2025 - National & State Park Pass for Senior and Military

[NVjayco199mbs]

Hi everyone,

If you or a passenger is a senior, disabled, and/or a veteran check the state and federal park passes out. Someone may qualify for a yearly or even a life time pass. Federal Lifetime Senior pass is $80, disabled and some military passes are free.

State Park passes have some great benefits and some states can be generous. Just because it wasn't great in the past doesn't mean it's not now, government is in constant flux.

https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/park-passes.htm

[dsisemore1]

The Senior pass for $80 will allow you into National Parks and gives discounts on camping.  The military pass will allow entry into National Parks but no discounts for camping.  

[StirCrazy]

that seams backwards to me.   a Vetren should get a better savings than some one who just got old.  

nothing against us old people, but to me some one who signed that blank cheque to their country to give us the quality of life we have, deserves a little more in my opinion.  I see the pass is free for some millitary, but why no discount on camping? 

[bid_time]

Veterans generally are entitled to VA health care ( a $125 Billion program) - and that’s just pointing out one big massive benefit out of a whole bunch of perks; like college tuition assistance, PX privileges, home loan guarantees, etc., etc., etc. You’re complaining about pennies and overlooking the dollars. Veterans aren’t being mistreated; they are indeed getting more.

[StirCrazy]

I never said they were being mistreated and wasn't complaining.  Just making an observation and asking why.

but as to your other things your pointing out.. so they should.  

[valhalla360]

Nothing to do with what's right (and you are absolutely correct).

Politicians know: There are more old folks than Veterans and old folks vote. At the same time, old folks have more time to visit national parks because they are retired, so they would raise a bigger stink if it was taken away.

[StirCrazy]

thats so true, but I don't know a older person that would compain if veterans got the discount on camping also, as a lot are veterans.  so I guess it almost goes hand in hand, when a veteran becomes a senior he gets the reduced rate camping and he doesnt have to pay for his pass so he is getting a better deal than a normal senior.  I am just used to a lot of veterans being under 65 now I guess.  

[valhalla360]

No one getting free stuff complains. I don't qualify for either option and I wouldn't complain if i got some free stuff.

It was posed as one or the other option in which case, I would argue morally, it should be the vets getting the benefit but with WWII vets largely having aged out and even VietNam vets quickly aging out (trying to politely say they are dying of old age.... but both groups qualify for the old age benefits anyway), the newer generations have much smaller vet populations, so not much political benefit to giving those benefits.

[StirCrazy]

giving vets benifits has nothing to do with political benifits, its just giving some one a brake for what they did for their country.  I would argue that the new generation of vets is almost as big, just a little more invisible.  

[NVjayco199mbs]

If you believe something should be improved, file a "Congressional" with your U.S. Congressman and/or Senator.
Good way of knowing if you have a good representative. Mine has come through 100% (VA, SS, Medicare and more).

[StirCrazy]

na, I am in Canada, and for us Veterans got free admision to any parks canada national park this year.  waiting to see what they do next year now.  

you guys do treat your veterans a lot better down there than we do up here, which is why I was realy surprised they didn't get the discount on camping also.  they are getting the benifit of the free pass though.  Can't lose to much money I guess haha

[1DrerTrish]

Yes, great program! I got mine last year from Joshua Tree and used it later at Zion. And it also admits 1 other person traveling with you!