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Six Entrance-Fee-Free Days For National Park System In 2021

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By NPT Staff - December 5th, 2020

You'll be able to enter all national parks for free on six days in 2021/Rebecca Latson file

Six days in 2021 will be entrance-fee-free days in the National Park System.

The dates for 2021 are:

“Each of the fee-free days celebrates or commemorates a significant event, including the establishment earlier this year by President Trump of the Great American Outdoors Act. The legislation marks the single largest investment ever in national parks and will result in enhanced facilities and expanded recreational prospects for all visitors,” said Margaret Everson, the acting director of the National Park Service.

“Throughout the country, every national park provides a variety of opportunities to get out in nature, connect with our common heritage and experience the vast array of benefits that come from spending time outdoors. Hopefully the fee-free days will encourage everyone to spend some time in their national parks,” she added.

There are more than 400 National Park System sites nationwide, with at least one in every state. Approximately 100 charge an entrance fee, with costs ranging from $5 to $35. 

Earlier this year, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed Secretary’s Orders 3386 and 3387 granting veterans, Gold Star families and fifth graders free access to all national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federal lands managed by the Interior Department. Veterans and Gold Star families will have free access forever, while fifth-grade students were granted the reprieve through this academic year as some of last year’s fourth graders may have been unable to make full use of the Every Kid Outdoors Annual Fourth Grade Pass due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Active duty military and fourth-grade students will continue to have free access, with discounted passes also available for senior citizens. For other visitors who frequently visit public lands, the annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is an option that allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks.

Last year, 327 million people visited national parks and spent $21 billion in local communities. This supported 340,500 jobs across the country and had a $41.7 billion impact on the U.S. economy.

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