By Kacee Saturay, Donor Stewardship and Social Media Manager
As a new year approaches, the National Park Service (NPS) announces its fee-free days for the upcoming year. But what exactly does “fee-free” mean? For a handful of days each year, the NPS offers free entrance to national park sites that charge admission. With over 400 sites – including national parks, historic monuments, recreation areas, and more – admission is free for everyone. Whether you’re a first-time visitor at a park or a seasoned park fan, these fee-free days are a great way to celebrate and spend time in the parks.
Note that the waived fees do not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours. So be sure to plan ahead for those activities! One of my favorite things to tell first-time visitors of Washington’s national parks is that North Cascades National Park is one of the few sites nationwide that do not charge an entrance fee year-round! How lucky are we in Washington?
Learn about what each day means, why the NPS prioritizes it, and we’ll mention some opportunities for you to take advantage of during these days. Each year, we will update this list to reflect the dates that the NPS announces.
📅 January 15, 2024: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The National Park Service kicks off the year by celebrating Dr. King’s legacy. There are several sites across the nation that highlight his life, work, and the history he made during the Civil Rights Movement. Not only is it his birthday, but as a way to honor his legacy, it is one of the largest volunteer days of the year! You can join this widespread day of service by finding a project to volunteer at in the NPS event calendar at the bottom of this link.
Learn more & be inspired: Alongside our Washington national park partners, we aim to ensure that people of all backgrounds feel welcome, comfortable, and able to access the parks as truly, they are for all. Learn about our commitment to funding projects that embrace inclusion and find park stories that celebrate the voices of diverse life experiences and cultures.
🌲 April 20, 2024: First day of National Park Week
For the NPS, it’s an exciting week of discovering and celebrating what the parks have to offer across the country. This week typically aligns with Earth Day and the first day of the week is the fee-free day. There’s usually a theme for each day, celebrating initiatives and projects that the park service offers – like Junior Ranger Day, Volunteer Day, and so much more.
Learn more & be inspired: Did you know that 4th graders can visit public lands for free for an entire year? Make their junior ranger dreams come true by obtaining the pass at everykidoutdoors.gov. Head to our ultimate guide for the 4th grade pass, where you’ll find steps on getting your pass, how to use it, and year-round trip recommendations for Washington’s national parks!
🌲 June 19, 2024: Juneteenth National Independence Day
Juneteenth is one of the oldest known commemorations related to the abolition of slavery in the United States. Since June 19, 1865, enslaved people of African descent located in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom from the slavery system in the United States, nearly 2.5 years after President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day, cities with Black populations celebrate with a series of parades, family reunions, speeches, and so much more.
Learn more & be inspired: Visit the National Park Service’s website to learn about the origins of Juneteenth. This is a great starting point for finding more resources about Black history in the United States.
🌲 August 4, 2024: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
In 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was born, which was a monumental win for public lands across the United States! This legislation established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, which provides $1.3 billion per year for 5 years and preserves opportunities for recreation, education, and more across parks for future visitors. This act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other construction funding sources are part of a concerted effort to address extensive maintenance and repair backlog in national parks.
Learn more & be inspired: Speaking of providing support for national parks, WNPF is doing something similar for our parks closer to home. We have launched our largest campaign to date, going beyond funding annual projects to invest in the three parks for the long run. For critical projects in each of the parks, we cannot just rely on federal funding to make it all happen, which is why we have made it a goal to raise $20 million for Washington’s three national parks. To learn more about the projects and our progress, visit togetherfortheparks.org.
🌲 September 28, 2024: National Public Lands Day
Usually falling at the end of September, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is another large-scale day of service in the parks! Join forces with volunteers in your nearby park or in a park you’ve never visited and spend the day taking care of these beautiful spaces. The National Environmental Education Foundation is a great resource to find volunteer events happening in your area. Sign up for your next volunteer opportunity and celebrate the lands you love!
In recent years, Mount Rainier has held a large service day with opportunities for volunteers to get their hands dirty in trail work, meadow restoration, and much more. Fun fact, WNPF provides the largest amount of funding for this park’s volunteer program! In Olympic National Park, the Matt Albright Native Plant Center (also funded by WNPF donors) holds weekly drop-in volunteer hours. Visit this page for information on signing up.
Learn more & be inspired: We put together a comprehensive blog on the difference between national parks and national forests. Learn the quick facts and impress your friends on your next hike!
🌲 November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
National parks are tactile reminders and examples of the values, ideals, and freedoms that are fought for by members of the United States military. Veterans Day is a great time to see public lands and is also the final fee-free day of the year. Did you know that current US military members, veterans, and Gold Star families have free entrance to national parks through the Military Pass? Visit this page for steps on how to attain the Military Pass. On behalf of Washington’s national parks, thank you for your service!
Learn more & be inspired: WNPF Creative Partner and veteran, Nate Brown, ventured out for an ambitious objective called the Olympic Mountain Project, in which he climbed 30 iconic peaks in Olympic National Park. Watch his virtual field trip on what it takes to climb these peaks, all while supporting critical projects in the national park.
Visiting on a fee-free day, but still want to give back? Forego the entrance fee and consider donating the fee to support projects happening in the park that you’re spending time in! Your gift can improve your visitor experience, advance research, and so much more. You can make a direct impact by donating to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks today.
Cover photo by Kacee Saturay. This blog was updated on December 4th, 2023.