Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Active-duty military personnel and their dependents will soon be able to enter every national park for free.

The Interior Department says annual passes will be made available to members of the military free of charge starting Saturday, which is Armed Forces Day. The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass ordinarily costs $80. It provides access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands.

Military members must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. They can pick up the pass at any national park or wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee and at some other sites.

The National Park Service estimates that giving away the passes will result in a revenue loss between $2 million and $6 million.