Entrance fees for all US national parks would be waived Friday (August 4) to celebrate the anniversary of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. While entrance fees for visitors are free, it does not cover amenities inside the park, including camping, boat launches, and tours.
Passed in 2020, the legislation cleared the way for increased funding, expanded recreation, and infrastructure improvements in the National Park Service system and other public lands.
The National Park Service has previously announced five fee-free days for 2023, with this coming Friday being one of them after the first one last April, The Hill reported.
The US has over 400 park sites across the country, with 63 of them designated as National Parks. Many of the parks, recreation areas, and historical sites are free to enter daily, but most National Parks charge an entrance fee, which can range from $5 per person to $35 per vehicle.
Having fee-free days was a way to encourage Americans to experience the outdoors without spending too much.
Two other fee-free days have been announced: National Public Lands Day (September 23) and Veterans' Day (November 11).
Outside the fee-free days, the National Park Service also sells an $80 annual pass, allowing unlimited access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that charge entrance fees. There are also discounts for senior citizens, active duty military personnel, disabled citizens, and families of fourth-grade students.
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