If you’re looking to get free admission to National Parks this year here is a schedule for the year and how you can get a free pass for your family to visit all the parks too! Great program offered thru the government that allows students to sign up for a free National Parks pass their whole family can enjoy.
Did you know that you can get free admission to National Parks during certain days during the year PLUS your entire family can get in for free if you have a fourth grader!! That’s right, time your vacation or trip right and you could save the $25 entrance fee per park to visit it with your family! It is one of the money saving ideas we share on our road trip blog and will show you how to get your free pass here.
How many National Parks are free
108 out of 419 charge a fee to enter. That accounts for all of the “big ones” you probably have on your summer to do list this year. This is how to take free family vacations.
Free Admission Dates to National Parks
To encourage public access, the NPS designates several fee-free days each year, during which all national parks that typically charge an entrance fee waive it for all visitors. In 2024, these days are:
- January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 28: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
How do I get into National Parks for free?
If you have a 4th grader, a child going into 4th grade, or some years 5th grade is added, you can get a free National Parks pass for the year for your entire family here!
4th Grade Free National Parks Pass
We used it last and this year to visit 3 parks for free, that’s a savings of $80 right there! They even offered us a free Christmas tree for fourth graders this year.
Your child qualifies if they are going into the fourth grade. Since we had two kids right in a row we benefited two years in a row.
The voucher is turned it in at the first National Park you visit. Then they give you this card that is good for 12 months after that. Since it costs $30 to enter each park that is huge savings if you travel a lot with your family.
** If you are in the military you can get a free annual pass to visit all the National Parks, details are here.
Are any US national parks free?
Of the 425 sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS), more than 300 do not charge an entrance fee. The most popular spots though like Bryce Canyon Utah as well as the North Rim of The Grand Canyon you would have a fee to enter.
Our family loves taking trips and enjoyed one a few summers ago right outside Zion National Park at the Ponderosa Resort! It was not only a great place but when we took the day to visit Zion they provided us with a Free tram!
A great way to see the National Park so we could get on and off as we chose. It was a great vacation.
There are so many great places to visit all around the US.! This is a great way to check out one you’ve been thinking about because the entrance would be free!
If you’re traveling to Yosemite, here is our post about what to do when you’re there with kids. One of our best vacations yet!!
