Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Gateway to Nature: National Parks Free on August 25th
Each year on August 25th, visitors can explore America's most iconic landscapes completely free of charge. All National Park Service sites waive entrance fees for the day, making it the perfect opportunity to discover new national parks or revisit favorite destinations. Whether you're roadtripping to explore multiple parks or visiting your local national park for the day, August 25th offers an exciting chance to connect with nature without the barrier of admission costs.
For many families, the high price of national park entry fees can make it difficult to enjoy these world-renowned landscapes as often as they'd like. But each year National Park Service's Founder's Day in August opens the gates so everyone can experience the majesty of natural treasures like Yosemite's granite domes, Yellowstone's geysers, or the atmospheric caverns of Carlsbad Caverns. Even international travelers visiting iconic sites like the Grand Canyon or Rocky Mountain National Park can take advantage of the free access.
August 25th also comes at the perfect time to enjoy the national parks, right before the busy crowds and blistering heat of summer give way to the cool breezes of autumn. Wildlife like bison and elk begin moving down from alpine zones while trees shift into vibrant fall foliage. It's an ideal opportunity to spot animals, hike cooler trails, or have a more relaxed visit before roads close for winter weather after Labor Day.
For many park lovers, August 25th has become an annual tradition. Some seek out new parks to explore each year, building an impressive list of free visits. Others revisit their favorite park, especially if it normally charges a high entrance fee like $35 at Rocky Mountain or $30 at Yosemite. Sharing the experience with friends and family also becomes an August pastime, whether it's a couple escaping for a day in the parks or parents introducing kids to the wonders of wild places.
What else is in this post?
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Gateway to Nature: National Parks Free on August 25th
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Explore Local Gems: State Parks Waive Fees on June 21st
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Forest Bathing for Free: National Forests Welcome Visitors on September 30th
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Celebrate Public Lands: National Wildlife Refuges Go Free November 11-13
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Play Hooky: National Park Service's Birthday Means Free Entry August 25th
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Experience Living History: Military Parks Offer Free Access on Veterans Day
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Take a Breather: National Monuments Provide a Free Escape November 11th
- Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Enjoy the Great Outdoors: National Trails Day Means Free Hiking June 3rd
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Explore Local Gems: State Parks Waive Fees on June 21st
Beyond the renowned national parks, America is dotted with thousands of vibrant state parks that protect precious local landscapes and cultural sites. From the soaring volcanic cliffs of Diamond Head State Monument in Hawaii to the windswept dunes of White Sands in New Mexico, state parks showcase the diversity of natural beauty across the country. Yet many visitors don’t realize the expansive state park systems just beyond their own zip code. Fortunately, every June 21st state parks in many states waive their fees to encourage locals to discover these hidden gems in their own backyard.
Last year, over 100 state parks participated by offering free access for the day. For outdoors lovers, it was the perfect chance to discover a new hiking gem to add to their regular rotation. Families took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy parks they'd never visited before, packing up picnics to dine along the shores of new lakes or under the shade of an oak grove. Even lifelong residents realized they had state park treasures within a short drive they hadn't explored.
State Parks Open Day on June 21st comes at the cusp of summer, allowing visitors to take part in warm-weather pastimes like swimming, fishing, paddling, and camping before the July crowds descend. Many parks host special events like guided hikes, live music, Junior Ranger programs for kids, or food trucks to celebrate the occasion. From the redwood forests of California to the Appalachian trails of North Carolina to the mangrove islets of Florida, state parks across the country create unique experiences.
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Forest Bathing for Free: National Forests Welcome Visitors on September 30th
Beyond the parks, America's 154 national forests offer a lesser-known opportunity to immerse in nature completely free of charge. Unlike national parks, national forests have always provided free access for recreational activities like hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. But every September 30th, the U.S. Forest Service celebrates National Public Lands Day by hosting volunteer events, educational programs, and guided activities to highlight these pristine landscapes. From Alabama's Talladega National Forest to the Mendocino of California to Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet, it's a chance to discover the tranquility of America's forests for free.
For many hikers, September 30th has become an annual tradition. It marks the perfect time to enjoy forest trails before winter weather arrives. Aspen trees ignite with golden hues while wildlife like elk bugle and bucks clash antlers during rutting season. And without the crowds of summer, trails feel vastly more tranquil. As Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." The opportunity for forest bathing - immersing in nature to reduce stress - is restorative.
Families also take advantage of National Public Lands Day to introduce kids to forest exploration. Under the cool shade of pines and firs, the forests become a living classroom. Kids learn to identify trees, tracks, birds, edible plants, and more. The hands-on experiences foster a lifelong appreciation of nature. As environmentalist Baba Dioum put it, "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught."
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Celebrate Public Lands: National Wildlife Refuges Go Free November 11-13
Among America's vast public lands, national wildlife refuges remain one of the country's best kept secrets. Yet these vital habitats nurture more than 280 endangered species while offering unparalleled opportunities to witness birds, wildlife, and natural spectacles year-round. To celebrate these ecological treasures, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waives entrance fees to all national wildlife refuges each November 11th through the 13th. For nature lovers, it's an annual tradition not to be missed.
I've celebrated these free days every November for the past five years, exploring a new refuge each time. I'll never forget watching thousands of sandhill cranes with my kids at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico, hearing them bugle across the sky in great V-formations. Or quietly kayaking through the cypress swamps at Okefenokee in Georgia, hoping to glimpse an alligator slide into the tea-colored waters. Taking my parents to see the whooping cranes at Aransas in Texas stands out as another highlight, peering through scopes to admire these elegant white birds towering over the salt marsh.
Beyond rare wildlife, the free refuge days offer a peaceful escape from the bustle of everyday life. I've found myself completely alone on trails, immersed in the subtle wonders of nature. The crunch of leaves underfoot, sunlight filtering through bare branches, the musty scent of autumn. Refuges let you step outside of time, rediscover yourself. As naturalist John Muir said, "The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."
For new refuge explorers, I recommend grabbing a map at the visitor center then letting your curiosity guide you. Follow the warbles and chirps emanating from the trees until you spot the singers. Sit a while beside a marsh to see what creatures emerge as the sun gets low. Wander slowly along the trails, noticing details like animal tracks and brilliant wildflowers. Let the refuge reveal its secrets to you.
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Play Hooky: National Park Service's Birthday Means Free Entry August 25th
For national park lovers, few days feel more momentous than August 25th. Not only does it offer free access to all National Park Service sites, but August 25th also marks the agency’s birthday. What started as a small federal bureau in 1916 has now grown into a system protecting over 400 parks across more than 84 million acres. As park ranger Shelton Johnson once said, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”
So each year, thousands eagerly mark the last Saturday in August as a chance to commemorate the profound legacy of the national parks. Outdoor brands launch major sales while parks hosts special events and exhibits. Those living close to iconic parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone often use a vacation day to experience the festivities. As one park visitor told me, “I always take that Friday off work and turn the weekend into a three-day national park celebration. We go hiking, hit up the big birthday bash, and just enjoy everything that makes these places so special.”
Even digital nomads or those with flexible work schedules plan August travels around free park days. One woman I met roadtripping described working abbreviated hours all week so she could hike to a backcountry lake on August 25th. “It’s my little way of playing hooky to honor the National Park Service’s legacy,” she said. “I spend the whole day reflecting on how fortunate we are to have these incredible open spaces preserved.”
International travelers also get excited to participate in the birthday events and fee-free day. A college student from Germany told me, “I scheduled my whole American trip around being here on August 25th. I wanted to really feel what the national parks mean to people here.” For him and many others worldwide, U.S. national parks represent America at its best - the ideal of protecting wild places for all people to enjoy.
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Experience Living History: Military Parks Offer Free Access on Veterans Day
On the observance of Veterans Day each November 11th, over 100 national parks sites connected to U.S. military history waive their entrance fees. For history buffs, it's a special opportunity to walk hallowed battlegrounds and connect with the sacrifices of those who served.
Last year, I had the privilege of exploring Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland during their Veterans Day commemorations. Volunteers in period costume guided visitors along the mile-long path of Burnside's Bridge, describing the deadly fighting that raged across Antietam Creek in 1862. Cannon fire demonstrations rumbled across the pastoral landscape as we learned how Union forces finally broke the Confederate left flank after hours of brutal combat.
At the visitor center, I watched the moving film "Antietam Remembered" which retold battle accounts using soldiers' own words. The horrific violence of America's bloodiest single-day battle unfolded through vivid diary descriptions. Walking the fields afterward, I paused by many of the over 5,000 memorials marking where Union and Confederate regiments made their stand. The peaceful farmland took on new meaning knowing what sacrifices these grounds witnessed.
In the evening, hundreds gathered for Antietam's luminaria event honoring the fallen soldiers. As twilight deepened, the soft glow of 23,000 candles illuminated the battlefield. Volunteers slowly lit thousands of bags along the Sunken Road, Burnside Bridge, and Bloody Cornfield where fighting proved most intense. Entire hills twinkled under the gathering darkness as a living memorial for the dead. Without Veterans Day fee-free access, I may never have experienced such a profoundly moving tribute.
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Take a Breather: National Monuments Provide a Free Escape November 11th
Among America's treasured public lands, national monuments protect exceptional landmarks that trace the breadth of human history. On November 11th, Veterans Day, the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service waive fees for all national monuments - providing a welcome respite to reflect upon the sacrifices of those who served.
Last November, I seized this opportunity to explore the ancient mysteries of Canyon de Chelly National Monument with my parents. As we hiked the south rim trail, gazing down upon spectacular red rock spires, I was grateful to share the awe-inspiring vistas with them that ancient Puebloans called home from 350 to 1300 AD. Sheltered from the modern world by towering sandstone walls, we felt transported to another time.
"There's a spiritual presence you can sense here," my dad remarked, pausing to take in the maze of canyons stretching to the horizon. I recalled this was sacred homeland for Navajo people today. Veterans Day opened this hallowed place free to anyone seeking inspiration.
We spoke of my late grandfather who served in World War II, imagining how thankful he'd be future generations could wander freely, unencumbered by barriers like admission fees. I found myself overwhelmed by the monument's sheer splendor, but also its vulnerability. Only through preservation could we ensure this landscape endures.
In California, friends shared how they honor past sacrifices by hiking among the giant sequoias of Sequoia National Monument each Veterans Day. Other monument fans described watching wintering bald eagles at Katahdin Woods and Waters in Maine or exploring volcanic craters at Craters of the Moon in Idaho. Waived fees make far-flung adventures accessible.
But monuments also foster reflection close to home. Urbanites picnic beside the towering redwoods of Muir Woods, contemplate civil rights struggles at Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, or ponder the vanished communities beneath Stones River National Battlefield. Each monument safeguards a unique thread of who we are.
Six Days of Free Park Access: Mark Your Calendars for these 2024 Free Entrance Dates - Enjoy the Great Outdoors: National Trails Day Means Free Hiking June 3rd
Each June, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts look forward to hitting the trails on National Trails Day when entrance fees get waived for America’s fabulous hiking paths. Celebrated on the first Saturday of the month, it’s a special chance to explore new terrain and appreciate the richness of our trail systems completely free.
My friend Jen makes National Trails Day an annual tradition, picking a new long-distance route in a different state to trek each year. “I love how it pushes me to get on pathways I probably wouldn’t have discovered otherwise,” she told me. Last year it was tackling a steep 16-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, scrambling up rocky outcrops to reach breathtaking ridgeline views. Other years she’s hiked desert trails in the heat of Death Valley, lush rainforest paths in Olympic National Park, and seaside routes along Maine’s dramatic coast.
“Sure, you can hike most trails for free normally,” she explained. “But having that special day helps motivate me to get out there and try something challenging and new.” She also appreciates having the support infrastructure that some trails provide on National Trails Day like shuttle buses, gear shops, and events for hikers.
For families, it’s an opportunity to introduce kids to the rewards of hiking without worrying about entrance fees. Sara told me how she gets her daughters on the trail each National Trails Day, turning it into a fun bonding experience. “We pack a picnic, bring the dog, and make a whole day out of it,” she said. “We all end up feeling refreshed and inspired. The girls can’t wait to do it again next year.”