The National Park Service (NPS) will offer free entrance admission on five specific days in 2023, giving everyone free entry to all national parks.
The five free admission days are days of commemoration and celebration throughout the year. The NPS commits to increasing access to national parks and promoting outdoor recreation for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, according to a news release by the NPS.
The 2023 free entrance dates are as follows:
- January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 22 – First Day of National Park Week
- August 4 – Great American Outdoors Day
- September 23 – National Public Lands Day
- November 11 – Veterans Day
“National parks are really amazing places, and we want everyone to experience them,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “The entrance fee-free days encourage people to discover the beauty, history, and inspiration awaiting them in more than 400 national parks throughout the country.”
The service’s website, https://www.nps.gov/, and the NPS app will provide detailed information about the places to visit and activities at each park.
2021 saw 297 million visitors go to the national parks and spent $20.5 billion within local areas. This created 322,600 jobs across the nation and brought a $42.5 billion boost to the U.S. economy.
The majority of national parks are open to the public for free. Only about 100 of the more than 400 national parks charge an entry cost. In parks with an entry fee, it costs between $5 and $35, and the money is deposited with the National Park Service, with between 80 and 90% staying within the park where it was collected.
These funds will be used to improve the experience for visitors through providing activities and amenities, as well as habitat restoration, infrastructure upkeep, and repairs.
The waiver of free-day fees only applies to National Park Service entrance fees. It does not apply to expenses or charges for user services, camping boats, transport, boat launch, tours, or any other type of activity.
Annually, the cost of $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited access to over 22,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks, for the pass holder and any other guests accompanying them.
There are also discounted or free passes for current military personnel, members of the U.S. military and their dependents and military veterans, Gold Star Families, fourth graders, disabled citizens, and seniors.
The other federal management organizations offering their free days of service in 2023 are the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.