How to Visit National Parks for Free or Cheap

Wondering how to visit national parks for free or cheap? Go check out these useful tips!

Nothing says ‘summer’ quite like a road trip to a national park! Whether it’s the vast depths of the Grand Canyon, epic mountain views in Olympic, or watching the sunrise over Haleakala crater, there’s adventures to be found all over the country.

Now, of you’re wondering how to Visit National Parks for Free or cheap, you’re in luck! These 7 simple yet effective tricks will show you how to have an epic summer getaway on a budget.

So, what are you waiting for?! Keep reading to plan your national park getaway…

#1: National Park Free Entrance Days

The easiest way to save money while visiting the national parks is to visit on one of several free entrance days every year.

These dates include (in 2021):

• Martin Luther King Jr Day (January 18th)
• First Day of National Park Week (April 17th)
• Great American Outdoors Act (August 4th)
• National Park Service Birthday (August 25th)
• National Public Lands Day (September 25th)
• Veteran’s Day (November 11th)

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

#2: America the Beautiful Pass

This is the most common pass. For $80, you’ll have access to all of America’s national parks, sites administered by the National Park Service, and more.

Olympic National Park, Washington

#3: Military Pass

For active duty military members and veterans alike, the Military Pass is the way to go. As it’s free to get, you won’t need to pay to enter the national parks as long as you’ve got the pass on hand!

Yosemite National Park, California

#4: 4th Grade Pass

For any 4th Graders who want to explore more of their country, the 4th Grade Pass is the way to go. Available to public, private, and homeschoolers alike, this pass will enable them to explore anywhere from the Everglades to Denali.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

#5: Senior Pass

Retired, and want to explore? For $80, you can buy the Senior Pass. If you’re planning a grand road trip, especially out west, this will come in handy. As most national parks charge between $25-$30 for entrance nowadays, you’ll pay it off after visiting 2 national parks.

Think of it like this: if you spend a week in the Southwest, visiting Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce, you’ll have broken even. Then, you have the rest of your life to use it.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

#6: Access Pass

The Access Pass is for people who are disabled. It’s a free lifetime pass, so you’ll be able to explore the best of what the US has to offer for the rest of your life at no cost!

Zion National Park, Utah

#7: Volunteer Pass

The Volunteer Pass is for volunteers who have donated 250 or more hours to whichever organization it is they work at.

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Best National Parks to Visit:

• Arches
• Canyonlands
• Capitol Reef
• Bryce Canyon
• Zion
• Grand Canyon
• Petrified Forest
• Saguaro
• Joshua Tree
• Sequoia
• King’s Canyon
• Yosemite
• Lassen Volcanic
• Redwoods
• Olympic
• Haleakala

Now, looking for even more great travel tips? Go check these out below…

Most Incredible National Parks

Road Trip on a Budget

Best Campgrounds in the US

Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

California Road Trip Itinerary

Bucket List Trips

Don’t miss out!  Follow along with Never Ending Journeys for more fun Travel Tips and Ideas!

What are YOUR favorite national parks? And what are your best budget travel tips?

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