities are eligible for an America the Beautiful Access Pass. The permanent disability does not have to be 100%.
The pass admits the pass holder (and passengers accompanying them in a non-commercial vehicle) to participating sites across the United States.
This lake in a NWLA National Forest was once one of the most popular parks in the state; now it's rarely visited
To qualify for the pass, you must provide a VA-issued document showing that you received federal benefits due to a disability.
With the Interagency Access Pass, you'll receive a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees.
American the Beautiful passes cover entrance and standard day-use fees at lands that are managed by the:
National Park Service
US Fish & Wildlife Service
US Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
US Army of Corps of Engineers
ATB annual passes are available to everyone and cost $80 a year. But seniors get the annual pass for $20, and seniors also have the option of buying a Senior Lifetime Pass for $80.
Source of Shreveport's Red River is most popular state park in Texas
Whether you're a veteran or not, there are seven days a year when it's free to enter National Park Service sites.
Jan. 9 (National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter, Jr.
Jan. 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
Apr. 19 (begins National Park Week)
June 19 (Juneteenth Nation Independence Day)
Aug. 4 (anniversary of Great American Outdoors Act
Sept. 27 (National Public Lands Day)
Nov. 11 (Veterans Day)
Some veterans in Louisiana qualify for free hunting and fishing licenses and free entrance to all Louisiana state parks.
Contact your local service officer to begin the process.
It's important to remember that many national parks allow camping for only 14 days out of a 28-day period. Some parks have a 5-day limit, while others allow you to stay for a month.
Before you load up and go, just remember to ask about the maximum amount of time you will be able to spend camping at a national forest or park.
Native Americans in NWLA traded ancient salt from Saline Bayou; now you can camp near the site
Did you know that military campgrounds are a thing? RV sites are located on military bases across the country. In Louisiana you can camp at Fort Polk, Barksdale Air Force Base, New Orleans NSA RV Park, and Twin Lakes. You can camp in Arkansas at Ft. Chaffee RV Park or Little Rock Air Force Base's FAM Camp.
Military campgrounds in Texas include:
Fort Bliss RV Park
Fort Cavazos – Belton Lake Recreation Area
West Fort Cavazos Travel Camp
Fort Sam Houston – Canyon Lake Recreation Area
Fort Sam Houston Recreational Vehicle Park
Red River Army Depot – Elliott Lake Recreation Area
Brooks AFB – FAM Camp
Goodfellow AFB – FAM Camp
Lackland AFB – FAM Camp
Lackland AFB – Lake Amistad Recreation Area
Laughlin AFB – FAM Camp
Sheppard AFB – Lake Texoma Recreation Annex
NAS Corpus Christi – Shields Park Recreation Area
NAS Kingsville – Escondido Ranch
NAS Kingsville – Rocking K RV Park
Randolph AFB – Canyon Lake Recreation Area
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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I was 13 the first time I saw a coral reef. The endless blue of the ocean gave way to an explosion of color unlike anything I'd seen before. Colorful schools of fish moved around vibrant corals while the sun shone through, glittering like a stained glass window set aflame by the sun. In the 22 years since that moment, I've been fortunate enough to go snorkeling and diving all over the world, from the cold waters of Jeju Island in Korea to the warmth of the Indian Ocean in Seychelles and numerous places in the Caribbean. Although coral reefs are still magical, there is an uncomfortable truth anyone who knows the ocean has to painfully acknowledge: Corals are dying. According to the National Park Service, swimmers leech an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen into the ocean every year, and sunscreen has been linked to coral bleaching—a phenomenon wherein coral loses its vibrant pigment and turns white over time, becoming weak and susceptible to starvation and death. It's been a long time since I've seen a truly thriving reef; even the one I visited in middle school is mostly bleached now. Though we may not individually have the power to reverse climate change, there are smaller—albeit very significant—actions that we can take, like switching to reef-safe sunscreens. Since terms like 'reef-safe' are unregulated, consumers should look out for specific ingredients when choosing an eco-conscious sunscreen, especially oxybenzone and octinoxate. Now banned in places like Hawaii, Mexico, and Aruba, these ingredients aren't just harmful for marine life, but have also been linked to hormone disruption in humans. Other toxic ingredients to avoid include non-nano-sized zinc or titanium, parabens, and triclosan. To keep coral reefs as healthy as possible while diving, I've tested out several reef-safe sunscreens. Keep scrolling for eight travel-friendly, reef-safe sunscreens I recommend that are perfectly sized for stowing in your carry-on luggage. 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That said, it has a high SPF, and it doesn't leave a white cast or have a strong smell, which are two factors that I believe justify the high price. For the packaging, the company uses bio-based sugar cane that is chemically identical to polyethylene, making it easy to recycle. Because sugar cane absorbs more CO2 while growing than the amount that is released when making the packaging, this is considered a carbon-negative packaging solution, giving this sunscreen option bonus points for eco-friendliness. Badger sunscreen is dermatologist-approved, and it's not hard to see why. The product is fairly lightweight and doesn't leave a white cast, which means you can reapply it multiple times without overwhelming your skin. It wins bonus points for its high SPF and relatively low price. The brand's facial sunscreen is great as well, and it doesn't make my sensitive skin react. 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Travel + Leisure
a day ago
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This National Park Has Some of the Oldest Pueblos in North America—and They're Carved Directly Into a Cliff
In southwest Colorado, where the Rocky Mountains give way to canyons and mesas, is one of the most intimate places you can connect with ancient history in the United States. In Mesa Verde National Park, you'll find elaborate villages tucked beneath sandstone overhangs. These cliff dwellings were built by the Ancestral Pueblo people and date back more than 700 years. The historic structures provide a rare glimpse into a civilization that built complex homes, ceremonial kivas, and irrigation systems. 'Mesa Verde is unique because it is a national park telling the story of people on the landscape. Even though all national parks have human stories, the Ancestral Pueblo people, the ancestral sites they built, and the park's connection to modern Pueblos and Tribes are key here,' said Dalton Dorrell, a park ranger on Mesa Verde's Interpretation and Visitor Services team. These dwellings are some of the best preserved in the world and are the hallmark of Mesa Verde National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its rare blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty, Mesa Verde isn't just a stop or another national park on the list—it's a journey into the deep history of the American Southwest. Dalton Dorrell is a park ranger on the Interpretation and Visitor Services team at Mesa Verde National Park. He has worked for the National Park Service for over 10 years. Brian Bartlett is the tourism director and CEO at Mesa Verde Country, a local organization that provides information for travelers visiting Mesa Verde National Park and the surrounding area. Scenic view of Mesa Verde National Park from the Visitor and Research Center. JohnMesa Verde National Park is open daily, year-round. No reservations are needed to enter the park, and entrance passes are $20 per vehicle during the low season (Oct. 23–April 30) and $30 during the high season (May 1–Oct. 22). Passes are good for seven days. If you want to walk inside one of the park's renowned cliff dwellings, you must book a tour up to 14 days in advance. Cliff dwelling tours run from May to October, ending in the winter. The park is still open in the colder months, but many of the facilities close, including the lodge, campground, and most dining options. It is worth noting that all of the park's historic sites and cliff dwellings are at least 45 minutes by car (one way) from the park's entrance on Highway 160. Brian Bartlett, the tourism director and CEO of Mesa Verde Country, advises travelers to 'gas up before you come as there is almost no fuel to be purchased in the park.' The park is also completely cashless, so bring a card. And finally, Mesa Verde National Park is different from most because it contains so much human history. The ancestral sites are extremely important to the park's 26 affiliated tribes and are also very fragile. "Two easy ways you can visit with respect is to not touch or sit on ancestral site walls and to leave any artifact where you find it," Dorrell said. The Mesa Top Loop Road Ruins contains some of the most elaborate Pueblo dwellings found today. Christian Kober/robertharding/Getty Images The park is between the Colorado towns of Cortez and Mancos, near the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado meet. It shares some land with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reservation. The nearest airports to Mesa Verde National Park are Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ), about 36 miles away, Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), about 70 miles away, and Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN) in Farmington, New Mexico, 89 miles away. If you're flying in, you'll need to rent a car, as there's no way to get to or around the park by public transportation. It's a 45-minute drive from the park entrance off of Highway 160 to the first view of a cliff dwelling. The best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park is in late spring and early fall, when the cliff dwellings are still open, but the peak travel season of summer hasn't quite begun yet. The popular, ranger-led cliff dwelling tours begin in May and end in mid to late October. 'I really enjoy September and October in the park," said Dorrell. "It's cooler, there are still tours occurring in parts of the park, and some days are slower. If you do visit during that time, be sure to check the weather. Some years we can start getting snow that early." However, there's a reason why summer is a popular time to visit: the weather is more reliable around this time of year, and the park is usually fully open. Plus, summer comes with wildflowers and chances to spot wildlife, including bears and bobcats. Winter isn't a bad time to visit, either, and you can see sites like Spruce Tree House covered in snow, or you could even cross-country ski or snowshoe the park's winter trails. However, keep in mind that many of the park's facilities close in the colder months. In addition to its national park website, you can follow Mesa Verde's Facebook page, where delayed openings and temporary park closures are posted. Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park is the the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Daniel A. Leifheit/Getty Images Cliff Palace was once home to over 100 people and is the largest known cliff dwelling in North America. It is believed to have been built between 1190 and 1280 C.E. and has 23 kivas, or ceremonial rooms. You can see the Cliff Palace from the Cliff Palace Overlook on Cliff Palace Loop Road, but if you want to step inside this massive structure, you must book a ranger-guided tour. Tours are limited to 50 people and take 45 minutes. Tourists exploring the Balcony House ruin, an Ancient Puebloan (Anasazi) cliff dwelling that was inhabited until the 13th century. wanderluster/Getty Images If you're physically fit and enjoy a bit of a challenge, reserve a tour of Balcony House, where Dorrell said visitors must 'climb a 32-foot ladder, climb two smaller ladders, and crawl through a 12-foot tunnel.' But the effort is all worth it. The path leads to a mid-sized village of 38 rooms set inside a rock alcove. Like the Cliff Palace, the Balcony House can be viewed from the six-mile-long Cliff Palace Loop Road. Those who want to set foot in the village must book a guided tour. Bartlett recommends that first-time visitors drive the six-mile Mesa Top Loop Road, which gives a good overview of the park. The loop is open year-round and provides access to 12 archeological sites, including pueblos and pit houses. You'll also see stunning views of Square Tower House, Cliff Palace, and Sun Temple. The Mesa Top Loop Road is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. The interior and exterior of a pit house reconstruction inside the Step House ruins. Rebecca L. Latson/Getty Images The only cliff dwelling you can visit without a ranger or a reservation is the Step House on Wetherill Mesa. Visiting it lets you explore a part of Mesa Verde National Park that very few people get to see. "This year, the Weatherall Mesa Road will be open, allowing folks to access and discover the other 50 percent of the park," Bartlett said. The journey to Step House usually takes three to four hours, and the site itself requires a hike on a one-mile, steep trail. There's usually a ranger on-site to answer questions. The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings lit by lantern light sit under a star filled sky. BradWhile most people come to the park to see how early humans lived, the park becomes a stargazing destination at night. Due to its high elevation, arid climate, and distance from the nearest community, the skies above Mesa Verde tend to be clear and inky black—ideal conditions for stargazing. Mesa Verde National Park became the world's 100th International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Booking a campsite at Morefield Campground (open May through October) is a great way to see the night sky. And in late summer, the park runs evening stargazing programs. A guest room at the Far View Lodge within Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park. Morefield is the only campground in the park and is open from May to October. But if you time a visit just right, you can enjoy a night in one of the 267 campsites that dot the grassy canyon near the park's entrance. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and barbecue grill. RVs and trailers are permitted. There's also a camp store as well as showers and laundry. The only traditional accommodations within the park are at Far View Lodge, typically open from April to October. The lodge is in the center of the park, around 30 minutes from the park entrance. The rooms in Far View Lodge have private balconies, Wi-Fi, and free guest parking. Pets are allowed, and there are ADA accessible rooms. The property also has a lounge and bar, and a dining room. Mesa Verde Motel is in Mancos, one of the park's neighboring towns. The motel provides just the basics, but it's modern and clean with a hip Americana feel. The property has a community fire pit and an onsite coffee shop and cocktail lounge. Bartlett describes the motel 'is not to be missed.' This little gem in Cortez describes itself as "a little different than the norm"—and it's easy to see why. The Retro Inn has a host of eccentrically decorated rooms—including the hippy-dippy Woodstock Suite—and a range of interesting amenities, including lawn bowling, nostalgic board games, and old-school video games. As an added bonus, there's an outdoor theater with swings and a fire pit. For in-park fine dining, head to the Metate Room in Far View Lodge. The menu highlights regional heritage foods, including wild game, local produce, and fresh fish. Above the lodge, the aptly named Far View Lounge has views that stretch for hundreds of miles and it's a great place to get a pre or post-dinner drink. 'While in the park one must dine at the incredible Metate Room, enjoy a cocktail at the Far View Lounge, and enjoy our incredible dark skies firsthand," Bartlett said. Another favorite of Bartlett's is Cortez's Loungin' Lizard, located on Main Street. The restaurant and bar are set in a hip, contemporary space and serve unique fare like elk shepherd's pie, pork belly tacos, and spicy barbecue chicken pizza. In Mancos, The Boathouse on Grand is the place to be. It's run by locals Jenn and Dave Stewart and has a seasonal menu that changes throughout the week. They're also known for their menu of Spanish sherries and vermouth, served by the glass.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Voyageurs National Park faces budget cuts amid 50th birthday revelry
If you've ever spent time planning a milestone birthday party, and then found out you don't have the resources to truly celebrate, you might understand what's happening at Minnesota's lone national park in 2025. Voyageurs National Park, the 218,000-acre expanse of water and wilderness on the Canadian border just east of International Falls, turns 50 this year. And the gala celebration planned by the park's myriad fans has been tempered just a bit by the announcement earlier this year of sweeping budget cuts all across the National Park Service. According to some reports, the budget reductions announced in February by Elon Musk and his controversial Department of Government Efficiency have left as many as 10 park staff positions vacant at Voyageurs. The park opened in 1975 amid fanfare and some controversy, as some long-time property owners in the area were pressured to sell their lake cabins to the NPS. But none of that potential bad news, or a spring cloudburst, could dampen the recent celebration of the park's 50th birthday held at a Minneapolis brewery by the Voyageurs Conservancy – which was founded a decade before the park opened, and works to connect more people to Voyageurs. Hundreds braved a sudden late May rain and turned out for the celebration, which featured information about Voyageurs, food, live music and a silent auction to raise money for the conservancy's efforts. 'Everyone loves a birthday, and we're birthdaying the hell out of the birthday. We're doing it all year long. It's not just one day, it's a full year of activities,' said Christina Hausman Rhode, the conservancy's executive director. 'We've had a couple of bumps in the road with federal changes. We've lost staff and there's some uncertainty there, but through it all this is an important moment to celebrate the park, to be thinking about the future and to be thinking about the vision for the national park in our state.' The park welcomes upwards of 200,000 visitors per year, with a notable uptick during the pandemic, when more people were seeking outdoor recreation. Those numbers put Voyageurs somewhere in the middle, attendance-wise, among the country's 63 national parks, far below the 12 million visitors the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina saw in 2024, and well ahead of Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska, which saw just over 11,000 visitors last year. Isle Royale National Park, which is in Michigan but located just off the tip of Minnesota's Arrowhead and is accessible only by boat or plane, recorded 28,800 visitors in 2024. Hausman Rhode said that in a state like Minnesota that celebrates the outdoors from the wilderness of the Boundary Waters to the hiking trails of the Driftless area in the southeastern corner of the state, a surprising number of people aren't aware that the state has a national park, and many have never been there. Collectively, the conservancy is working to change that. 'We are another part of that mosaic of wonderful public lands in our state,' she said. 'I think Voyageurs kind of completes that mosaic, as it's everything Minnesotans love. It's the big lakes, it's the boats, it's the loons, it's the wolves. And we put it in a national park, and it's our gift to the rest of the National Park Service.' In addition to opportunities to view wildlife up close and camp in secluded sites specially designed so you don't see neighboring campers, Voyageurs sells itself as a Dark Sky Park, popular for stargazers for the lack of light pollution and the opportunity to see a vast cosmic array and even northern lights on clear nights. While fishing, camping and boating have always been staples for Voyageurs visitors, Hausman Rhode said houseboating and sea kayaking are among the activities seeing a recent spike in popularity at the park. The DOGE cuts have touched off a backlash from coast to coast, with a group called More Perfect Union erecting billboards in Minnesota and Wisconsin noting that the Trump administration's funding reductions could mean reduced staff and increased danger for park visitors in 2025. 'We are down some staff positions and the next proposed federal budget is looking really grim for the National Park Service,' Hausman Rhode said. 'We don't know totally how that will filter down to the National Park Service, but we know cuts are being proposed.' The park has visitors centers at Rainy Lake, Kabetogema Lake and Ash River, all of which can be reached from the Twin Cities in under five hours of driving. The park does not require an entry fee, although there are separate charges for camping, houseboat permits, boat tours and on-site equipment rentals. More information about the Voyageurs Conservancy and their efforts can be found at No Wi-Fi, no problem: 8 family-friendly hike-in lodges for a digital detox Skywatch: June stargazing — the great late show Minnesota veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health A 700-pound boulder pins Alaska man face-down in a glacier creek for three hours Skywatch: High heavenly hair
