Hillsborough County Conservation Parks: Free and Discounted Annual Passes

Hillsborough County's conservation parks charge entry by the visit or by an annual hang tag: $50 for an individual pass, $100 for a family pass of up to eight people in one vehicle, and $100 for a boat ramp pass. Park and boat ramp passes are separate, and neither covers camping or canoe rental. Free pass. A disabled veteran who lives in Hillsborough County, was honorably discharged and has a service-connected disability gets a free annual individual, family or boat ramp pass. The county names no minimum rating, so 0% service-connected qualifies on its words. The surviving spouse or parent of a member of the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves who fell in combat is also eligible. Bring proof of the service-connected disability and residency; a free boat ramp pass also needs a valid Hillsborough County boat registration. Discounts. A resident member of the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves, or a resident veteran, gets 25% off annual park and boat ramp passes with proof of residency and service. Any resident who is 100% disabled gets 50% off. Discounts do not apply to the $30 after-hours fishing pass. Where. Free and discounted passes are issued only in person: Bell Creek Administration Office, 10940 McMullen Road, Riverview (813-672-7876); Conservation Parks Administrative Complex, 13173 U.S. 301 North, Thonotosassa (813-829-2626); and, for free passes, the Consumer and Veterans Services office at 3602 U.S. 301, Tampa (813-744-5349). These are county parks. The free lifetime state park pass is a separate Florida benefit; see the Florida entry.