National Park Service to limit fee-free days in 2018

The National Park Service announced it will offer four days without entrance fees in 2018. Last year, 10 days were offered without cost.

The 2018 fee-free days will be:

January 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day April 21 – First Day of National Park Week September 22 – National Public Lands Day November 11 – Veterans Day

Eliminated from the fee-free list were Presidents’ Day, 3 National Park Week weekends in April and one of two Veterans Day weekend days.

Normally, 118 of the 417 national parks charge an entrance fee. The other 299 national parks do not have entrance fees, according to the Park Service. The entrance fee waiver for the fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

“National parks connect all of us with our country’s amazing nature, culture and history,” said National Park Service Deputy Director Michael T. Reynolds. “The days that we designate as fee-free for national parks mark opportunities for the public to participate in service projects, enjoy ranger-led programs, or just spend time with family and friends exploring these diverse and special places. We hope that these fee-free days offer visitors an extra incentive to enjoy their national parks in 2018.”

The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that charge an entrance fee. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.

Other federal land management agencies offering their own fee-free days in 2018 include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.