Here Are the Six Days You Can Enter National Parks For Free in 2024
National parks across the United States are giving outdoor enthusiasts an extra reason to explore the great outdoors in 2024. The National Park Service (NPS) has expanded its popular entrance fee-free days from five to six dates this year, with the new addition honoring Juneteenth.
“National parks are places that awaken senses, inspire curiosity, encourage reflection, and foster joy,” said Chuck Sams, the NPS’s director. “The entrance fee-free days expand opportunities for people to visit their national parks and experience the beauty and history of our country.”
The first free admission day of 2024 is coming up on Monday, January 15, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, allowing visitors to explore national parks without an entrance ticket.
Here are the additional five free admission days for 2024:
- April 20, 2024: First Day of National Parks Week
- June 19, 2024: Juneteenth
- August 4, 2024: Great American Outdoors Day
- September 28, 2024: National Public Lands Day
- November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
If you can’t make it on these specific dates, more than 300 parks across the country offer free entrance every day. For those with entrance fees, costs range from $10 to $35. Importantly, the funds collected from entrance fees stay within the park, supporting essential services such as wildlife habitat restoration, facility upgrades, enhanced accessibility, and more.
It’s important to note that fee-free days apply exclusively to entrance fees. Additional services like camping, tours, and amenities may involve separate user fees.
