US National Park Service Announces 5 Fee-Free Days In 2023

On Dec 29, 2022

National Park Service announces five fee-free dates — Glacier National Park [Image by David Mark from Pixabay]

It’s that time of year again when the US National Park Service announces its five, fee-free dates for the coming year. These significant dates mean that Americans can explore some of the country’s most beautiful places with no fee payable. Read on to find out more about the fee-free days for 2023.

National Park Service announces fee-free days for 2023

America’s National Parks are among the most beautiful places around the world, each with its own unique sights. Those who enjoy exploring nature, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities can visit more than 400 US parks, taking advantage of fresh air and pure nature. Meanwhile, each year, the National Park Service announces five days in the coming year when entrance fees are waived.

Yellowstone National Park on fee-free days — Yellowstone National Park [Image by Steve from Pixabay]

The more than 400 National Park Service sites are spread across the US, with park representation in every state and territory, as well as the District of Columbia. The vast majority of the parks are free to enter all year round.

However, many of the most famous national parks in the country, including iconic locations like Yosemite and Joshua Tree, do charge for entry. To get an idea, Yosemite has a per-vehicle charge of $35 for a seven-day pass. Meanwhile, for those entering on foot, bike, or on horseback, the charge is $20 per person (over the age of 16). In the case of a family, that adds up to quite a bit.

Yosemite National Park — Yosemite [Image by David Mark on Pixabay]

For those short on cash following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth making a note of these five fee-free days in 2023. Those special dates when the National Parks Service makes its protected lands free for all to enter.

National Park Service fee-free dates for 2023

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

Is a reservation required to visit the National Parks?

Zion National Park, Utah — Zion National Park [Image by Egor Shitikov from Pixabay]

In recent years, locations controlled by the National Park Service have seen a major spike in visitor numbers, especially among first-timers. In fact, in the wake of the pandemic, day trippers, hikers and ramblers have headed to the most popular parks in surprising numbers.

Due to so many visitors, this has led to issues like overcrowding, long queues and traffic jams across the US National Parks. Moreover, more people mean more trail erosion, vandalism and dumped trash. As a response to the overcrowding, many of the popular parks have introduced online reservation and timed entry systems to manage crowds. However, some are easing off on restrictions.

Some national parks, like Zion and Glacier, suspended their reservation passes during the off-season. Meanwhile, Yosemite recently announced the suspension of its online reservation system throughout 2023. It is always best to check out the latest rules for whichever national park you are planning to visit to make sure there are no problems.

Obviously, many of the National Parks are likely to be busier on fee-free days. Due to this, it is recommended to try one of the lesser-visited parks to take the edge off the crowds. With more than 400 parks to choose from, it is exciting to visit a different location when you can.

Read more about the National Parks across the country on the official NPS website here.