How Do Veterans Gain Access to Military Campgrounds
Veteran access to military campgrounds is now possible! As of Jan 1, 2020, veterans were granted access to exchanges, commissaries, and MWR facilities thanks to the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018.
Veterans Eligible for Campground Access
Qualifying veterans must be a Purple Heart recipient, a former prisoner of war, or have a service-connected disability rating between 0-90%.
Are You Eligible
To determine if you qualify, contact your local Veterans Administration or click the links below for more details.
Restrictions Apply
Some amenities will be available based on the discretion of the base commander. If the facilities are already at capacity, they may not be made available to veterans. The Department of Defense does not expect it to be a problem for most areas. According to the Expanded access fact sheet, most areas won't see much change with MWR usage.
Amenities are Open to qualifying veterans
Commissary
Exchange
MWR
Bowling
Camping
Base Clubs
Golf Courses
Rentals (kayaks, bikes, etc.)
amenities that may be allowed
Lodging: Cabins, cottages, recreation centers, resorts, and official temporary duty and permanent change of station lodging (on a space-available basis).
Movie Theater
Pools
Fishing
Tickets
amenities Not included
Gyms
Libraries
Child Care
MAC flights
Pharmacy
USO (This is NOT a military organization)
Military submarine
Military Campground Fees
Military campgrounds are NOT free. Prices are based on the average local campground fees. We've stayed at military campgrounds with full hookups ranging in price from $17 a night to $50 a night. High touristy areas may have camping fees as much as $100 per night. Thankfully, most average around $22 a night. Each campground sets its own rates.
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Length of Stay
Length of stay varies by the campground. We have seen military campgrounds with limits of 2 weeks to 6 months.
Reservation Policies
Veterans with access to commissary and exchange
The individual campgrounds also set reservation policies. Many military campgrounds allow active duty to make reservations 12 months ahead of time and retired military 6 months out. Veterans will fall into the retired category or a category below them.
Military Facility Links
Veteran Access to Military Campgrounds
We hope this helps you navigate this change to base access for veterans.
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