During coronavirus, outdoor adventures and national parks have kept us sane. Want to get some fresh air at one of our country’s most treasured sites? A week from today on Monday, Jan. 18, you can get into any of America’s national parks for free in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. And there are five other days throughout the year you can get in free, too!
Read: U.S. National Parks are Reopening; Here’s What You Need to Know
The U.S. is packed with some incredible national parks that showcase the country’s diverse beauty – and there’s at least one park in every state. There’s the Grand Canyon in Arizona, an unbeatable collection of parks like Zion and Canyonlands in Utah, the tranquility of Glacier National Park in Montana, Yosemite in California, and so much more.
The U.S. has 63 national parks you can access for free on these days, like Bryce Canyon in Utah.
Thrifty Tip: Did you know that fourth graders (and their families) can get into all national parks free for an entire year?
But free entry goes beyond those major national parks, as it also extends to all 400-plus sites that the National Park Service manages. Entrance fees at national parks typically range from $20 to $35.
Next Monday is just one of six fee-free days for 2021:
- Jan. 18: Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 17: Start of National Park Week
- Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Aug. 25: National Park Service Birthday
- Sept. 25: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day
These fee-free days are worth capitalizing on if you’re nearby or making a road trip to a national park. But if your plans don’t line up with these free days and you’re planning to hit several national parks this year, take a look at into the year-long America the Beautiful national parks pass.
At $80 for the annual pass, you’ll start saving money after visiting just three or more national parks.
Got some points and miles to use up? Here’s how to do a National Parks road trip completely on points and miles.
Looking for a cheap flight to get you to your bucket list parks? We’ve been seeing flight prices drop on national parks destinations during coronavirus. Yep, even to places like Crater Lake in Oregon!
Bottom Line
Our national parks are special places. There’s so much to see in our own backyards, especially during a time where domestic travel and enjoying the outdoors are our best bets for travel. Take advantage of this opportunity to get into any park for free tomorrow – or plan ahead for 2021.