The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that it will offer free admission to all visitors on five select days in 2023. This applies to the over 400 parks, monuments, seashores, and other NPS lands, including the nearly 100 sites that typically charge an entrance fee.
The first two free admission days of the year were January 16, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, and April 22, marking the first day of National Park Week.
The upcoming free admission day falls on Friday, August 4, which celebrates the anniversary of the Great Americans Outdoors Act (GAOA). Signed in 2020, the bipartisan GAOA was designed to improve visitor experiences, bolster climate resilience, and stimulate the economy by creating jobs at the parks, as detailed by the Department of the Interior.
While entrance fees will be waived on this special day, charges will still apply for overnight camping, cabin rentals, transportation, group day use, and use of special areas.
The two remaining free admission days for 2023 are National Public Lands Day on September 23 and Veterans Day on November 11.
In 2022, approximately 312 million recreational visits were recorded across 395 national parks that track attendance — an increase of 15 million visits from 2021. The most visited park was the Blue Ridge Parkway, with a record 15.7 million visits, surpassing the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by just over 72,000 visits.
These free admission days provide an excellent opportunity for everyone to explore and appreciate the United States’ rich natural heritage.