The Department of the Interior has released the 2018 dates when entry to 118 fee-based National Parks Service units will be FREE! Sadly, the DOI has cut the number of free days by half this year, but putting these on the calendar now can support budget friendly travel in the new year. This is especially so if you plan to visit parks with a $35 entry fee, like Acadia, Yosemite, Glacier, and others.
January 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 21 – First Day of National Park Week
September 22 – National Public Lands Day
November 11 – Veterans Day
Though, the best deal going for public lands is still to purchase the America the Beautiful pass for only $80. Find out more about this valuable pass here. We’d suggest looking at Avios, British Airways rewards program, and American Airlines Reduced Mileage Awards for getting to some of the more hard to reach parks like Glacier and Yellowstone. For a complete listing of parks that typically charge a fee for entry, click here.
As a reminder, any fourth grade student can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program that admits them and their family, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can also get free yearly passes.
Which parks and what dates are you thinking about?
Banner photo, Grand Teton National Park, by Derek Wright.
