National Park Week is coming up — and that means free entry for visitors

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107403348 1713459398263 gettyimages 1267011681 getty p8082411 pano e

Visitors to national parks will get free admission on April 20 as the federal government waives entrance fees to commemorate the start of National Park Week. National Park Week runs for nine days, from April 20 to April 28. The National Park Service oversees 429 park sites in the U.S. Of them, 63 are national parks. The remainder are national monuments, national battlefields, and national historic sites, for example.

Most offer free entrance all the time. However, 108 parks don’t — including some of the most popular, like Grand Canyon, Zion, Rocky Mountain, Acadia, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree, and Glacier national parks. Their entrance fees — which typically range from $20 to $35 per vehicle — will be waived on April 20. Fee structures can vary: Some parks may charge per person instead of per vehicle, and there may also be different fees for motorcycles, for example.

April 20 is one of six days in 2024 when access is free to all national parks. They include:

– Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
– April 20: First day of National Park Week
– June 19: Juneteenth
– Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
– Sept. 28: National Public Lands Day
– Nov. 11: Veterans Day

There’s a caveat, however. While all parks may be free on these days, some still require an additional reservation for entry. Those reservations generally come with an extra fee.

Additionally, it may make financial sense for visitors to buy an annual national park pass even if they plan to visit during a free entrance day, depending on the trip itinerary. The $80 annual pass grants unlimited entrance to national parks and other federal recreation areas. Some groups can get reduced-price or even free annual passes. For example, a pass would likely be a better option if you plan to visit multiple parks in one trip. “You want to do the math,” a travel advisor advised.

On August 8, 2020, visitors to Yellowstone National Park can enjoy free admission as the federal government waives entrance fees to celebrate the start of National Park Week. National Park Week runs from April 20 to April 28 and offers free entrance to all 63 national parks in the U.S., among the 429 park sites overseen by the National Park Service. While most parks offer free entrance all the time, popular parks such as Grand Canyon, Zion, Rocky Mountain, Acadia, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree, and Glacier usually have entrance fees ranging from $20 to $35 per vehicle, which will be waived on April 20.

In addition to April 20, there are five other days in 2024 when access to national parks is free, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Juneteenth, the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day. However, visitors should be aware that some parks may still require additional reservations for entry, which may come with an extra fee. For example, Yosemite National Park in California requires reservations for peak hours on certain days, and visitors must make online reservations in advance for a fee of $2, valid for three consecutive days.

It may be more cost-effective for visitors to buy an annual national park pass, costing $80, even if they plan to visit during a free entrance day, especially if they intend to visit multiple parks in one trip. Some groups may qualify for reduced-price or free annual passes, so it is important to calculate the potential savings based on the trip itinerary. Ultimately, taking advantage of free entrance days and utilizing annual passes can help visitors explore the natural beauty of national parks without breaking the bank.

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