Veterans Day 2026 Deals and Free Meals

This Wednesday, November 11, 2026, we pause to honor the men and women who have worn our nation's uniform. Your service, sacrifice, and commitment to one another made the freedoms we share possible.

At VetraFi, serving veterans isn't one day a year. It's why we exist. Still, Veterans Day is a chance for the whole country to say thank you, and many businesses are doing just that. We've rounded up the best national Veterans Day deals below so you can spend the day enjoying a free meal, a well-earned discount, or a day out with family.

From all of us at VetraFi: thank you.

How to Plan Your Veterans Day

Pick the plan that fits you and tap to open it. Every stop uses a deal from the lists below.

Everyone: Honor a veteran today

Not a veteran yourself? These stops let you say thank you to the veterans in your life.

  1. Morning, Gift a haircut: Get your own cut at Great Clips and ask for a free-haircut card to give a veteran.
  2. 11:00 a.m., Pause at the eleventh hour: Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, marking 11 a.m. on Nov 11, 1918. Join a local ceremony or take a moment of silence.
  3. Lunch, Take a veteran to lunch:Sizzler serves veterans a free lunch entrée until 4 p.m. You pay for your own meal.
  4. Afternoon, Share this list: Send this page to the veterans, service members, and military spouses you know.
  5. Dinner, Dinner out together: At Applebee's or Chili's the veteran's entrée is free. Dine-in only.

Tip: Most deals are dine-in only, so plan to sit down together.

Veteran: A full day of thank-yous

Stack the best Nov 11 offers into one easy day. Bring your VA ID card, DD-214, or veteran driver's license.

  1. 7:00 a.m., Breakfast at Denny's: Free Original Grand Slam, served 5 a.m. to noon.
  2. 9:00 a.m., Fresh haircut: Free cut at Great Clips or Sport Clips.
  3. 10:00 a.m., Free car wash:Grace for Vets has about 4,000 participating washes.
  4. 11:00 a.m., Moment of remembrance: Join a local ceremony at the eleventh hour.
  5. 12:30 p.m., Lunch:Rubio's buy one, get one with code VETS26, or a free In-N-Out burger meal.
  6. 2:00 p.m., Coffee and shopping: Free Starbucks coffee, then 30% off at Kohl's or 10% off groceries at Publix.
  7. 6:00 p.m., Dinner: Free Shrimp & Chips at Red Lobster or a free entrée at Applebee's. Ask Texas Roadhouse whether it's offering its meal voucher again this year.

Tip: Watch the clock: Denny's breakfast ends at noon, and most meal deals are dine-in only.

Active duty: Make the most of your day

Every stop here is open to active-duty members. Bring your military ID.

  1. 7:00 a.m., Breakfast at Denny's: Free Original Grand Slam, served 5 a.m. to noon.
  2. 9:00 a.m., Haircut: Free cut at Great Clips or Sport Clips.
  3. 10:00 a.m., Free car wash:Grace for Vets at participating locations.
  4. 12:30 p.m., Lunch: Free In-N-Out burger meal, or a free Sizzler lunch entrée before 4 p.m.
  5. 2:00 p.m., Plan your leave: Book a Breeze Airways flight Nov 10–16 for 15% off, or 25% off with WeSalute.
  6. 3:00 p.m., Shopping: 30% off at Kohl's on Nov 10–11, plus a free Starbucks coffee.
  7. 6:00 p.m., Dinner: Free entrée at Chili's or a free burger with bottomless fries at Red Robin.

Tip: Guard and Reserve members: In-N-Out and Red Lobster name you in their offers.

Spouse: A day for military families

These offers include military spouses and families. Bring your dependent ID.

  1. Morning, Coffee on the house:Starbucks includes military spouses in its free brewed coffee.
  2. Late morning, Shoes and more: 20% off at Rack Room Shoes and 30% off at Kohl's on Nov 10–11.
  3. Afternoon, Stock up:Publix takes 10% off groceries for military families.
  4. Afternoon, Book holiday travel:Breeze Airways is 15% off for immediate family on bookings Nov 10–16.
  5. 6:00 p.m., Dinner together:Bonefish Grill gives military families a free Bang Bang Shrimp entrée.

Tip:Target's 10% Target Circle discount usually opens to military families around this time. Watch for the 2026 announcement.

All Veterans Day 2026 Deals by Category

Fan favorite marks deals that appear in nearly every major roundup. Dine-in only and In-store only mark deals you can't use for takeout or online. Not yet announced for 2026 means the deal ran last year and is expected again.

Food & Dining

Free meals and restaurant deals. Most are dine-in only on Nov 11 and ask for proof of service.

  • Applebee's (Fan favorite): Free entrée from a special Veterans Day menu. Dine-in only. For veterans and active duty. Drinks and tip not included.
  • Bar Louie: Free burger (excludes the Big Louie). Dine-in only. For veterans and active duty. Nov 10–11.
  • Bob Evans: Free meal from a special menu. Dine-in only. For veterans and active duty. Valid service ID required.
  • Bonefish Grill: Free Bang Bang Shrimp entrée + nonalcoholic drink. For veterans, active duty and spouses & families. ID required.
  • Chili's (Fan favorite): Free entrée from a select Veterans Day menu. Dine-in only. For veterans and active duty. Participating locations.
  • Chipotle: Free chips + guac, queso blanco, or salsa with a $5 purchase. For veterans and active duty. Participating locations.
  • Denny's (Fan favorite): Free Original Grand Slam, 5 a.m.–noon. Dine-in only. For veterans and active duty. ID required.
  • Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Free combo-meal card. For veterans and active duty. Use the card through Nov 25.
  • In-N-Out Burger (Fan favorite): Free burger, fries, and drink + special-edition decal. For veterans, active duty and Guard & Reserve. Proof of service.
  • McCormick & Schmick's: Half-price entrée. For veterans and active duty. Sunday, Nov 8 only; Gold Star families included.
  • Red Lobster (Fan favorite): Free Shrimp & Chips. Dine-in only. For veterans, active duty and Guard & Reserve. ID required.
  • Red Robin: Free Red's Big Tavern Burger with bottomless fries. Dine-in only. For veterans and active duty. ID required.
  • Rubio's: Buy one entrée, get one free with code VETS26. In-store only. For veterans. Show military ID.
  • Sheetz: Free half-turkey sub and fountain drink. Not yet announced for 2026. Eligibility not yet announced. Ran last year on Veterans Day.
  • Sizzler: Free lunch entrée + nonalcoholic drink, until 4 p.m. For veterans and active duty. Tri-Tip, Malibu Chicken, or Crispy Shrimp.
  • Smashburger: Free All-American Smashburger. For veterans. Participating locations.
  • Starbucks (Fan favorite): Free 12 oz hot or iced brewed coffee. For veterans, active duty and spouses & families. Spouses included; participating stores.
  • Texas Roadhouse (Fan favorite): Free meal voucher: one of 10 entrées, two sides, and a drink. Not yet announced for 2026. For veterans and active duty. Expected Nov 11 at about 700 locations; voucher good through May 2027.
  • Torchy's Tacos: Free taco + drink. In-store only. For veterans and active duty. Proof of service required.
  • Yard House: Free appetizer. For veterans and active duty. Ask your server.

Shopping

Kohl's leads with 30% off on Nov 10–11. Rack Room Shoes takes 20% off, and Publix and Food Lion take 10% off groceries.

  • Academy Sports + Outdoors: 10% off your entire purchase. Not yet announced for 2026. Eligibility not yet announced. Last year ran through Nov 11.
  • Food Lion: 10% off. In-store only. For veterans and active duty. Nov 11; military ID and MVP card required.
  • Kohl's: 30% off. In-store only. For veterans, active duty and spouses & families. Nov 10–11; exclusions apply.
  • Publix: 10% off groceries. In-store only. For veterans, active duty and spouses & families. Nov 11; excludes Rx, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards.
  • Rack Room Shoes: 20% off. In-store only. For veterans, active duty and spouses & families. Veterans Day only; ID required.
  • Target: 10% off two purchases for verified Target Circle members. Not yet announced for 2026. For veterans, active duty and spouses & families. Usually runs about Oct 31–Nov 13.

Auto & Car Care

A free car wash on Nov 11 and discounts on brakes and oil changes.

  • Brakes To Go: 10% off brake service. For veterans and active duty. Veterans Day and all of November; show ID.
  • Delta Sonic Car Wash: Free wash, coffee, and fountain drink; $25 off oil changes. Not yet announced for 2026. For veterans and active duty. Oil change deal is for veterans and ran all November.
  • Grace for Vets: Free car wash. For veterans and active duty. About 4,000 participating washes nationwide.
  • Jiffy Lube: Up to 50% off oil changes; some locations free. Not yet announced for 2026. Eligibility not yet announced. Varies by location.
  • ZIPS Car Wash: Free Premier Wash with code VETS. Not yet announced for 2026. Eligibility not yet announced. Ran last year on Nov 11.

Travel

Breeze Airways is running a Veterans Day sale on flights booked Nov 10–16.

  • Breeze Airways: 15% off flights; 25% off for WeSalute members. For veterans, active duty, Guard & Reserve and spouses & families. 25% applies to bookings Nov 10–16; immediate family included.
  • Jefferson Lines: Free one-way or round-trip bus tickets. Not yet announced for 2026. Eligibility not yet announced. Last year ran about Nov 11–24.

Haircuts & Personal Care

Two national chains are giving free haircuts on Nov 11.

  • Great Clips (Fan favorite): Free haircut. For veterans and active duty. Other customers can request a free-haircut card to give a veteran.
  • Sport Clips: Free haircut. For veterans and active duty. Participating locations; $2 per paid cut goes to the VFW Help A Hero Scholarship.

Before You Go

Offers vary by location, and franchise stores may not take part. Call ahead or check the brand's website before you go. Bring proof of service, such as a VA ID card, military ID, veteran-designated driver's license, or DD-214.

Sources

Offers as listed October 27, 2026.