How Veterans Can Get Free or Discounted Camping

Veterans can save on camping at private RV parks, state parks, and military campgrounds, with some programs covering the campsite fee entirely.

The savings depend on where you camp and which benefits you qualify for.

These options include campground discounts, free camping programs and park passes, along with the details you need to claim each benefit before your next trip.

Know a veteran who enjoys camping? Send this their way so they can check which offers they qualify for.

Save 20% at Participating Sun Outdoors Resorts

Veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. and Canadian armed forces can receive 20% off eligible stays at participating Sun Outdoors resorts. The offer covers RV sites, tent sites, and vacation rentals, with no military retirement or disability requirement.

The Sun Military Discount currently applies to new reservations for 2026 and 2027, for stays of up to 14 nights. Minimum stays, eligible site types, and blackout dates vary by resort. It cannot be combined with other promotions or weekly and monthly pricing.

To book, Sun’s discount instructions say to enter SALUTE and bring proof of military service to check-in. Before paying, compare that total with any other available offer, especially if you’re staying a week or longer.

Find Veteran Discounts at Participating KOA Campgrounds

Check for a veteran discount when you find a KOA along your route. According to KOA’s discount guide, many locations offer military discounts, with examples ranging from 10% to 20%. Each campground sets its own offer and dates, so the savings can change from one stop to the next.

For example, Santa Fe KOA Holiday offers 10% off RV, tent, and lodging sites for veterans and active-duty military on eligible 2026 stays. Its offer requires a valid military ID at check-in, excludes stays of 28 nights or longer, and cannot be combined with KOA Rewards or other discounts. Blackout dates also apply.

Look under the campground’s “Deals” or “Hot Deals” before reserving. If you don’t see a veteran offer, call and ask about the rate and which proof of service they accept. That last question helps if you have a DD-214 or a veteran designation on your driver’s license instead of a military ID.

Get State Park Camping Discounts Without a Disability Rating

Some state park discounts are available to veterans without a disability rating or retirement requirement. These examples give you several places to start, including parks you might visit while traveling outside your home state.

Where to camp	Veteran discount	How to claim it
North Carolina State Parks	$6 off per night on eligible campsites. Primitive and group campsites and certain cabin types are excluded.	Select the military/veteran discount when booking and bring proof of service or veteran status. The veteran must be the campsite’s primary occupant. North Carolina’s reservation guide explains the process.
West Virginia State Parks	10% off eligible campsites, along with cabins and lodge rooms. Stonewall Resort State Park is excluded.	Use VETS10 when reserving. The Veterans Salute offer requires a valid military ID at check-in, so confirm accepted documentation if you use another form of veteran identification.
Missouri State Parks	$2 off per night, year-round.	Request the veteran rate and show accepted identification at check-in. Missouri’s military benefits page lists a DD-214 among the accepted documents.
Kentucky Horse Park	10% off camping for veterans.	Ask for the veteran discount when reserving and confirm the required documentation. The park lists the offer on its camping rates page. This example applies specifically to Kentucky Horse Park.

None of these four published offers list a state-residency requirement. For a longer stay, the nightly savings add up: North Carolina’s $6 discount saves $42 on a seven-night stay at an eligible campsite.

Check Military Campgrounds and FamCamps for Affordable RV Sites

Military campgrounds can put you near beaches, lakes, and major cities at rates worth considering before booking elsewhere. Many operate through the military’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, or MWR.

Access depends on your military status and the facility. Military retirees are among those eligible for MWR programs, along with active-duty personnel and members of the Guard and Reserves, according to Military OneSource’s eligibility guide. Veterans who left the service without retiring must qualify under another eligible category or find a campground that accepts the public.

The expanded veteran access program includes veterans with VA-documented service-connected disabilities, Purple Heart recipients, and former prisoners of war. Veterans with disability ratings below 100% can also qualify.

For a sense of the rates, Desert Eagle RV Park at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas currently lists standard sites at $27 per night, premium back-in sites at $29, and premium pull-through sites at $32. Confirm your eligibility and the installation’s identification requirements with the campground before reserving.

Some military campgrounds welcome a broader group. The Army lists Pine View Campground at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, as open to the public, making it an option for veterans who don’t qualify for restricted facilities.

Start your search with the Army’s campground and RV park directory, then check the individual campground’s official page. Ask which rate applies to you, how far ahead you can reserve, and what documents you and your traveling companions need. For sites on an installation, also confirm which gate can accommodate your RV.

Save 20% at Encore and Thousand Trails if You’re Active or Retired Military

Encore and Thousand Trails offer 20% off daily rates for RV sites and rentals on stays of up to six nights. Their published eligibility covers active and retired members of the U.S. and Canadian armed forces.

Use MILITARY20 when booking through the Encore and Thousand Trails military offer, and bring proof of military service to check-in. Veterans who separated without retiring should contact the campground before relying on this rate, since the advertised offer specifically names active and retired military personnel.

Get Free State Park Camping if You Meet Residency or Disability Requirements

New Mexico gives resident veterans a particularly useful benefit: free regular camping and utility fees without a disability-rating requirement.

The state’s Lifetime Veteran Pass is available through the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services. Applicants provide proof of residency and military service. Reservation-system fees of $3–$10 still apply, and the pass excludes group camping areas, cabins, yurts, and certain other facilities. Normal campground stay limits remain in place.

Other states offer free camping to veterans who meet more specific requirements. The table below summarizes several programs, with links to the agencies that explain eligibility and how to apply.

State	Who qualifies	Camping benefit and limits
Alaska	Veterans with a service-connected disability. The program page lists no state-residency requirement.	The free Disabled Veteran Camping Pass covers individual electric and non-electric sites in developed state park campgrounds. Group camping is excluded. The veteran must occupy the site each night, and normal stay limits apply. Contact the Anchorage or Fairbanks DNR Public Information Center to obtain the pass.
California	Honorably discharged California resident veterans with a service-connected rating of at least 50% and qualifying wartime or foreign-operation service; former POWs; or Medal of Honor recipients.	The Distinguished Veteran Pass covers family camping at participating state-operated parks. Apply before booking with the benefit. Passes must be renewed every five years.
Washington	Washington resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 30%.	The Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass provides free camping and other park benefits. Reservation and change fees remain payable.
Oregon	Oregon veterans with any level of service-connected disability.	The Special Access Pass covers up to four nights per calendar month in eligible RV, tent, and standard horse campsites. The $10 reservation fee, second driven vehicle charges, and dump-station fees are excluded. Obtain the pass before reserving.
Wyoming	Wyoming resident veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 50%.	A free lifetime pass provides day use and camping at state parks. The Army’s Wyoming benefits guide links to the application and explains the required residency and VA documentation.
Maine	Qualifying Maine resident veterans with a 100% service-connected disability.	The free camping program waives family camping and reservation fees for the veteran, spouse and unmarried children, within the six-person campsite limit. Veterans must first join the state’s approved camping list using the required Maine motor-vehicle documentation and remain present during the stay.
Ohio	Ohio resident former POWs or honorably discharged veterans with a total and permanent VA disability rating.	Eligible veterans receive free camping at state parks for one campsite at a time. The Army’s Ohio benefits guide provides program details and the state parks reservation contact.
Illinois	Illinois resident former POWs and veterans meeting specified disability criteria, including qualifying severe mobility disabilities or receipt of 100% service-connected disability compensation.	The state’s camping exemption guidance explains certification requirements. Camping fees are waived, but eligible electric sites still carry a $10 utility fee.

Apply before planning a trip around one of these benefits. A required state pass or certification can take time to obtain, and a federal park pass cannot substitute for the state’s application.

Get the Free America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass

Veterans qualify for a free America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass, which covers entrance and standard day-use fees at participating national parks and other federal recreation sites. It won’t discount your campsite, but it can save you money when visiting parks during a camping trip. Eligibility includes veterans who served in the National Guard and Reserves, with no disability or military retirement requirement.

The National Park Service’s veteran pass guide explains where to get one and which identification to bring. Accepted documents include a Veteran Health Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, qualifying Department of Defense ID, or a veteran designation on a state-issued driver’s license or ID. You can pick up the pass free at participating locations or obtain a free digital version through Recreation.gov.

Camping and reservation fees are still separate. The Military Lifetime Pass provides no campsite discount, but it can waive the entrance fee you would otherwise pay when camping inside a park or visiting one nearby.

Check the Access or Senior Pass for Federal Campground Discounts

Veterans who qualify for an Access or Senior Pass may receive camping discounts in addition to free entrance at participating federal sites. Both programs are available to eligible members of the public, so military retirement is not required.

Access Pass: For People With Qualifying Permanent Disabilities

The Access Pass is a free lifetime pass for U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a medically determined permanent disability that limits one or more major life activities. A 100% disability rating is not required, and the disability can be unrelated to military service.

Applicants need identification and documentation of the qualifying disability. The pass is free when obtained in person at participating locations; ordering a physical pass online adds processing and handling charges. Camping discounts vary by location.

Senior Pass: For Eligible Campers Age 62 and Older

U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 62 or older can buy a $20 annual Senior Pass or an $80 lifetime Senior Pass. According to the National Park Service’s pass information, either version may provide a 50% discount on eligible camping fees. No disability rating is needed.

If you’re an RVer who already has a free Military Lifetime Pass, the camping savings may be enough to make a Senior Pass worth it.

Look at Corps of Engineers Campgrounds

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirms that Senior and Access passholders receive 50% off campsites at Corps-managed campgrounds. These are civilian recreation campgrounds, separate from the military campgrounds discussed earlier.

Check the campground’s fee details before calculating your savings. Under USGS pass guidance, separately charged utility fees generally receive no discount, although utilities bundled into the campsite fee may be included. Concession-operated facilities can also have different policies.

Have Your Proof of Service Ready Before You Book

Once you find an offer that fits, a few checks can help you claim it without a problem at arrival:

• Confirm which documents are accepted. Ask specifically about the identification you carry, such as a veteran-designated driver’s license, VA card, or DD-214.
• Get any required pass first. Some programs require approval before you make the reservation.
• Apply the discount during booking. Enter the promo code, select the veteran rate, or call the campground if the option is missing.
• Check the final total. Reservation charges, utilities, and other fees may remain even when the campsite itself is free or discounted.
• Compare other available rates. A weekly rate or seasonal promotion could cost less than the veteran discount.
• Bring your pass and identification. Keep the booking confirmation so you have the offer details available at check-in.

Before paying, ask one direct question: “I’m a veteran. What’s the lowest rate I qualify for on these dates, and what proof should I bring?”