You can visit any national park for free April 16. What to know about National Park Week
Visiting a national park this weekend could save you some money.
The National Park Service is hosting National Park Week from Saturday, April 16, until Sunday, April 24. The week celebrates the country’s more than 400 national park sites.
“National Park Week is a time to explore amazing places, discover stories of history and culture, help out, and find your park,” the National Park Service said. “Parks across the country will host a variety of special programs, events, and digital experiences.”
To kick off the week, entrance fees will be waived at national park sites on April 16, according to the National Park Service.
More than 100 National Park Service sites charge an entrance fee that ranges from $5 to $35. On five days in 2022, however, visitors won’t be charged a fee.
The remaining dates for 2022 include:
Saturday, April 16 – First Day of National Park Week
Thursday, Aug. 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, Sept. 24 – National Public Lands Day
Friday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
“Whether on an entrance fee-free day or throughout the year, we encourage everyone to discover their national parks and the benefits that come from spending time outdoors,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a news release. “National parks are for everyone and we are committed to increasing access.”
More people have been visiting the national parks in the past year as the coronavirus pandemic wanes. Recreational visits were at 297 million in 2021, up from 237 million In 2020 when many people halted their vacation plans, according to the park service.
This story was originally published April 11, 2022 at 12:34 PM with the headline "You can visit any national park for free April 16. What to know about National Park Week."