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Free Camping in Oregon State Parks at Any Rating — Four Nights at a Time

Oregon's Special Access Pass gives a resident veteran with ANY level of service-connected disability free tent, RV and standard horse-camp camping, and free day-use parking at fee parks. No minimum percentage: a VA letter documenting service connection is what is asked for. The limits are how it is rationed rather than who gets it — FOUR NIGHTS AT A TIME at a single park, or four nights per calendar month. YURTS, CABINS, RESERVATION FEES AND EXTRA-VEHICLE CHARGES ARE NOT COVERED. You need an Oregon driver licence or ID with the application.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Oregon's Special Access Pass gives a resident veteran with ANY level of service-connected disability free tent, RV and standard horse-camp camping, and free day-use parking at fee parks. No minimum percentage: a VA letter documenting service connection is what is asked for. The limits are how it is rationed rather than who gets it — FOUR NIGHTS AT A TIME at a single park, or four nights per calendar month. YURTS, CABINS, RESERVATION FEES AND EXTRA-VEHICLE CHARGES ARE NOT COVERED. You need an Oregon driver licence or ID with the application.

What it's worth: Free camping and day-use parking, four nights at a time

  • ANY LEVEL of service-connected disability. NO MINIMUM PERCENTAGE.
  • Free TENT, RV AND STANDARD HORSE-CAMP camping, plus free DAY-USE PARKING at fee parks.
  • FOUR NIGHTS AT A TIME at a single park, or four nights per calendar month.
  • NOT COVERED: yurts, cabins, RESERVATION FEES, extra-vehicle and other charges.
  • OREGON RESIDENCY is required, evidenced by an Oregon driver licence or ID with the application.
  • Documented by a U.S. VA letter.
  • Because reservation fees are excluded, a booked site still costs something.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You have a service-connected disability.
  • Oregon state parks.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Download a VA letter documenting service connection. The percentage does not matter.
  2. 2Apply with an Oregon driver licence or ID — residency is proved that way.
  3. 3Plan around the four-night limit: four at a stretch at one park, or four a month.
  4. 4Budget for reservation fees; those are outside the pass even where the site is free.
  5. 5If you want a yurt or cabin, expect to pay — only standard camping is covered.
Form
Special Access Pass application, Oregon Parks and Recreation
File with
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Documents you will need
va benefit summary letter
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingA veteran rated at 10% gets exactly what a veteran at 100% gets here. The rationing is by nights, not by percentage.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.