Here’s when you can visit national parks for free to celebrate their 104th birthday

The National Park Service is celebrating its 104th birthday this year — and you can visit for free.

On Aug. 25, all National Park Service sites will offer free admission, the National Park Service said on its website.

“National parks are America’s best idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day,” NPS said. “The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the national parks that normally charge an entrance fee.”

The money made from fees at national parks stays within the National Park Service, park officials said. At least 80% stays at the park where it was collected, according to NPS.

Many parks charge an entrance fee, which can range from $15 to about $35 depending on the park, according to NPS. Visitors should check participating parks and sites before going, NPS said.

Several popular parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Big Bend and Acadia, will waive entrance fees to celebrate the anniversary of when the National Park Service was established.

“On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service,” NPS said. “A new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior was responsible for protecting the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the department and those yet to be established.”

This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Here’s when you can visit national parks for free to celebrate their 104th birthday."