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Visit US National Parks for Free on These Days in 2017

Anthony Cofrancesco
Anthony Cofrancesco
Contributor
Since 2014 Anthony has been a hardcore points and miles enthusiast. His first points and miles trip was completed on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2014. Anthony used 13k Southwest RR miles on a round trip flight to Puerto Rico and 30k Wyndham points (earned from booking hotel rooms for the UF cycling team) to stay in a $900/ night suite at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. He’s been hooked ever since. In two years Anthony has accumulated 15 credit cards and spent nearly 1 million points. In 2015 he flew 71 times. Anthony’s current goal is to see every country in the world before the age of 25. When not feeding his wanderlust, Anthony is either cramming for finals at The University of Florida, tearing his legs apart on a long bike ride or getting lost in nature. Anthony has a wide range of professional experiences. He has completed internships with Amazon, Verizon and ThePointsGuy.com. While at the University of Florida, Anthony has conducted research in bumble bee entomology labs, served as President of The UF Cycling Team, competed across the globe on the International Case Competition Team, and allocated over $500k in funding as the President of The UF Sports Club Council.
March 11, 2017
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2 min read
Scenic View Of Layered Badlands
Visit US National Parks for Free on These Days in 2017
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One of America's greatest treasures is its vast network of 417 national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, preserves and conservation areas — with more than 84 million acres of protected lands throughout the US and its territories, adventure and discovery are never too far away.

And, as if you really needed another reason to visit, the National Parks Service (NPS) is offering free admission on certain days in 2017, including the weekends of April 15-16 and 22-23 in honor of National Park Week, August 25 (to celebrate the National Park Service's birthday), September 30 for National Public Lands Day and Veterans Day weekend on November 11-12 — you could have also gotten in free on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 16) and Presidents' Day (February 20).

Admission fees normally vary from park to park, with some of the most popular charging as high as $30 per car — we're looking at you, Grand Canyon National Park. Note that the free entrance days only get you into these participating parks and monuments and do not apply to additional charges for activities like camping, concessions or third-party tours. If you are planning a trip, consider staying at points hotels located just outside some of the most-visited national parks in the country.

These Grand Canyon colors can be all yours — for free. Image courtesy of Shahriar Erfanian, 41 Stories Photography via Getty Images.

In addition to the free days listed above, NPS offers complimentary admission to current US military members and their dependents, as well as US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Volunteers who log at least 250 hours with federal agencies also get in free, as do fourth grade students, who can score a free annual pass as a part of the Every Kid in a Park program. Seniors over the age of 62 who are US citizens or permanent residents are also eligible to purchase a $10 Lifetime Pass, which provides additional discounts on camping, swimming and other park-related services.

If you're willing to venture a little farther north, Canada is also letting folks visit its own national parks for free this year when you sign up for a free Discovery Pass.

Featured image by Getty Images/EyeEm