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Enjoy Free Admission to National Parks for National Park Week!

Enjoy Free Admission to National Parks for National Park Week!

In celebration of National Park Week, the US National Park Service is suspending admission fees, allowing you a way to enjoy all that the nation’s parks have to offer at no cost. Free admission to national parks is available April 16-24.

There are 58 national parks in the United States, ranging from Maine’s Acadia to Alaska’s Denali to Haleakala National Park in Hawaii. The greatest concentration of parks is found in the American Southwest. More than just hiking and camping, these vast wildernesses offer a wide range of activities for people of all ages.

Lassen Volcanic National Park feature
Photo from Yang Liu/Unsplash

Take an art class at Yosemite, or sled down sand dunes in Great Sand Dunes Preserve in Colorado. Coastal parks like Channel Island in California offer whale and dolphin spotting, while in Texas’ Big Bend you can take a dip in the hot springs, reputed for their healing powers. And if good old hiking and camping are still on your agenda, how about a beachfront campout at the Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland, or a moonlit hike in Bryce National Park in Utah? Bryce’s unusual sandstone spires, known as hoodoos, make full moon nighttime hikes amazingly popular.

While admission costs are waived, there may still be fees for backcountry permits and overnight camping, so inquire ahead. Cutting out the entrance fee could save you between $3 and $30.

Don’t worry if you won’t get a chance to hit up the parks this coming week. Free admission to national parks is going to available again August 25-28, as part of the celebration marking the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. Other days you can enjoy the parks and save entrance fees are National Public Lands Day on September 24, and Veterans Day on November 11. Don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy our nation’s most beautiful lands on Uncle Sam!

Featured Image from Dave Herring/Unsplash