We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have over 400 beautiful national parks and over 2000 federal recreation sites including national parks. Chances are, no matter where you live in the US you are within driving distance of a park or some kind of recreation area. Every year the National Park Service has free entrance days to all national parks. This year we have 6 free days. I like to share the dates every year because it’s such a great deal especially if you have a large family. Keep reading for the list of the 2024 National Parks Free Entrance Dates.
Reading over the list I was trying to count how many national parks that I’ve visited. I counted 11 or more, however, there are still so many parks that I would love to visit in my lifetime. I’ve been to some of the most beautiful parks in the country. Glacier, Yellowstone, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Haleakala National Park in Hawaii, and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. There’s just something about hiking in the rainforest with moss-covered trees or climbing up to waterfalls and glacial lakes. It soothes my soul and leaves me in awe of this magnificent planet.
Here are pictures I’ve taken in different national parks, Crater Lake National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, and Mt. Rainier National Park. Amazing places, the pictures don’t do them justice!
2024 National Parks Free Entrance Dates:
- January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 28: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Due to growing popularity, 11 parks require reservations in advance. Check the Park Website to see if the park you are visiting requires reservations.
We need to get out, the Pandemic took its toll. People are meant to be outside and breathe fresh air. Getting out and enjoying nature is the medicine we need. Take a drive into wide-open spaces or view amazing rock formations and volcanic lakes. Enjoy the absolute splendor and beauty that these parks have to offer.
Visiting parks at other times:
If you are visiting parks at other times the fees vary. Go to Entrance Fees by Park for the fee details for each park, they range from $10- $50 or more. If you and your family like to travel to several parks during the year you can buy the America The Beautiful Pass for $80. It gives you free access to all the parks for one year. The pass includes everyone in your vehicle so that is a budget-friendly way to go if you plan on visiting more than 1 park. A few years ago we visited Crater Lake National Park, we used our America The Beautiful Pass. It saved us $90 because the entrance fees were $30 for the vehicle and $15 per person, we had 4 people.
You will find several kinds of passes including Military, Senior, 4th Grade Pass which is part of the Every Kid Outdoors program. 4th graders and their families get a free pass to national parks for one year. Also, there is an Access Pass for residents with permanent disabilities. There are many budget-friendly options, go to America the Beautiful Passes for all the details and fees.
Just get out there!
My family and I have no excuses, we have the America the Beautiful Pass so we just have to get off the couch and get out there (safely) of course. I intend to add more parks to my list. Being out in nature reduces stress and contributes to our physical and emotional well-being and brings us closer together. It’s so good for kids to run and explore, learn, and ask questions about a new place or environment. So let’s all get out there as safely as we can and take advantage of the 2024 National Parks Free Entrance Dates. We’ve got 6 of them this year!
We love to travel and cruising is one of our favorite ways to see the world. We are very experienced cruisers so I put together 2 articles full of tips on how to book the best deal. Where to go, how to save money, and what to buy and not buy. These are a must-read if you are thinking about trying a cruise but you’re not quite sure how to start. The Best Money Saving Cruise Tips from an Experienced Cruiser and The Best Money Saving Cruise Tips Part 2.
Tell us below in the comments about some amazing national parks you’ve visited!
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