If visiting a national park is in your 2021 travel plans, mark these free-admission days on your calendar.
With international travel mostly out of the question this year, national parks became a big draw for Americans. For example, Yellowstone National Park saw a 20% increase in visits during September as compared to the same month in 2019. Visits for the year to all parks are down just five percent; pretty amazing, considering domestic travel was virtually halted for several months.
The National Park Service offered free entrance at all its parks for several days this year; it will continue the practice in 2021. On six dates in 2021, 108 national parks, monuments, historic sites, and preserves that usually charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Locations include Yellowstone, Saguaro National Park, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and many more popular attractions.
Here are the entrance fee–free dates in 2021:
- January 18
- April 17
- August 4
- August 25
- September 25
- November 11
The entrance fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for activities, such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.
If you want to visit more parks during 2021, you may want to buy an annual pass. The $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that charge an entrance fee. Further discounts on the pass are available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Check out my review of the Annual Pass here.
Twist’s Take: If visiting a U.S. national park is in your 2021 travel plans, mark these six free-admission days on your calendar.
