2011 free admission days to National Parks kicks off with National Park Week April 16 – 24
By Jeremy Branham on Apr 11, 2011 with Comments 21
Now that the budget crisis has been resolved for this year, our national parks will continue to remain open. That’s great news as this week celebrates National Park Week at nearly 400 national parks across the nation. So get free admission to national parks this week.
Go hiking in Yosemite. Visit Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Enjoy the views at the Grand Canyon. Hike the Appalachian trail. Find out what prison was like with liberty just outside your window at Alcatraz. Pay respects to our Presidents at Mount Rushmore. Visit Lady Liberty at the Statue of Liberty. Or explore a number of historical monuments, war memorials, or some fun in the outdoors. Wherever you choose to visit, celebrate National Parks Week April 16 – 24 and enjoy free admission. And check out why we can thank John Muir for the US National Parks.
Want to volunteer and help out at a national park? April 16 is Volunteer Day where you can lend a helping hand to numerous projects at your favorite national park.
April 23 is Junior Ranger Day where kids who enjoy science, history, and art can get involved in programs that will interest them and get them active in their local national park. Check out what park are offering programs for your kids.
Free admission to national parks in 2011
National Park Week is the big kickoff to free admission days to national parks in 2011. However, if it’s still too cold or you aren’t able to visit this week, there are a number of other dates for free admission to national parks this year.
- June 21 (First day of summer)
- September 24 (Public Lands Day)
- November 11 – 13 (Veterans Day weekend)
While these dates are perfect for those who love budget travel, many of these weekends may draw lots of crowds. That’s great for our national parks. However, many national parks don’t charge admission on any days of the year!
So whether it’s National Parks Week, free admission day to national parks, or any other day of the year, get out and enjoy the outdoors, museums, and historic sites that this country has to offer.
What national parks are you visiting this year? What is your favorite national park? In honor of National Parks Week kicking off this weekend, share your favorite memory or photo!
 |
|
Filed Under: Travel News • Travel Tips
I'm Jeremy Branham and I love to travel. Check out my travel stories, guides, sports travels, and adventures.
I love this! I’ve never heard of National Parks Week before. It’s awesome that they give free admission on certain days of the year too. (The costs are usually very affordable anyway.) I was at the Grand Canyon a little over a year ago and, like always, was blown away by its magnificence.
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Photo Essay- Windows of the World
With the Grand Canyon, you have to be careful! Not sure if you can tell in that photo but it was a little windy that day. You can be blown away literally!
This is great! I love visiting our National Parks and free admission makes this such an easy and fun thing to do!
Wish I lived within driving distance of a park that charged or I would take advantage of this. Another great way to bypass charges is come during winter when there is no one at the gate.
Ted Nelson recently posted..Bach Ma National Park near Hué- Vietnam
awesome post jeremy! i may have to take the chinook somewhere to take advantage! i should at least finally go to alcatraz! seems i’m always doing that stuff somewhere else and never seeing the sites at home. that’s going to change.
Lorna – the roamantics recently posted..Cute Green Creen! Buying a Creen House on Wheels
Sweet! Never knew about this.
Roy | cruisesurfingz recently posted..7 Habits Of Highly Effective Travel Blog Stalkers
Yay for National Parks staying open. I usually avoid free NP days since the parks do tend to be more crowded than usual but I’m glad others can take advantage of the event to enjoy our great park systems!
jill- Jack and Jill Travel The World recently posted..An Ode to the Murdered Nevada Shoe Tree
Wonderful idea and a great post!
robin recently posted..Viento
We have some great National Parks. You don’t have travel far to be in awe of mother nature. Love the idea of free entry every once in a while. My favorite park? Yellowstone!
Yellowstone is on my list of parks I want to see. Little nervous about the bears though! Still remember the attack from last year. However, it’s a fascinating place and high on my list to visit. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been in California 10 years now and have yet to visit Yosemite!
Hi Jeremy, Free entry to all the national parks in the US sounds pretty cool! Is that just for US citizens? Or do international visitors get free entry too? If so, that is a great reason to time a trip to the State around national park week!
Tom, with National Parks Week or any of the free admission days, you don’t have to show any ID. It’s free to everyone no matter where you are from!
That’s fantastic. It’s a bit late for me to get out to the US this year, but certainly one to think about next year! Thanks!
I’m tempted but yes it still is too cold for a tropical girl like me. I have been wanting to visit Yosemite forever and I vow to do so prolly a little around end of August. Have you been Jeremy? Any tips on where to go and stay-there are so many choices?
Grace recently posted..Llama foetuses- naked ceramic couples and other witches’ trinkets
had no idea about this, so thanks for the heads-up. especially considering we are both in the states at the moment. going to have to hit some up!
jamie – cloud people adventures recently posted..Hike at Wilsons Promontory
So glad that the shutdown was averted and the parks weren’t closed. It’s wonderful that they are free for a time!
Andrea recently posted..Argentina Rocks- New Travel Day Rising
@Robin – I need to see more of our national parks!
@Grace – As I admitted to Ben, I’ve been in California for 10 years now and have yet to visit Yosemite! No tips from me but I really want to go!
@Lorna – Have fun with the chinook! Now is a great time to get out and explore the area where we live. I was actually looking at national parks close by for this weekend and looked at Alcatraz as well. As many times as I have been to SF, I’ve never been!
@Jade – yes, national parks are great. I love the outdoors, peace, quiet, and nature!
@Jill – I have to agree with you. I hate the crowds as well. One thing to keep in mind which was nicely done here for National Parks Week – it is also Spring break for many kids as well so a great time for families to head out on vacation. So yes, it will be crowded!
@Andrea and @Jamie – There will be some great weather coming up so it is a good time to go. Thank goodness the government kept out parks open for this. You know the national parks were panicking since National Parks Week was set a long time ago!
I really want to visit Yosemite. I admit I haven’t had the chance to visit many US National Parks, so I gotta make an effort to visit them. I hear (and seen in pictures) that many of them as really beautiful.
Norbert recently posted..Travel Niche Challenge- The Backlinking Strategy
thanks for sharing this information. Another way to get in for less is to be old! LOL They have a senior program where you pay a small amount once and then get into any National Park free for the rest of your life. Age does have its benefits.
Favorite NP would have to be Yellowstone. Don’t think I could ever get tired of it. Great area too!
Debbie Beardsley recently posted..Brittany France – Sleeping in a Chateau
Fantastic idea! So nice to have free entry to encourage people to visit their national parks. I did a hiking trip in Utah a few years ago visiting 3 of the national parks (Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion) and I loved them all. In Canada, my favorite national park is Waterton, which borders Glacier National Park in Montana.
Laurel recently posted..Top 5 Free Sights in Schaffhausen Switzerland
I love US National Parks. This was one of my blog’s first posts last year!! A great service to promote. Wish I could be over there visiting some this week.
Caz Makepeace recently posted..Highlights of A Nine Year Marriage