Oregon State Parks Veterans Pass: Eligibility, Coverage, and Limits

The Oregon State Parks veterans pass, formally called the Special Access Pass, is free to any Oregon resident who is a U.S. veteran with a service-connected disability at any rating. It waives day-use parking fees and covers camping at tent, RV, and standard horse camp sites for up to four nights per calendar month. The pass is valid for ten years.¹

Who Qualifies

You need to be a U.S. veteran, live in Oregon, and have a service-connected disability confirmed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The rating percentage doesn’t matter. A 10% rating qualifies you on the same terms as a 100% rating.¹

Spouses, children, and survivors of deceased veterans are not eligible for a pass of their own, even when the veteran had a qualifying disability. Because the pass is tied to the veteran, you need to be present at the campsite or in the vehicle for the benefit to apply.¹

Active-duty service members on official leave are handled through a separate refund process rather than the pass. That’s covered below.

What the Pass Covers

The pass waives day-use parking at the 26 Oregon state parks that charge for parking. The rest of the state park system already parks for free, so the pass isn’t needed there.²

For overnight stays, the pass covers the nightly fee at tent sites, RV sites (including full-hookup sites), and standard horse camp sites.³

The Four-Night Limit

Free camping is capped two ways. You can stay up to four consecutive nights at one park, and up to four total free nights per calendar month across all Oregon state parks. Any night beyond either limit is charged at the standard rate.1

What You Still Pay

Reservation fee: $10 per booking, whether you book online or by phone. Same-day reservations don’t carry this fee.⁴
Extra vehicle: each campsite includes parking for one vehicle. A second driven vehicle is $10 per night.¹
Yurts, cabins, and other specialty accommodations are not covered. The pass applies only to tent, RV, and standard horse camp sites.¹

How to Apply

The application is entirely online. Gather three things before you start:

A VA disability letter confirming service connection. Scan or photograph it for upload.
Proof of Oregon residency: an Oregon driver’s license, Oregon ID card, or mail addressed to you at an Oregon address.
The Special Access Pass application form on the Oregon State Parks website.

Nothing needs to be mailed, and you do not need to provide a VA claim number.¹

Validity and Renewal

An approved pass is good for ten years. You can renew starting six months before your expiration date using the same online form.¹

Using the Pass at the Park

For day-use parking, display the pass on your dashboard so it’s visible from outside the vehicle. At a campground, bring the physical pass and a valid photo ID to check-in. The pass has to be in your possession for the benefits to apply during the stay.

Active-Duty Military on Leave

If you’re active duty on official leave, you pay standard rates during your visit and then request a refund from Oregon Parks and Recreation afterward. Submit two documents:

Your camping or day-use receipt showing dates and fees paid.
A letter from your commanding officer on official letterhead confirming you were on leave for those dates.

The department must receive the refund request within 30 days of the last day of your stay. Late requests are not reimbursed.¹

Federal Passes Don’t Substitute

The America the Beautiful interagency pass, including its military and veteran versions, is honored only at federal sites such as those run by the National Park Service.⁵ Oregon state parks are managed by the state, so the federal pass won’t get you in the gate or waive camping fees there. If you use both federal and state lands in Oregon, plan on carrying both passes.

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Oregon State Parks. Special Access Pass for Veterans with Disabilities and Refunds for Active Duty Military On Leave
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Oregon State Park Store. Park Store Questions
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Oregon State Parks. Special Access Pass for Veterans with Disabilities and Refunds for Active Duty Military On Leavea>
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Oregon State Parks. Reserve
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National Park Service. Entrance Passes