Free and Cheap Vacations for Disabled Veterans: Where You Can Actually Stay

Search for free vacations for disabled veterans and you'll find sweepstakes, nonprofit waiting lists and "military discounts" that turn out to be 10% off a hotel. The biggest savings are somewhere most rated veterans never look: military recreation lodging. Since 2020, a VA disability rating of any percentage gets you in.

Quick answer: With any VA service-connected rating (0% counts), you can stay at military campgrounds - most have a site for $30 a night or less - plus base beach cottages and military resorts like Hale Koa in Waikiki and Shades of Green at Walt Disney World. Bring your VHIC and a REAL ID or passport. The truly free options are Fisher Houses during medical care, the Access Pass for federal parks, and Space-A flights if you're rated 100% permanent and total.

Why a Disability Rating Opens Military Lodging

The Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 took effect on January 1, 2020. It opened recreation facilities at US military installations to veterans with any VA-documented service-connected disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and Primary Family Caregivers in VA's PCAFC program.

You don't need to be retired or rated 100%. At the gate you show a Veteran Health Identification Card that lists your status - SERVICE CONNECTED, PURPLE HEART or FORMER POW - plus a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or passport, and you go through a background check.

The Cheapest Places to Stay

• Military campgrounds (FamCamps). We collected the published rate tables for 239 military campgrounds. The cheapest site at a typical one is $15 a night, and 189 of the 239 have a site for $30 or less. All of them are open to any service-connected rating.
• Beach cottages and cabins. Bases rent cottages right on the sand. Barking Sands Beach Cottages on Kauai publish rates of about $110 to $150 a night. The good ones book up months ahead.
• Military resorts. Hale Koa in Waikiki and Shades of Green at Walt Disney World both admit veterans with any service-connected rating. Rates are based on rank, and Hale Koa charges no resort fee.
• Armed Forces Vacation Club. Open to all veterans, rated or not. Last-minute resort weeks are advertised from $379 a week per unit, but resort fees and taxes come on top, so price the whole stay before you book.

One catch applies almost everywhere: active duty gets first pick. Base hotels are space-available, and popular spots open reservations to active duty first. Bellows in Hawaii opens its summer season to active duty in November and to other groups months later. Plan ahead and stay flexible on dates.

• Fisher Houses. Free lodging for your family while you get care at a VA or military medical center. You can't book it yourself - a social worker or nurse case manager makes the referral.
• The Access Pass. If you have a permanent disability, the America the Beautiful Access Pass is free for life. It covers entry to national parks and federal recreation lands, plus 50% off many federal campground fees. The free Military Lifetime Pass covers entry only - no camping discount - so if you camp, get the Access Pass.
• Space-A flights. Veterans rated 100% permanent and total can fly free on military aircraft, but only within the US and to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa. Here's how Space-A works and where it can't take you.

Where the Discount Stops

The 2018 Act ends at the US border. Overseas, base access depends on agreements with the host country, and on-base lodging is generally for retirees and people on duty. Navy Lodge Rota in Spain says it plainly: "Disabled Veterans (DAV): No base access, even with a military ID."

There are exceptions both ways. Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul admits veterans with any service-connected rating. Edelweiss Lodge in Germany admits only veterans rated 100%. Puerto Rico and Guam are US soil, so the Act applies there.

Find a Place Near Where You're Going

Our veteran lodging map shows more than 600 places, colour-coded by who they actually admit, with rates where they're published and a link to book. Green means any rating; amber means call ahead. Headed to the islands? Start with our Hawaii guide.