Texas Parklands Passports
- Texas Parklands Passports
You may qualify for a free Texas Parklands Passport. Parkland Passport benefits apply only to the pass holder. Some Parkland Passports extend benefits to one companion. Parkland Passports do not guarantee entry if the park has reached capacity. We offer seven parklands passports:
Obtain these passes at any state park.
Senior Partial
If you are 65 years old or older and are a Texas resident, you qualify for the Senior Partial passport good at Texas state parks that charge entry fees. With this pass, you and a companion pay 50 percent off the entry fee rounded to the next whole dollar. For example, if the entry fee is $3, each of you will pay $2.
Present one of the following items to get your passport:
- Driver's license
- Birth certificate
- Military discharge papers
- Other papers that confirm your age, identity and home address.
Senior Full
If you were born before Sept. 1, 1930, you qualify for the Senior Full passport. With this pass, you and a companion can enter any Texas state park for free.
Present one or more of the following items to get your passport:
- Driver's license
- Birth certificate
- Military discharge papers
- Other papers that confirm your age and identity.
Disability
If you are medically disabled, you qualify for the Disability passport, good at Texas state parks that charge entry fees. With this pass, you and a companion pay 50 percent off the entry fee rounded to the next whole dollar. For example, if the entry fee is $3, each of you will pay $2.
You must renew the pass each year. Present the following to get your passport:
- Photo Identification (such as a driver’s license) and
- At least one of the following
- An Award of Benefits Letter or a Statement of Benefits from the Social Security Administration which says that you are permanently disabled.
- Vehicle registration document showing applicant has received a disability license plate within the last year
- Permanent disability placard (blue) issued to the applicant within the last 4 years.
- Statement signed by a licensed medical professional attesting the applicant has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity
Active Duty
The Active Duty passport allows free entry to Texas state parks for an individual who is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. This includes the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. This Parkland Passport only grants benefits to the pass holder, it does not grant entry to a companion.
Present valid photo identification (such as a driver’s license) and proof of active duty service that has been issued by the U.S. Department of Defense (such as active duty service member ID card).
Veterans
The Veterans passport allows free entry to Texas state parks for a U.S. veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. This Parkland Passport only grants benefits to the pass holder, it does not grant entry to a companion.
Present valid photo identification (such as a driver’s license) and one of the following to get your passport:
- US Department of Defense-issued veteran’s identification card
- State issued driver’s license or identification card that includes a US military veteran designation.
- Military Discharge Papers (US Dept. of Defense Form DD 214 indicating Honorable Discharge)
- Veteran’s Health Identification Card issued by the US Dept. Of Veteran’s Affairs
Disabled Veterans
The Disabled Veterans passport allows free entry to Texas state parks for a U.S. veteran with a 60 percent or more service-connected disability or loss of lower extremity. A companion gets free entry, as well.
Present valid photo identification (such as a driver’s license) and one of the following to get your passport:
- Disabled Veterans of Texas license plate receipt
- Veteran's award letter (which establishes the degree of disability)
- Tax exemption letter for Texas veterans.
Gold Star Family
The Gold Star passport allows free entry to Texas state parks to a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a person who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This also includes stepsiblings and stepparents. Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins are not eligible. This Parkland Passport only grants benefits to the pass holder, it does not grant entry to a companion. Each eligible family member must apply for their own Parklands Passport.
Applicants will need to present all three document types to be issued a passport: (1) Identification, (2) Serviceperson's proof of casualty, and (3) Proof of relationship to the deceased. Acceptable documents are listed below :
- Applicant's Photo Identification, such as
- Driver's License
- State Issued Identification
- Passport, Passport Card
- Tribal Card
- Serviceperson's Proof of Casualty, such as:
- Report of Casualty (US Dept. of Defense Form DD 1300)
- Written record of fatality (while serving) by US Dept. of Defense / National Archives.
- Proof of Relationship to the deceased, such as:
- Unexpired US Military-issued spouse or dependent identification card
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate or court order
