Sacramento, CA…To show appreciation for the service of U.S. military members, California State Parks is offering free admission to 144 select state parks on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024.  “California State Parks deeply values the sacrifices made by members of our nation’s military and their families,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “Offering free admission to our beautiful state parks is a small but meaningful way we say ‘thank you’ for their invaluable service. We hope our parks will serve as great spaces to find peace, reflection and connection for our nation’s heroes and their families.”

Signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2013, Assembly Bill 150 (Olsen), authorized California State Parks to offer veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the National Guard of any state a reduced fee or free day use at participating state parks.

A variety of parks throughout California will offer free access. Historic state parks include Marshall Gold Discovery, Petaluma Adobe and El Presidio de Santa Barbara. State beaches include Torrey Pines, Pismo and Pescadero. State vehicular recreation areas include Hollister Hills, Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch and Prairie City.

A full list of the participating park units can be found online at parks.ca.gov/VeteransDay2024. To enter these park units for free, a valid military ID or a California driver’s license identifying the individual as a veteran must be shown to park staff. The VA.gov app when accompanied by any valid government photo ID will also be accepted.

The park units that specifically honor historic military sites or veterans that will be open for free admission on Veterans Day include:

• Angel Island State Park
• William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park
• Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
• Fort Tejon State Historic Park
• Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Visitors are asked to recreate responsibly, plan ahead and visit the web or social media pages of their destination to confirm hours of operation and view visitor guidelines that are in effect. Please remember to safely share the road and be prepared for equestrians, pedestrians, joggers, wildlife, etc., on roadways. For safety tips, please visit parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.

A variety of parks throughout California will offer free access, including state beaches such as Pismo State Beach (top), historic state parks such as Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park (bottom left) and state vehicular recreation areas include Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area (bottom right). Photos from California State Parks.

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The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.