by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:55 AM ET, Tue December 5, 2023
The United States National Park Service (NPS) announced it
would eliminate
entrance fees for six days in 2024 to make it easier for Americans to visit
the pristine properties.
The NPS revealed that more than 400 parks will be available
to everyone free of charge, providing the opportunity for visitors to explore a
new place or an old favorite, especially at one of the national
parks that typically
charge an entrance fee.
The days when travelers can visit the parks free of charge
include:
- January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 28: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
NPS officials said the entrance fee waiver for approved days
does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat
launches, transportation or special tours.
“If an entrance fee is a barrier to anybody visiting, we
want to be able to take that away on certain days throughout the year to
encourage people to go and visit a park maybe they’ve never been to before,” National
Park Service spokesperson Kathy Kupper told The Washington Post.
“The majority of national parks are free to enter every
day,” Kupper said. “Currently, there’s 109 of the 400-plus that have an
entrance fee,” Kupper continued.
For Americans who enjoy visiting national parks, the NPS
offers an annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass, which permits unlimited entrance to more than 2,000
federal recreation areas, including all national
parks that usually charge an entrance fee.
In addition, there are also free or discounted passes
available for senior citizens, current military members, families of
fourth-grade students and disabled citizens. The money from entrance fees
remains in the NPS, with at least 80 percent staying in the park where it was
collected.
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