Every year, the National Park Service chooses some key holidays to allow free entrance into parks all across the United States. Today, the agency has unveiled the six days where entrance fees will be waived for 2024. 

“National parks are places that awaken senses, inspire curiosity, encourage reflection, and foster joy,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “The entrance fee-free days expand opportunities for people to visit their national parks and experience the beauty and history of our country.”

The entrance fee-free days for 2024 are:

• January 15 —  Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• April 20 — First Day of National Park Week
• June 19 —  Juneteenth
• August 4 —  Great American Outdoors Day
• September 28 – National Public Lands Day
• November 11 —  Veterans Day  

The chosen days are ones that honor our nation’s history and pay tribute to those who have helped shape the U.S. The fee waiver for the fee-free days applies only to National Park Service entrance fees and does not cover amenity or user fees for camping, boat launches, transportation, special tours, or other activities. 

And while many national parks have entrance fees most days of the year, more than 300 of the country’s more than 400 national parks are free to enter every day. The cost to enter parks with entrance fees ranges from $10 to $35. The funds remain in the National Park Service and 80 percent to 100 percent stays in the park where collected. The revenue supports visitor services, including enhancing accessibility, restoring wildlife habitat, and providing ranger programs, and adding or upgrading restrooms, campgrounds, trails, and other facilities.  

And, with at least one national park in every state and most major metropolitan areas, they provide close-to-home choices for recreation and inspiration.

If you want to make things even easier on yourself, the annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass covers entry at more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. There are also free or discounted passes available for current members of the U.S. military and their dependents, military veterans, Gold Star Families, fourth grade students, individuals with permanent disabilities, and senior citizens.