Free admission to America’s national parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon may be one of the best perks of traveling. After all, America’s great outdoors is home to some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and important historical and cultural attractions. 109 of the country’s more than 400 national parks typically pay between $10 per person and $35 per vehicle to help the government fund maintaining space for millions of visitors annually. An admission fee of $1.99 will be collected. However, to make it more accessible to everyone, there are many programs that allow free admission to national parks and state-run facilities.
The National Park Service (NPS) selects a few days each year (about one day per season) to offer free admission throughout its network, including famous locations like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Great Smoky Mountains. NPS also offers lesser-known methods of free admission, such as volunteer programs. Many state parks across the country offer free admission to certain groups (such as children, seniors, and military), while others welcome all visitors free of charge.
Below, we’ll share all the tricks to get into national and state parks in 2024 without opening your wallet.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publication date.
How to get free admission to national parks in 2024
NPS offers numerous free admission days across the system each year, allowing access to 428 sites for all visitors.
The first date of 2024 is Monday, January 15th, which commemorates Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. The national holiday is also a day of service in national parks, where various service projects accept volunteers. This is a fitting tribute, considering Coretta Scott King once said: She said, “The greatest birthday gift her husband could receive is for people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate this holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.” Thing.”
The next free entry day is Saturday, April 20th, the first day of National Parks Week, a nine-day celebration that continues until April 28th. During the period, events and activities will be held to introduce the charm of the national park. .
The next day on the calendar is a new free admission day introduced this year, Wednesday 19th June, to celebrate National Independence Day on 19th June. The extra days mean that for the first time this year there will be six days of free entry to national parks (instead of the usual five).
The second free admission day of the summer season will be held on August 4th (which conveniently falls on a weekend this year) in honor of the anniversary of the Great America Outdoors Act.
And you’ll have two chances to get free admission to national parks in fall 2024 (ideal if you’re planning a fall foliage trip to Acadia or Shenandoah): National Public Park on Saturday, September 28th Earth Day and Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th.
Top 10 most searched national parks in 2023, according to Google Maps
Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion occupy the top three spots, but other popular destinations are noticeably unranked.
If these dates don’t fit into your travel plans, there are several other ways national park enthusiasts can gain free access throughout the year. One of his lesser-known programs is called Every Kid Outdoors, which gives fourth graders and their girlfriends’ families free access for their entire year. Eligible students must first fill out an adventure journal, after which they will be given a pass. Passes must be printed and presented at the entry point (digital copies are not allowed at this time). Aimed to expose elementary school students to the land and history of this country, this pass is available to families of fourth graders from September of the school year to August of the summer. Each pass allows a student and up to three adults to travel in the same private (non-commercial) vehicle. This pass is also available to home-schooled and free-choice learners aged 10 and over.
