CALIFORNIA — U.S. military veterans and eligible active-duty and reserve service members will be offered free entry at 145 California state park units on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The State Parks department announced the statewide offer on November 2 and encouraged service members and their families to spend time outdoors.

Who qualifies, and what identification is needed?

According to State Parks, eligible visitors include veterans and active-duty or reserve personnel. Bring a valid military ID or documentation showing discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct. The announcement invites veterans and their families, but visitors should confirm the specific location’s rules, available facilities and admission arrangements before traveling.

Which parks are participating?

The department lists 145 participating units, including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Mount Tamalpais State Park, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Pismo State Beach and the California State Railroad Museum. The offer is for participating state parks, not an automatic free-entry entitlement at every city, county, federal or privately operated recreation area.

For people planning a day trip, State Parks recommends checking the park’s current hours, accessibility, temporary closures and weather conditions. Camping reservations, guided activities or other separately charged services should not be assumed to be included without confirmation.

Where to verify your destination

Before making the trip, check the official Veterans Day 2026 participating-park list and the California State Parks announcement. The department’s program is separate from any Veterans Day admission promotions offered by local county parks.

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