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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — If you love exploring the outdoors at a cheaper rate, then mark your calendar for next year. The National Park Service recently announced the days in 2017 when entrance fees to all the national parks are waived.
There will be a total of 10 days in 2017 when the entrance fee is free. During these days, all National Park sites in the U.S. will waive their entrance fees for all visitors. However, other fees for amenities and user fees for camping will still apply. Here are the free entrance days:
- Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Feb. 20: Presidents Day
- April 15-16 & April 22-23: National Park Week weekends
- Aug. 25: National Park Service birthday
- Sept. 30: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11-12: Veterans Day weekend
Annual national park passes cost $80 and allow unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, according to the National Park Service. Free or discounted passes are also available for senior citizens, current military members, fourth-grade students and citizens with disabilities.
The National Park System includes more than 84 million acres and is comprised of 413 sites, including at least one national park in every state.
