U.S. National Parks Free Days 2018

Travelers hoping to save money while visiting U.S. national parks this year can take advantage of several designated fee-free days at these iconic sites.

The National Park Service will waive entry fees at all national parks for four days in 2018. Normally, 118 of the 417 national parks have a fee for entry, generally as low as $3 and as high as $30 for a normal visitor entry; 299 are free all the time.

The first chance came Jan. 15, or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. If you missed out, the others are April 21, the first day of National Park Week; Sept. 22 for National Public Lands Day; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.

The parks service also offers annual passes, including the $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass, which allows unlimited entrance to all the parks as well as 2,000 federal recreation areas. This is a great option for travelers planning a road trip that will hit multiple parks, or living close to some of these recreation areas and planning several visits over the course of a year.

The United States’ national parks system includes iconic places like Yosemite Valley, Yellowstone, Arches National Park and more.

“National parks connect all of us with our country’s amazing nature, culture and history,” said National Park Service deputy director Michael T. Reynolds in a statement. “The days that we designate as fee-free for national parks mark opportunities for the public to participate in service projects, enjoy ranger-led programs, or just spend time with family and friends exploring these diverse and special places.”