Visiting national parks is an affordable way to have fun and relax. National parks offer camping and hiking opportunities that take your mind off work and the stresses of daily life. You may even learn a thing or two about nature, science, and history.
Some national parks are free all year while some charge entry fees. But there are a few ways to visit national parks that charge an entry fee for free.
How to visit national parks for free
Free entrance days
There are five days in 2022 when you can enter national parks for free. Those days are
January 17: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 16: First day of National Park Week
August 4: One year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 24: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
Here is a list of national parks that waive fees on free-free days.
Free Pass For Fourth Graders
Kids in fourth grade can get a free pass to visit national parks across the country. Starting September 1st of every year, fourth graders can go to www.everykidoutdoors.gov and print their paper passes. The pass is good until Aug 31 of the following year.
Borrow Free Passes From Your Library
You can borrow national park passes from many libraries, just like you can borrow books. Libraries usually have limited quantities of passes. If you have a flexible schedule, you will be able to get a free trip to a national park.
U.S Military Veterans And Gold star families Get Free Access
U.S. Military Veterans and Gold Star Families can visit national parks for free. Veterans will need one of the following IDs for access to the park.
- Department of Defense Identification Card (CAC Card)
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- Veteran ID Card
- Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card
