National Parks: Explore Nature's Best Offers

The treasures of our national parks have a lot to offer, including hiking, biking, boating, canoeing, hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, birding, plus exploring native flora and fauna, and hopefully also finding peace of mind.

So, if you're a fan of wide, open spaces, where you only hear the sounds of nature, then the National Park Service has deals for you. Not only are there specific holidays where everyone gets in for free, but there are also discounts and lifetime free passes, if you qualify, that never expire.

America the Beautiful program / National Park Service

Here's the breakdown:

Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident 62 years or older is eligible for a Senior Pass.

Senior pass for lifetime: $80
Senior pass for one year: $20

America the Beautiful — is an interagency program for access to National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands.

A pass covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by the following:

National Park Service
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers

Anyone can buy an annual pass for $80. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident 62 years or older is eligible for a Senior Pass; $20 for one year or $80 for a lifetime.

Here's the list of available FREE passes:

Check this website for participating locations; (includes more than 1,000 sites nationwide).

Note: If you order your pass by mail instead of in-person, there may be a $10 shipping and handling fee.

As previously mentioned, all U.S. national parks offer free entry on certain holidays every year – and we've got the schedule for 2025.

2026 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone, however other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply.

This offer includes entry at Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park, off Key West, as well as the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County, plus others.

August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
September 17: Constitution Day
October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's birthday
November 11: Veterans Day

The National Park Service also reminds us that admission to many of our national parks, including Biscayne National Park in Miami, is always free. Click here for more information.

Snowy Egrets, Florida Everglades National Park, by Ken Lund

Remember: Whichever park you decide to visit, be sure to check and verify regulations and recommendations ahead of time, to avoid any unwanted surprises. Now, there's no excuse not to go enjoy the great outdoors!

Looking for more free and cheap things to do?

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