News Release

Veterans Day 2022

The new lifetime pass for Gold Star Families and Military Veterans provides free entrance to national parks and other federal recreation areas.

News Release Date: November 8, 2022

Contact: Abby Wines, 760-786-3221

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – Veterans and Gold Star Families are eligible for a new, free lifetime pass to national parks. Everyone has free entrance to Death Valley National Park on Friday, November 11 to honor Veterans Day.

Lifetime pass for veterans
On November 8th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families can obtain a free lifetime pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests. The new lifetime pass for veterans and Gold Star Families is in addition to the free annual Military Pass that has been available since 2012.    

Veterans can present one of the four forms of acceptable ID (Department of Defense ID Card, Veteran Health ID (VHIC), Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or ID card) at participating federal recreation areas that normally charge an entrance fee. Gold Star Families self-certify they qualify by printing and presenting a voucher from NPS.gov.

Visiting Death Valley
Park entrance fees are waived on Friday, November 11, but camping fees still apply. The Death Valley ‘49ers will host a parade at 1 pm on Friday in the Furnace Creek area. Campgrounds and lodges are fully open. Ranger programs have just started for the winter season. Some roads are still closed, current information is at nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.