National Park Service to Offer Six Free Entrance Days in 2021

National Parks Free Entrance Days in 2021

In 2020, with international travel mostly out of the question, national parks became a big attraction for Americans. Yellowstone National Park for example saw a 20% increase in visits in September 2020 compared to 2019. Total visits for the year are down just 5%, which is much better than expected considering that even domestic travel was virtually halted for several months. The trend of looking at domestic attractions is excepted to continue at least onto early 2021.

The National Park Service offered free entrance at all its park for several days this year. And it will continue the tradition in 2021. NPS has announced six dates for 2021 when 108 national parks, monuments, historic sites, and preserves that usually charge a fee, will offer free admission to everyone. These sites include Yellowstone, Saguaro National Park, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and many more popular attractions.

Free Days

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2021:

• January 18
• April 17
• August 4
• August 25
• September 25
• November 11

National Park Service

There are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all the time. The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities. That includes things like camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

If you want to visit more parks during the year, then look for an Annual pass. The annual $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 normally charge an entrance fee. NPS also offers discounts for passes for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Learn more about the variety of passes offered by the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series.