Get Free Entry to All National Parks in the United States!

In 1872, the United States became the first country in the world to establish a national park— at Yellowstone in (mostly) Wyoming. Now there are 63 national parks spanning 30 states, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands. Two-thirds of the parks charge an admission fee for visitors— unless you know these 5 ways to get free entry to all national parks in the United States. (Note children under the age of 16 are always free.)

The National Park Service administers several hundred sites throughout the United States, but this blog post is specifically about the 63 designated national parks. 

So What’s Unusual About the National Parks?

I do my best to highlight lesser-known travel destinations, experiences, and tips. And some of the ways to get free admission to U.S. national parks are largely unknown. 

But the parks themselves offer unusual opportunities, including:

• dog sledding at Denali NP (Alaska)
• the world’s longest cave system at Mammoth Cave NP (Kentucky)
• active volcanoes at Hawaii Volcanoes NP
• sand boarding at Great Sand Dunes NP (Colorado)
• whitewater rafting in Grand Canyon NP (Arizona) and Glacier NP (Montana) 
• scuba diving and snorkeling at shipwrecks in Biscayne NP (Florida)
• climbing giant sequoias with a rope and harness in Redwood NP (California) 

Five Ways to Get Free Entry to All National Parks

Adults (16+) can enter 21 national parks without paying a fee. But admission to the remaining 42 parks ranges from $10 to $35, either per person or per carload— unless you have a pass. At parks that charge by the carload, a pass admits all passengers in a single, noncommercial vehicle occupied by the pass holder. If the entry fee is per person, the pass admits the bearer and up to three guests aged 16+. But remember— children under 16 are always free.

Here are the five ways to get free  entry to all national parks in the United States. And if none of these work for you, keep reading to see if you or your companions qualify for discounted entry. 

1. Designated Free Days

In 2024, the National Park Service allows everyone to enter any national park for free on the following dates:

January 15, 2024
April 20, 2024
June 19, 2024
August 4, 2024 
September 28, 2024 
November 11, 2024

2. Active Duty Military, Veterans & Gold Star Families

Free annual passes are given to active duty service members and their dependents, either in person or by online request. And veterans and Gold Star Families with proper documentation receive free lifetime passes. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.

3. Fourth Graders

Fourth grade students (including home schoolers) throughout the United States are eligible to receive a free annual pass. Simply go to the “Every Kid Outdoors” website to obtain a voucher. Then exchange the voucher (in hard copy only) for a free annual pass at any national park. The pass allows the student and his/her family free access to all parks for the entire 4^th grade year and ensuing summer.  

4. People with Permanent Disabilities

US citizens and permanent residents with a permanent disability are entitled to a free lifetime pass. Applications are accepted in person, online, and by mail. And unlike most of the other passes, this one comes with the added benefit of discounts at some park-operated amenities. 

5. Volunteers

You can earn a free annual pass by volunteering at least 250 documented hours at any combination of sites managed by the:

• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Fish and Wildlife Service
• USDA Forest Service
• National Park Service
• US Army Corps of Engineers

Take as long as you need to earn the hours. Once you qualify for your first free pass, keep volunteering to earn additional passes in subsequent years. (Limit one per year.) For more details, visit the NPS website.

If You Must Pay… How to Save Money at National Parks

If you don’t qualify for a free pass, you may still save money with an $80 annual pass good at all the parks. First determine how many parks you plan to visit in a 12-month period. Then use the NPS website to calculate the sum of applicable entry fees and determine whether the $80 pass would save you money. Keep in mind— one pass admits either one carload or 4 adults (aged 16+), depending on the park.

Senior Discounts

Purchasers over the age of 62 get a lifetime pass for that same $80, or an annual pass for just $20. Visit the NPS website for more details.    

For the Overachievers

Feeling ambitious? In just one trip, you can easily knock out five stunning parks in Utah alone— Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion are three of my favorites. Each one is a photographer’s and hiker’s dream. And if time, energy, and funds permit, jump next door and tackle four more parks in Colorado!

California and Alaska have the most NPs, with nine and eight respectively— but they’re less easily visited in a single trip. Three of Alaska’s parks are accessible only by boat or plane— including Kobuk Valley NP, the least visited park in the entire country with about 3,000 annual visitors. (Great Smoky Mountains NP— the most visited— welcomed 13.3 million visitors in 2023.)

If you like a challenge but aren’t ready for a trip to Alaska, then Isle Royale NP (Michigan), Channel Islands NP (California), and Dry Tortugas NP (Florida), are also reached exclusively by water or air. The latter even has an interesting connection to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  

Plan Your Trip

For virtually everything you need to plan a trip, visit the NPS website. There you can explore the parks by state. Or search by theme— including wildflowers, dinosaurs, glaciers, volcanoes, caves, abandoned places, kid-friendly, and dozens more.  

The website also lists special events, road closures, and park-specific announcements. You can make vehicle reservations where needed and of course obtain passes. 

Final Thoughts

I’ve visited 8 national parks so far and loved every one— see the gallery below for photos. My “short” list of parks to visit next is growing by the month. But I’ve reserved my youth for the more distant and arduous international trips and will tackle the rest of the parks in retirement! 

Looking for a head start? You’re now armed with everything you need get free entry to all national parks in the United States— and to discover all the fun surprises they contain!

If you love the outdoors, be sure to check out my article about geocaching!