It is 2023! Make this year the year that you will get outside more, hike more, and enjoy the natural beauty around us more. And there is no better way of doing this by visiting one of the 400+ national parks for FREE. National parks are definitely one of our top favorites when traveling around the U.S. Therefore take a few days off to enjoy the natural beauty surrounding you with your loved ones, and families.
In this article, we will show you many ways of visiting your national parks, plus more than 2,000 federal recreational sites at no cost.
If you are qualified for one of the “America The Beautiful” Passes, you can obtain the eligible passes in person by visiting a federal recreation site in person, or purchase online at USGS online store.
- National Park free entrance days
- Every Kid Outdoor Act which benefits 4th graders and their families
- U.S citizens or permanent resident with permanent disability
- U.S. military service members and their dependents
- U.S. military veterans
- Gold Star families
- Eligible National Park Service/Federal Interagency Volunteers
National park fee free entrance day
There are more 420 national parks, and only 110 have entrance fees. That means majority of our national parks are FREE every day of the year. Here is a LINK to the list of the national parks by state which normally has a entrance fee.
Following are the dates that are FREE to everybody in any of the national parks!
- January 16: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 22: First day of National Park Week
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 23: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Every Kid Outdoor Act for eligible 4th Graders and their families
In 2020, Congress passed the Every Kid Outdoor Act which enables all 4th graders plus their family members attending schools in the U.S. and home-schooled learners and resides in the United States free access to more than 2,000 public lands and waters including the national parks for the entire year beginning on September 1st, and ending on August 31st.
Click on this LINK to get your pass today!
U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disability
The National Park Services offers a free life-time pass to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). The Pass is good for for more than 2,000 public recreational lands and water sites managed by the five federal agencies.
You can learn more about the ” America The beautiful-Access” Pass at this LINK.
Active duty U.S. military service members and their dependents
Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members can qualify for the ” America The Beautiful-Annual Military Pass” while on active duty. Just bring your current photo ID to any federal recreation sites to get your pass.
More details on this pass is available at this LINK.
US military veterans and Gold Star families
As is should! US military veterans, and Gold Star families with a Gold Star Voucher are eligible for the lifetime “America The Beautiful-Military” Pass. Forms of eligible identifications, and more details can be found on this section of the National Park Service website.
Eligible Federal Interagency Volunteers
Volunteers who have more 250 hours of volunteer services with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program are eligible for the ” America The Beautiful-Volunteer” Pass. Contact your volunteer service coordinator for application, or go to the LINK here for more information on how to become a volunteer.
