North Carolina State Parks: Veteran Camping Discount and Free Annual Pass for Disabled Veterans

North Carolina State Parks gives three things to veterans. The camping discount. "Seniors, veterans, and military members are eligible for a $6 discount per night on certain campsite reservations." Proof of military service or veteran status is checked at the campground. It applies to marina transient dockage slips at Carolina Beach State Park, and "cannot be applied to primitive or group campsites, vacation cabins, and facility rentals" or to activity fees or permits. Entrance fees at three recreation areas. Most state parks charge no entrance fee, but Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas do, and a "Discounted rate for entrance fees" there is available "with proof of military service or veteran status". A free annual pass for a disabled veteran. "Under North Carolina State Law 2024-45, Section 15.(a) to 15.(d), eligible veterans with disabilities receive a free Annual Pass." A veteran qualifies who served in any branch, separated with an honorable or under honorable conditions character of service, and has received specially adapted housing benefits under 38 U.S.C. 2101 or a VA or other federal certification of a service-connected disability; any rating counts. Order the pass on the State Parks webstore and show the VA summary of benefits letter at a park office, or email it to [email protected] to have the pass mailed, saying which pass you want (the Annual Pass for Reservoirs, the Annual Pass, or the one with four-wheel-drive beach access); otherwise the regular Annual Pass comes by default. The paid passes cost $70, $100 and $200 a year. Passes expire at the end of the calendar year. A veteran planning trips should pair this with the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters licensing exemption noted in the hunting and fishing entry.