BIG List of Free Stuff for Veterans (Veterans Day Free Meals, Restaurant Deals & Discounts…)

Now, some of these freebies are available all year round, but others are only available on and around Veterans Day, so do keep that in mind.

Also, some of these free things are only available to those who’re currently serving and not veterans and vice versa.

We’ll cover that below though, so don’t worry.

Museums, Theme Parks, and other Attractions

There are lots of museums out there that provide free admission to military members and veterans.

You’ll usually need to take your ID with you.

From art museums to history museums, there are plenty of museums out there that offer free admission.

1. LEGOLAND Florida Resort & Water Park

Active duty service members get free admission to LEGOLAND Florida Resort & Water Park. Just show your military ID at the ticket window.

Also, non-active duty, veterans and family members can get deeply discounted tickets, such as a second day free.

2. Sesame Place

Active military and up to three dependents can get free single-day admission to Sesame Street theme park, Sesame Place.

If you’re a veteran, you can save 50% on single day admission too.

3. Blue Star Museum

Get free admission to more than 2,000 museums across America with Blue Star Museum. Free admission to participating museums is available to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

4. 9/11 Memorial Museum

Active and retired military personnel get free admission to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. You will need to display your military ID.

5. MoMA

The Museum of Modern art provides one free admission to active members of the US military. You will need a valid ID. Free admission is also available for military families.

6. Portland Art Museum

Veterans and active duty military members can get free admission to the Portland Art Museum in Oregon.

7. Bronx Zoo

Active duty armed forces personnel can get a free Total Experience or General Admission ticket. Just present a valid military ID.  Plus, up to three of your family members can get a 50% discount!

There’s also a veterans discount available. Veterans can get a 20% discount on a Total Experience or General Admission ticket. Just present a valid military ID.

8. National Parks

America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes, act as a ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

A pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands and more.

This pass normally costs $80 a year, but U.S. military personnel can get an annual pass for free!

The pass is available to Current U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard as well as Reserve and National Guard members.

So, you’ll be able to visit tons of different national parks and federal recreational lands for free!

Veterans can get free admission to national parks on Veterans Day!

Free Sports Tickets for Military Members

Whether it’s golf or football, if you’re a sports fan, then you’ll definitely want to check out these sports freebies.

A lot of places offer free tickets to veterans and active duty military members.

9. Tampa Bay Rays

Active and retired members of the armed forces and veterans can get free tickets to select Monday home games, as well as additional bonus dates and special ticket pricing throughout the season.

10. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals offers a free ticket to active, reserve and retired military personnel. To get your free ticket, you’ll need to present a valid ID at the Clark Street Box Office beginning one hour before game time, until 30 minutes after scheduled game time.

11. Birdies for the Brave

Birdies for the Brave is a great program that offers free and discounted PGA tickets.

So if you’re a fan of golf, then you should definitely check out the program. Free and discounted tickets are available to active duty, military reserve, National Guard, military retirees, and veterans.

Travel Freebies for Veterans & Military

Save money when traveling with these military freebies.

12. Alaska Airlines

Active military members can have their baggage fees waived. You get the first 5 bags for free. This offer is available to active duty military dependents as well.

13. Hawaiian Airlines

Check two to four bags for free with Hawaiian Airlines. This offer is available to active and retired military members.

14. Spirit Airlines

If you’re an active military member, you can check two bags for free and one free carry-on with Spirit Airlines.

15. Allegiant Air

Veterans, active duty personal, and members of the National Guard, Reserves and their dependents can save money in a number of ways with Allegiant Air:

• Check up to three bags for free.
• No fees are charged on oversized checked baggage.
• Get one free carry-on bag.
• Print your boarding pass for free at the airport; normally you have to pay to do this.
• Depending on availability, you can assign your seats for free.
• Have one pet in the cabin for free.

Active military members get additional benefits, such as:

• Board with priority boarding, for free.
• If you need to make a change to your booking or cancel it, then you won’t be charged.

16. B&Bs for Vets

B&Bs for vets provides free rooms on and around Veteran’s Day to veterans, and retired and active duty military members. Also, National Guard and Reserves members can also get a free room.

Restaurants that Offer Free Food to Military Members

Looking for restaurants that offer free meals for active or former military members?

There are a few out there!

Some restaurants offer free food, usually on or around Veteran’s Day, to active duty military personnel and veterans.

17. Applebee’s

If you ever wondered “what fast food restaurants offer military discounts or freebies?“, this is for you (although some people may not think of Applebee’s as a traditional fast food restaurant like McDonald’s.)

On Veteran’s Day, Applebee’s offers free meals to veterans and active duty military.

18. Golden Corral

Get a free dinner on Military Appreciation Night, which is on or around Veteran’s Day, at Golden Corral. Free meals are available to active duty military, veterans, and retired military members, as well as members of the National Guard or Reserves.

19. Cattlemens Steakhouse

For steak lovers, this is one of the best Veteran’s Day freebies out there.

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse gives all active and retired military personnel a free sirloin steak dinner on Veteran’s Day.

20. Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee offers a Veteran’s Day breakfast. Each year, Hy-Vee provides a free breakfast buffet to veterans and active-duty military members in its in-store dining facilities or restaurants. Some stores also offer planned programs, displays, entertainment or other activities alongside the breakfast event.

21. Cracker Barrel

On Veteran’s Day, Cracker Barrel offers a free Crafted Coffee, a traditional espresso beverage, which is available iced or hot, or a slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake.

Other Military Freebies

Above, we’ve included lots of free stuff for veterans and military members, but these aren’t the only discounts available.

Below, we’ve included miscellaneous freebies, from free photos to free gym passes!

22. Veteran Tickets Foundation

For veteran freebies, check out the Veteran Tickets Foundation.

The Veteran Tickets Foundation gives event tickets to active duty military, veterans and their families.

The organization partners with major sports teams, leagues, promoters, organizations, venues and everyday event ticket holders to provide free and discounted tickets to currently serving military members and veterans of all branches of the US military.

You have to pay a small delivery fee to receive your free tickets.

23. Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops

Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops provides troops with free lawn and landscape services and snow and ice removal.

These services are available to families of currently deployed military personnel.

24. UFC Gyms

Military personnel can get a free 30 day pass to UFC gyms.

25. JCPenney Portraits

Get a free 8×10 standard print from JCPenney Portraits. Also, you’ll get free session fees, 50% off your photo purchase and a $99.99 digital album. Just present the coupon and your military ID to get the discount.

26. Cars4Heroes

Cars4Heroes donates free cars to veterans, and active military or their families. You can just fill out an application to request a free car and you may receive a donated vehicle.

27. 800-Charity Cars (FreeCharityCars.org)

This charity helps a wide variety of people, including veterans, to get cars for free. On the 800-Charirty Cars website, you can see who’s eligible for a free vehicle.

You apply for the vehicle through a separate website that links from 800-Charity Cars, called FreeCharityCars.org.

28. Online Car Donation

Get a free car from Online Car Donation. It helps a wide range of people, including military families. You can fill out a form to request a donated car from the organization.

29. Washington Post

Get a free magazine subscription to the Washington Post if you’re a member of the military. You get free digital access to the Washington Post. To get your free subscription, you’ll need to have a valid .mil or .gov email address.

30. LinkedIn

Veterans and current U.S. military service members can get a free one-year Premium Careers subscription on LinkedIn, including access to LinkedIn Learning.

Spouses of military veterans can also get a free subscription within six months of separation from the military, or if they’re moving due to a permanent change of station, through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program.

31. Army MWR Libraries

Get free books and more from Army MWR Libraries.

Army MWR Libraries provides story hours, book discussion groups, internet access, gaming nights, movie nights, and computer labs to the military and their families.

And current military and veterans also get access to a wide variety of online resources for free, such as free audiobooks, e-books, interactive e-Books for children, magazines, newspapers, magazines, investment tools and educational resources.

You also get free access to other resources, like Ancestry.com, Consumer Reports, and Mango Languages.

32. BuildASign.com

BuildASign.com has given away more than 337,000 Welcome Home banners and signs that are worth more than $10 million to military friends and families.

If you want to greet a loved one who is returning home from a deployment, then visit BuildASign.com, and get a free banner or sign.

33. Operation Love Reunited

Operation Love Reunited provides free professional photography sessions and photo gifts to military families who are dealing with deployment.

34. Our Military Kids

Our Military Kids provides grants to military children who have deployed or inured parents. The maximum grant award is capped at $300. The organization helps National Guard and Reserve families.

35. Veterans Advantage

If you are a veteran and you’re looking for freebies and discounts, then consider joining Veterans Advantage. It’s a rewards program that’s designed for active duty military members, retired military, veterans and their families. You can get discounts, benefits, care packages and more.

How to Get Military Discounts

There are quite a lot of freebies out there for active military personnel and veterans.

But, there are even more discounts available!

Sure, the stuff isn’t free, but it’s discounted.

You can find discounts on everything from clothing to auto parts.

Check out our post that includes 125 Stores That Offer Military Discounts.

In the post, you’ll find discounts across a wide range of categories, from restaurants to tech.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, there are tons of free stuff and samples available for veteran and military members.

Whether you are currently serving, retired or a veteran, there are plenty of things that you can get for free!

Also, keep in mind that just because a company, brand, or retailer doesn’t advertise that it offers freebies to military, this does not mean that it doesn’t.

All, you need to do is ask.

Take your military ID with you and just ask the next time you’re at a store, museum, restaurant, etc., whether there is a military or veteran deal or discount available.

Let us know in the comments section below if you know of and/or have gotten any military and veteran freebies.