The Department of the Interior has released the 2021 dates when entry to 108 fee-based National Parks Service units will be FREE! The other 314 units are free to enter every single day. Sadly, the number of free days remains well below the 2016 highwater mark of 16 days, 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 18 (Monday) - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 17 (Saturday) - First Day of National Park Week
August 4 (Wednesday) – One year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
August 25 (Wednesday) - National Park Service Birthday
September 25 (Saturday) - National Public Lands Day
November 11 (Wednesday) - 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?
