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All US National Parks Will Be Free This Saturday

News National Parks
by Eben Diskin Apr 16, 2021

The National Park Service is doing its part to encourage Americans to get outdoors. It’s waiving park entry fees six times this year, and one of those days is coming up this weekend — Saturday, April 17.

Saturday’s free entry day is in honor of the start of National Park Week, a weeklong celebration of the country’s natural beauty. While not all national parks charge for entry, those that do will be completely free on Saturday, making some of the United States’ most beautiful natural places accessible to everyone.

Although the parks themselves will be free to enter, activities within the park like tours, transportation, and camping will still retain their fees. The free entry, however, should make these fees more manageable.

National Park Week takes place from April 17 to April 25, with parks across the country hosting a range of programs, events, and digital experiences. According to the NPS, “Every April, during the presidentially proclaimed National Park Week, we join with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, to celebrate America’s treasures.”

Other national parks’ free entrance days this year include:

  • August 4 for the one-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
  • August 25 for the birthday of the NPS
  • September 25 for National Public Lands Day
  • November 11 for Veterans Day

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