Veterans Day 2026 Free Meals & Military Freebies
🇺🇸 Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11 · 2 days away
Veterans Day freebies, free year-round benefits, and the discounts worth verifying for
Short version: Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, November 11, and that's when most free meals happen: Chili's, Golden Corral, Bob Evans, Red Robin, Applebee's, Denny's and others have announced dine-in offers for veterans and active duty. Year-round, every veteran and Gold Star family can get a free lifetime national parks pass, active-duty families get free summer admission at 2,000+ Blue Star Museums, and MilTax files federal and state taxes for free. For discounts, verify once with ID.me or SheerID.
⚡ Free for veterans & military right now
- Free Shrimp & Chips at Red Lobster for Veterans, Nov. 11Get it →
- Free National Park Entry on Veterans Day, Nov. 11Get it →
- Free Brewed Coffee at Starbucks for Veterans, Nov. 11Get it →
- Free Combo Meal Card for Veterans at Freddy's, Nov. 11Get it →
- Free Burger for Veterans at Smashburger on Nov. 11Get it →
Free on Veterans Day 2026 (Wednesday, Nov. 11)
Every offer below was announced for 2026, on the brand's own site or press release or on VA's 2026 Veterans Day list (verified by VA on October 22, 2026). Offers are valid on November 11 only unless noted. Franchise locations can opt out, so call ahead before you plan a meal around one.
Chili's
A free entrée from a four-item Veterans Day menu: Chicken Crispers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, the Oldtimer with Cheese, or Soup & House Salad.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Dine in at a participating location. Drinks and tip are on you, no substitutions. Bring proof of service.
Golden Corral
A free dinner buffet and drink at its annual Military Appreciation Night, 4 p.m. to close.
- Who
- Veterans, active duty, retirees, Guard and Reserve
- How
- Dine in only. The free meal covers the service member; anyone eating with you pays.
Bob Evans
One free meal picked from a special Veterans Day menu.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Dine in only, with a valid service ID.
Red Robin
A free Red's Big Tavern Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Dine in at a participating location with military ID or proof of service. Add-ons cost extra, and it can’t be stacked with Red Robin Royalty rewards.
Applebee's
A free entrée from a Veterans Day menu.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Dine in with proof of service. Drinks and tip are extra.
Denny's
A free Original Grand Slam, served 5 a.m. to noon.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Dine in with ID. After noon the offer is over.
Red Lobster
A free Shrimp & Chips meal.
- Who
- Veterans, active duty and reservists
- How
- Dine in with ID.
Bonefish Grill
A free Bang Bang Shrimp entrée plus a non-alcoholic drink.
- Who
- Veterans and active duty (VA’s list says families too; confirm with your location)
- How
- Show ID when you order.
Smashburger
A free All-American Smashburger.
- Who
- Veterans
- How
- Participating locations only, ID required.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
A card for a free combo meal, handed out on Veterans Day and good through November 25, 2026.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Stop in on November 11 to pick up the card, then use it any time before it expires.
Starbucks
A free 12-oz hot or iced brewed coffee.
- Who
- Veterans, service members and military spouses
- How
- Participating stores only.
Great Clips
A free haircut. Non-military customers that day can also ask for a free-haircut card to pass to a veteran.
- Who
- Veterans and active-duty military
- How
- Walk in on November 11.
National parks
Free entrance at every fee-charging National Park Service site. It’s one of the NPS fee-free days, open to everyone.
- Who
- All US citizens and residents (nonresidents pay the normal fee starting in 2026)
- How
- Just show up. Other fees, like camping or tours, still apply.
Kohl's
30% off in-store purchases on November 10 and 11. A discount, not a freebie, but a big one.
- Who
- Military, veterans and their families
- How
- Show valid ID at checkout. Exclusions apply.
Not on the list yet: IHOP, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden and Outback have run Veterans Day offers in past years but hadn't announced 2026 details when we checked. Check their sites in early November.
Free Year-Round
Military Lifetime Pass (national parks and federal lands)
Free for lifeFree entrance and standard day-use fees at national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests and other federal recreation sites run by six agencies.
- Who
- All veterans and Gold Star families
- How
- Get it free at a federal recreation site or online through Recreation.gov. Bring photo ID each time you use it. Veterans prove status with a DoD ID, VA health card, Veteran ID Card or a state ID marked "Veteran"; Gold Star families need a Gold Star Family Voucher.
Military Annual Pass
Free yearlyThe same access as the Lifetime Pass, renewed each year.
- Who
- Current US military members and their dependents
- How
- Pick it up at a federal recreation site or order it online through Recreation.gov. Photo ID is checked each use.
Blue Star Museums
Free in summerFree admission at more than 2,000 museums, zoos, science centers and nature centers. The program runs every year from Armed Forces Day in May to Labor Day; the 2026 season ran May 16 to September 7.
- Who
- Active-duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve, plus up to five family members. Veterans aren’t included.
- How
- Show a CAC, dependent ID (DD Form 1173 or 1173-1) or Next Generation Uniformed Services ID at the door. The 2027 list of museums hasn’t been announced yet.
MilTax free tax filing
FreeFree tax software for a federal return and up to five state returns, plus free one-on-one help from tax consultants. No income limit.
- Who
- Active-duty members, eligible family members, survivors, and veterans within 365 days of separating or retiring
- How
- The software for the 2026 tax year opens in January 2027 through Military OneSource. Consultants are available now at 800-342-9647.
Everyday Military Discounts
Not free, but they add up if you shop these places anyway.
The Home Depot
10% off10% off eligible purchases, capped at $400 in discounts per calendar year. Appliances, lumber, rentals, labor and gift cards are among the exclusions.
- Who
- Active duty, reservists, veterans and retirees, plus spouses
- How
- Verify once through SheerID in your Home Depot account. The discount then applies online and when you scan your account in store.
Lowe's
10% off10% off most purchases, plus free standard shipping, through a military tier of MyLowe’s Rewards.
- Who
- Active duty, veterans, reservists, and their spouses
- How
- Join MyLowe’s Rewards and verify military status once. In store, give your phone number or scan the app.
Target
10% off, twice a yearA 10% Target Circle coupon good for two purchases, offered around July 4 and again around Veterans Day.
- Who
- Active duty, Guard, Reserve, veterans and military families
- How
- Verify military status in your Target Circle account ahead of time. Target hadn’t posted its 2026 Veterans Day dates when we checked.
Verizon
Monthly discountA military discount on phone plans (10% off each line on its Simplicity plan; a flat monthly credit on other unlimited plans), plus discounts on Fios home internet and accessories.
- Who
- Active duty, retirees, veterans, current or former Guard and Reserve, and Gold Star families
- How
- Verify through ID.me. The discount generally stays on the account, though Verizon can ask you to verify again.
T-Mobile
Military plansDiscounted military pricing on its main phone plans, with savings that grow as you add lines.
- Who
- Active duty, veterans, Guard, Reserve and Gold Star families
- How
- The eligible person has to be the primary account holder and verify status. Prices change often, so compare the military page against your current bill.
Military exchange, online
Exchange pricesOnline shopping at the Army & Air Force Exchange and the other military exchanges, with tax-free prices.
- Who
- Veterans discharged honorably or under honorable conditions (general). This is online only; base stores aren’t included.
- How
- Confirm eligibility through VetVerify, then shop online.
How Military Verification Works
Online: ID.me or SheerID
Most retailers hand verification to one of these two free services. They check your status against Defense Department and other government records, sometimes asking for a document upload, and the store gets a yes or no. You usually do it once per store.
In person: the right card
A CAC, retiree or dependent ID, VA health card, VA Veteran ID Card, or a state license marked "Veteran" all work in most places. A DD-214 is accepted by some restaurants, but carry a copy, never the original.
No veteran ID? Get one free
Veterans with an honorable or general discharge can request the free Veteran ID Card from VA online. Many states will also add a veteran mark to your driver's license. VA's ID card options
Verify before November 11
Store accounts like Target Circle and Home Depot can take a while to verify if a document upload is needed. Do it this week, not at the register on Veterans Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's free on Veterans Day 2026?
Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, November 11. Confirmed free meals include Chili's (entrée from a four-item menu), Golden Corral (dinner buffet, 4 p.m. to close), Bob Evans, Red Robin (Red's Big Tavern Burger), Applebee's, Denny's (Original Grand Slam, 5 a.m. to noon), Red Lobster (Shrimp & Chips), Bonefish Grill and Smashburger. Starbucks has a free brewed coffee, Great Clips a free haircut, and national parks charge no entrance fee that day. Almost all restaurant offers are dine-in only with proof of service.
What ID do I need for military freebies?
In person, any of these usually works: a military ID (CAC, retiree or dependent ID), a VA health card (VHIC), the VA Veteran ID Card, or a state driver’s license marked "Veteran." Some restaurants also take a DD-214, but carry a copy rather than the original. Online, most retailers use ID.me or SheerID, which check your status against government records once and then remember you.
Do military spouses and families qualify?
It depends on the offer. Spouses are covered at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, Starbucks on Veterans Day, and Blue Star Museums (up to five family members). Dependents of current members get the free Military Annual Pass, and Gold Star families get the free Lifetime Pass. Most Veterans Day restaurant meals cover only the veteran or service member; family members pay.
Do veterans get a free national parks pass?
Yes. All veterans and Gold Star families can get the free Military Lifetime Pass, which covers entrance and standard day-use fees at federal recreation sites. Current service members and their dependents get a free Military Annual Pass instead. Both are available at federal recreation sites or through Recreation.gov.
How do I get the free MilTax software?
MilTax is free through Military OneSource for active-duty members, eligible family members, survivors, and veterans within 365 days of leaving the service. It covers a federal return and up to five state returns. The software for the 2026 tax year opens in January 2027; tax consultants can be reached now at 800-342-9647.
Every offer on this page was checked against the brand's or agency's own site, a brand press release, or VA's 2026 Veterans Day list on October 28, 2026. Restaurants change terms by location; the official link on each card has the final word.
