You can visit every National Park for free on Monday
If you've been itching to spend a day at one of the nation's more than 400 national parks, you're in luck: All National Park Service (NPS) sites will offer free admission on Veteran's Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Yes, even the ones that usually charge an entrance fee (we see you, Acadia).
In fact, this only happens five days a year. If you missed the free national park days for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, National Parks Week, the National Park Service's birthday and National Public Lands Day, this is your final chance to visit national parks that normally charge admission for free in 2019.
The only thing to keep in mind, though, is that the waiver doesn't cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation or special tours.
If you're a National Parks aficionado, and this one free day isn't enough, you should consider purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. For $80, you'll get unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, even if they normally charge an entrance fee. If you're a senior citizen, member of the military, family of fourth-grade students or disabled, you may also be able to get free or discounted passes.
Need a little inspiration to help you decide which parks to visit? Our top picks are Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, where you'll save $70 collectively; Zion and the Grand Canyon, where you can also save $70 by visiting both parks; and the Rocky Mountains and Great Sand Dunes, where you can save $60 on Monday. If you're still undecided, we put together this handy guide that will help you get the most out of this special day.
Of course, this isn't the only way tourists and locals can take advantage of free activities around the country. If you have a Bank of America, Merrill Lynch or U.S. Trust credit or debit card, you can take advantage of free admission to museums across the country on select weekends.
Feature photo by Chris Leipelt via Unsplash.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app