The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at all of America’s national parks on Friday, in celebration of the anniversary of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. The Act, passed in 2020, has allowed for increased funding, expanded recreation, and infrastructure improvements in the National Park system and other public lands.
This waiver is one of five designated fee-free days throughout the year by the National Park Service. However, while the entrance to the parks is free, additional amenities inside the park, such as camping, boat launches, and tours, will still come at a cost.
There are over 400 park sites available to visit every day, including 63 officially designated National Parks. While many parks, recreational areas, and historical sites offer free entry daily, other parks, especially most National Parks, charge an entrance fee which can range from $5 per person to $35 per vehicle.
These fee-free days are intended to inspire Americans to explore the outdoor wonders of the vast National Park system, without the financial burden.
California boasts the most National Parks, with nine: Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Yosemite. Out of these, seven parks, excepting Channel Islands and Redwood, usually charge entrance fees.
If you miss the opportunity to visit a park this Friday, there are additional free entry days on September 23, National Public Lands Day, and November 11, Veterans Day.
For frequent visitors, the National Park Service offers an $80 annual pass that grants unlimited access to over 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that usually charge an entrance fee. Discounts are also available for senior citizens, active-duty military, disabled citizens, and families of fourth-grade students.