National parks are high on the list of popular destinations for family travel. These protected, treasured landscapes and natural wonders include Grand Canyon, Arizona; Yosemite, California; Zion and Arches, Utah; and the dramatic Maine coast at Acadia National Park.
If you take your family to visit these most popular parks or to others, including Yellowstone, Washington’s Olympic coastline, Grand Tetons in Wyoming, or Craters of the Moon in Idaho, you’ll pay admission fees of up to $35.
But budget-minded travelers can plan ahead for a free visit to any of the 108 national parks charging admission. On four days in 2023, all admission fees will be waived at all parks. The days are:
- April 22, first day of National Park Week
- Aug. 4, anniversary of Great American Outdoors Act
- Sept. 23, National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11, Veterans Day
The fee waiver applies to admission only, not for camping, commercially operated tours or outside concessions.
On any day of the year, you’ll find many other national parks and monuments that never charge admission. These include popular parks such as Redwood National Park, California; Hot Springs, Arkansas; New River Gorge, West Virginia: and North Cascades National Park, Washington.
You can also buy an annual Pass for $80, which admits your whole family to all parks, a bargain if you plan to visit three or more major parks in a year.
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