How to Plan a Free Trip to National Parks

Have you planned your free trip to the National Parks yet? Late in 2020, the National Park Service announced their 2021 free park dates.

If you haven’t made your travel plans yet, you still have the time to do so. As COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, making a getaway to the great outdoors might be the perfect plan for your new, less restricted year.

Over 400 National Parks in The United States

There are over 400 national parks in the United States, including the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon located in Arizona.

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Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park

Enjoy Free Trips to National Parks

National park admission fees usually range from $5 to $35 per vehicle. However, planning your visit around free admission days can help you save money.

The fee-free days provide you with great opportunities to visit a new place or an old favorite of yours.

The following are the free park dates for 2021:

  • January 18: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • April 17: First day of National Park Week
  • August 4: One-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
  • August 25: National Park Service Birthday
  • September 25: National Public Lands Day
  • November 11: Veterans Day

You should have in mind that the entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover your amenities. Also, they don’t cover your user fees for activities such as transportation, camping, boat launches, or special tours.

There are many National Park guides you can purchase and study before you head out. These guides give you ideas of where to go when to go, and what to do.

The expert guides are filled with helpful travel tips and beautiful national geographic photography. They also showcase the best experiences in the top national, state, and city parks throughout North America.

You can also search for national parks by county or by state using the Explore Parks tab on the National Park Service website. You’ll be amazed at how many sites you never knew were national parks right outside your door.

You can easily identify nearby daytime activities or plan ahead for long road trips. You’ll not be able to explore some parks in one day because many national parks are vast and wide.

The Everglades National Park in Florida is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and stretches over 1.5 million acres.

Also, the Wrangell- St Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest national park in the United States covering a massive 13.2 million acres.

America The Beautiful Passes offer discounts and package deals if you want to see all the sites and save money.

Passes are available for purchase through designated federal recreation sites and range in price from $80 for an annual pass to free for 4th graders.

More than 2,000 federal recreation locations, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests, are open to Gold Star Families and US military veterans for free.

The free access program is a way to say thank you to America’s veterans and Gold Star Families for their service. It’s also to encourage them to take advantage of recreational opportunities on public lands and waters.

One thought on “How to Plan a Free Trip to National Parks

  1. Free trips for Veterans and Gold Star families – certainly a good idea!

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