Travel costs stack up quickly. Flights, hotels, and activities can turn even a short trip into a major expense. Veterans have access to a range of discounts that can lower those costs, but many of these benefits go unused simply because they are not always easy to find.

This guide covers what’s available and how to use these benefits.

American Forces Travel

American Forces Travel is a good starting point for most Veterans planning a trip. Run by the DoD and powered by Priceline, it offers discounted rates on:

  • Hotels
  • Flights
  • Rental cars
  • Cruises
  • Vacation packages

Since a 2021 expansion, all Veterans with an honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge are eligible, along with active duty, retirees, Guard and Reserve members, and DoD civilians. Verification is handled online using your last name, last four of your Social Security number, and date of birth. No DD-214 upload is required.

Advertised savings run up to 50% on hotels and up to 35% on rental cars. As with any booking platform, it is worth comparing prices against standard sites before purchasing, since not every search will return the lowest available rate.

Hotels: Where to Save

Hotels: Where to Save

Several major hotel chains offer Veteran-inclusive military rates that don't require a membership or subscription.

Hilton's Military Family Rate covers active duty, retired Veterans, and their families at participating properties in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Europe. It applies to leisure stays only. A valid military ID is required at check-in.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts offers a Military Appreciation Rate for active duty, Reserve, Veterans, retired military, and spouses across its full portfolio of brands in the U.S. and Canada, Wyndham Hotels brand includes: 

Days Inn

La Quinta

Ramada, Microtel

Travelodge

Wingate

Wyndham Grand

The discount is:

  • 15% at Super 8 properties
  • 12% at most other participating brands

Use code SML when booking. Wyndham Rewards members who confirm their military status are automatically upgraded to Gold level, with 3,000 bonus points after the first qualifying night.

Marriott offers a military and first responder rate of 15% off flexible rates, but it applies only to participating Marriott Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, and Sheraton Vacation Club resort properties, not across Marriott's broader hotel portfolio. If you're not staying at one of those specific resort properties, Hilton or Wyndham may be the more reliable option.

 

Armed Forces Recreation Centers

The Armed Forces Recreation Centers are four DoD-operated resort properties that deserve their own section because the savings are exceptional and the eligibility rules are frequently misunderstood.

The four locations are the:

Active duty and military retirees have year-round access to all four. Veterans with any service-connected disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and VA-designated primary caregivers can book Hale Koa, Shades of Green, and Dragon Hill Lodge. Edelweiss is limited by German host-nation law and generally requires active duty or retiree status.

Shades of Green runs a "Salute to Our Veterans" program during January and September that opens the resort to any honorably discharged Veteran at discounted rates, with a DD-214 as proof. It is one of the more affordable ways to stay steps from Walt Disney World.

Rental cars

Enterprise Rent-A-Car offers Veterans 5% off base rates at all Enterprise locations worldwide. No membership is required. Their FAQ confirms eligibility explicitly includes veterans on leisure travel alongside active duty, retired military, and federal employees.

Alamo operates under the same parent company and mirrors the same program, with the same veteran eligibility and discount structure.

Trains

Amtrak offers Veterans 10% off the lowest available rail fare on most trains. Select "Veteran" as your traveler type when booking. No promo code is required. The discount does not apply to sleeping accommodations, Business Class, First Class, or Acela. 

Veterans and their spouses and dependents can save 15% on these California trains:

  • The Pacific Surfliner
  • Capitol Corridor
  • San Joaquins

National Parks and Public Lands

The National Park Service Military Lifetime Pass is a fantastic free benefit available to Veterans. It covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, including:

  • National parks
  • National wildlife refuges
  • National forests
  • Bureau of Land Management lands

Accepted IDs include a DoD ID, Veteran Health Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or a state driver's license with a Veteran designation.

Pick up a physical pass for free at any participating park entrance, get a digital pass through Recreation.gov, or order by mail through store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass for a $10 processing fee. The pass covers entrance fees only. 

Many state park systems offer benefits worth knowing about. 

  • Texas offers a free Veterans Parklands Passport to any honorably discharged Veteran, obtainable at any state park with a DD-214 or Veteran ID. 
  • Florida gives all honorably discharged Veterans 25% off annual entrance passes, and Veterans with any service-connected disability qualify for a free lifetime entrance pass equivalent to a Family Annual Pass. Check your own state's parks department, as policies vary.

Veterans Day on November 11 is worth planning around. NPS and most state park systems offer universal fee-free entry, and many major restaurants and attractions offer complimentary meals or admission. Check before you travel, as offers vary by location and year.

Space-A travel

Space-Available travel lets eligible travelers fly on military aircraft using empty seats, often for free or at very low cost. It's one of the more remarkable perks in the military travel ecosystem, but it works best for people with flexible schedules and no fixed arrival deadline. Seats are never guaranteed, and you need to be prepared to cover commercial travel costs if a flight changes or falls through.

Eligibility is organized into six priority categories. For most Veterans, the relevant one is Category VI, which includes retired uniformed service members, Reserve and National Guard retirees, and Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as total (100%). 

If you qualify, you register at your nearest AMC passenger terminal, check the 72-hour flight schedule, and show up ready to travel when your category is called. Flexibility is everything. 

Museums and Attractions

Several institutions offer free or deeply discounted admission that Veterans should know about before buying a ticket.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia is free for all visitors, with free parking, open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The National WWII Museum in New Orleans offers free lifetime admission to WWII Veterans and one companion, a $10 discount for all other Veterans and active and retired military, and free admission for all Veterans on Veterans Day.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles both offer free admission to Veterans year-round with a valid military ID. 

The Delaware Art Museum offers 50% off for military personnel year-round and free admission on Veterans Day. 

Zoo Atlanta offers Veterans a 10% discount on daytime admission, redeemable in person at the admissions desk.

Many other museums and cultural institutions offer similar discounts that aren't widely advertised. It's always worth asking at the admissions desk.

 

What to bring

Most discounts require one of the following: 

  • A Veteran ID Card
  • A state-issued ID with Veteran status
  • A DD-214
  • A Department of Defense ID
  • A Veteran Health Identification Card

Read more about Veteran lifestyle topics.

FAQ

Do all Veterans qualify for these travel discounts? 

Eligibility varies by program. Most of the benefits covered here are open to honorably discharged Veterans, but some have narrower requirements tied to disability rating or retiree status. Always confirm before booking.

What proof do I need to use these discounts? 

Accepted forms typically include a Veteran ID Card, a state-issued ID with Veteran status, a DD-214, or a Department of Defense ID. Some platforms like American Forces Travel verify status digitally and do not require document uploads.

Are military rates always the best available price? 

Not always. Sale rates and booking platforms sometimes offer lower prices. Treat military rates as a reliable floor and compare before you commit, especially for hotels and rental cars.

Can family members use Veteran travel discounts? 

Some programs extend benefits to spouses or dependents, particularly for lodging. Hilton's Military Family Rate explicitly includes families. Each program sets its own rules, so check the terms before booking for a group.