There’s nothing quite as stunning and scenic as the United States’ national parks and now, you can visit them without spending a penny. The National Park Service (NPS) is offering free admission to national parks, monuments, and sites that typically charge entrance fees for six days in 2021.
Out of the 423 NPS sites and parks, only 108 charge entrance fees, so there are tons that you can visit whenever you like without having to spend any money. For those that do cost money, which includes Grand Canyon, Zion, and Yellowstone, entrance fees range up to $35 per vehicle. About 80% of the money goes towards maintenance and habitat restoration and the other 20% goes towards the parks that don’t charge an entrance fee.
If you plan on visiting many national parks this year, you can get an annual pass for $80, which allows you to access hundreds of sites. Groups including U.S. military members and their dependents, U.S. fourth graders, and U.S. citizens with disabilities can get free annual passes. U.S. citizens over the age of 62 can get an $80 lifetime senior pass or a $20 annual pass.
Check out the six entrance fee-free dates below and for more information about these days, check out NPS’s website.
2021 National Park Free Days
January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 17: First Day of National Park Week
August 4: One-year Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 25: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
