Military Campgrounds

I would like to know if "military families" includes parents of active military personnel. I am driving in an RV across the US to visit my son who is in the army and would like to be able to stay in some military campgrounds on the way out there. He would not be traveling with us in the RV. Thank you.

The rules are different for different campgrounds. If you are visiting a military base that has a campground, you may be able to stay as a guest of the sponsor (your son) depending on local rules and availability.

In most cases, the sponsor must make the reservation and actually check any guests into the campgrounds.

Another issue you might face is base security. If you do not have a base sticker, you will need to get a temporary pass before you can come on the base. Once again, you most likely will have to be sponsored onto the base or have a very good reason for being there.

At the campground where I am the host we have a lot of families of service members camping with us when a unit returns from Iraq or Afghanistan. The homecomings are quite joyful to see. However, once again the families have to be sponsored onto the base. Normally, the sponsor has to be there to check you into both the base and the campground. At one time parents could only get on base if their family member actually appeared on a manifest of returning military.

Probably too much information but I think it would be difficult for you to stay in military campgrounds without you son with you.

Curt

Technically, families are not authorized patronage of MWR facilities. This includes spouses. Young children will have an ID card, but be too young. Older children usually won't have an ID card anymore. The eligibility is for the ACTUAL military member (active, reserve, retired, 100% DAV, etc). Families can use military campgrounds as a "guest" of the military member. (See above sponsored guest explanation).

However, there's always exceptions. Especially if the military person is deployed, the spouse (who has an ID card) can usually use the military campground if they also provide orders showing their military spouse is deployed. Some places don't even need the orders.

Unremarried spouses of deceased active or retired military members are also authorized patronage. As with many topics dealing with military campgrounds, there's no real consistency among them. What works at one location may not work at another.