News Release

National Park Service Announces Fee-Free Days for 2018

Date: December 13, 2017
Contact: Katherine Belcher, [phone]

The National Park Service is inviting the public to experience all national parks, without entrance fees, on four days in 2018.

The entrance fee-free days for 2018 will be:

• 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

“Fee-free days in national parks allow visitors the opportunity to participate in service projects, enjoy ranger-led programs and explore uniquely wild and wonderful places like Denali National Park and Preserve,” said Don Striker, Denali superintendent.

Normally, 118 of the 417 national parks charge an entrance fee. The other 299 national parks do not have entrance fees. The entrance fee waiver for the fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation or special tours.

The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that charge an entrance fee. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.

The National Park System includes more than 84 million acres and is comprised of 417 sites, including national parks, national historical parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national battlefields, and national seashores. There is at least one national park in every state.

Last year, 331 million people visited national parks spending $18.4 billion which supported 318,000 jobs across the country and had a $35 billion impact on the U.S. economy.