The first night of real sleep I'd had in over a year happened at  our 1st military FamCamp in 2013 parked close to  a flight path.

Jets overhead. Engines you feel in your chest. And I slept like a baby, because after years as a Marine's wife, that sound meant everything was right where it belonged.

We were parked at an Air Force base, on a full hookup site, for about $25 a night in 2013. Meanwhile, plenty of RVers who have earned a spot at those exact campgrounds have never once pulled up to the gate.

So why isn't everyone doing it? There's a catch. Actually, there are a few. Some are about who qualifies. Some are about the phone.

This Veterans Day, I didn't want to just say thank you. I wanted to hand you a map. So I sat down with Steve and Ashley Gallaher of Campfires and Motors, an Army veteran and his wife, for a conversation recorded early in the day while they attended the first-ever Open Roads Rally in Tennessee.

Questions to answer before you roll up to the gate

• Does an honorable discharge actually get you in?

                (It's trickier than you'd think.)

• Which gate does a big rig even use?
• What do first-timers forget at check-in, every single time?
• Which free pass opens the national park gate but won't pay for your campsite?
• Why does it take half a day to get a call back, and why that's not a bad sign?
• Which Veterans Day deals are real, and which only work for first-time guests?
• What can't you have on board, and why will they check?

And yes, there's a treasure hunt involved. Steve wrote a thriller, designed the whole book himself, and published it this October.

The map Steve wished he & Ashley had when they begon RV life.

Here's the thing about military campgrounds: almost none of them are easy to find.

There's no single booking site, and the details live on dozens of different base pages. Steve ran into that wall himself, and instead of just complaining about it, he built MilitaryCampgrounds.info.

The heart of the site is an interactive map of military campgrounds across the country, with 241 public listings at last look. Zoom in, tap a campground, and a card shows the branch, the number of RV sites, and whether there are full hookups. From there, one click takes you to the official MWR or FamCamp page, so you get the real phone number and the real rules from the source.

If you've never stayed at one, start with the Military Camping Guides. They cover who can use military campgrounds, how FamCamps work, what access looks like for veterans, and how to make a reservation. There's also a "near me" page that uses your location to find the closest listings, and a free membership if you want to leave reviews and post photos of your site for the next camper.

A word of caution before you fall in love with a listing... eligibility is set campground by campground, and some National Guard sites are only for guard members from that state. Steve's site is the place to start, and a quick phone call is how you actually book the site.

Veterans Day 2026 deals for military and RVers

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11. Most offers need a military ID or proof of service, and many are dine-in only or limited to participating locations, so check with your local store or campground first.

RV, camping and gear

• National parks: Entrance fees are waived on November 11 at National Park Service sites that charge one. In 2026, fee-free days apply to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only, and the waiver does not cover camping fees.

• Free lifetime pass: Veterans can pick up the Military Lifetime Pass at no cost, and it covers day-use fees at federal recreation sites.

• Private RV parks: Canopy Oaks RV Resort is offering 15% off for veterans and active-duty military for stays November 6-15 with a three-night minimum, new reservations only, code VETERANS2026 . Watch for that "new reservations only" line at other parks too.

• Sun Outdoors: The Sun Military Discount takes 20% off select short-term RV, tent and vacation rental stays, or $200 off seasonal and annual stays, at participating resorts.

• Camping World Hero Program: Up to $2,000 off the advertised price of a new RV, plus 5% off accessories and gear.

Military Discounts at many retailers happen across the contry this week

Food (November 11)

• Chili's: A free meal for veterans and active military.
• Red Robin: A free Red's Big Tavern Burger with a bottomless side.
• Bob Evans: A free meal from a special Veterans Day menu, dine-in only.
• Ruby Tuesday: A free Everyday Fresh Meal, dine-in at participating locations.
• Buffalo Wild Wings: Ten free boneless wings with fries, dine-in only.
• Starbucks: A free tall brewed coffee, also for military spouses.



Want a longer list? The American Legion and Military Wallet both keep running lists. Expect Veterans Day crowds, and tip well.

Meet Steve and Ashley, and the links

Steve served in the Army with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers, and is a disabled veteran.

He and Ashley started RVing in 2019, sold their house in 2024, and have been on the road full time since, sharing the trip on Campfires and Motors. Steve also built the military campground map and wrote the thriller The Whitlock Trail.

• Military campground map and reviews: MilitaryCampgrounds.info
• Campfires and Motors on YouTube: @campfiresandmotors
• The Whitlock Trail, with the dust-jacket hardcover: thewhitlocktrail.com, also on Amazon
• Night Stalker Foundation: nightstalkerfoundation.com
• Military Lifetime Pass: NPS
• RV-safe trip routing: Roadtrippers
• Join the conversation: 

            Military Families on the Road Facebook Group



Sponsor Information

This episode is sponsored by RV Roofing Solutions, a veteran-owned nationwide mobile RV roofing company owned by our family. During November, veterans, active-duty, retirees, Disabled Veterans  and honorably discharged service members get an extra $10 off per foot on estimates in November.

This post is for general information.

Military campground eligibility, rates, booking windows and Veterans Day offers are set by each installation or business and can change, so confirm before you travel. The views shared by guests and host are personal experience and not official statements from the Department of Defense or any military branch. Learn to RV is not affiliated with any government agency.