Tom&Shelly
Senior Citizen Member
Not sure how many veterans on this forum are New Mexicans, but for us who are the legislature changed the law this year, and we can now camp for free in state parks, as well as enjoy free day use. Doesn't matter which state you were resident while serving, as long as you are a New Mexico resident now.
Fill out this form and send to Santa Fe along with a copy of your DD-214 (discharge papers) (can't be a dishonorable discharge):
https://www.nmdvs.org/wp-content/up...tate-Park-Unlimited-Pass-revised-06102025.pdf
I filled it out in August and it took a month or so for them to process and send out the pass, so this is a good thing to do off-season. I have yet to use it, but they say we can make reservations via Reserve America, and use the pass-code the state sent us.
Be interesting if any states have that deal for non-resident veterans. I was a resident of New York while on active duty, but I'm not allowed to take advantage of their deals anymore.
Also, for federal lands, U.S. veterans can get a free "Gold Star & Veteran" America the Beautiful pass. This has been around for a few years, and allows free access to National Parks and such. Recently, we've noticed it also qualifies us for discounts camping at a lot of national park and national forest sites.
BTW, I said U.S. veterans. Surprisingly, we've been given discounts visiting sites in Canada by saying I'm a U.S. Veteran, so it pays to ask. (Should work the other way around, but it probably doesn't.)
Tom
Fill out this form and send to Santa Fe along with a copy of your DD-214 (discharge papers) (can't be a dishonorable discharge):
https://www.nmdvs.org/wp-content/up...tate-Park-Unlimited-Pass-revised-06102025.pdf
I filled it out in August and it took a month or so for them to process and send out the pass, so this is a good thing to do off-season. I have yet to use it, but they say we can make reservations via Reserve America, and use the pass-code the state sent us.
Be interesting if any states have that deal for non-resident veterans. I was a resident of New York while on active duty, but I'm not allowed to take advantage of their deals anymore.
Also, for federal lands, U.S. veterans can get a free "Gold Star & Veteran" America the Beautiful pass. This has been around for a few years, and allows free access to National Parks and such. Recently, we've noticed it also qualifies us for discounts camping at a lot of national park and national forest sites.
BTW, I said U.S. veterans. Surprisingly, we've been given discounts visiting sites in Canada by saying I'm a U.S. Veteran, so it pays to ask. (Should work the other way around, but it probably doesn't.)
Tom
