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US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

TripBlog
TripBlog
Sep 10, 2021

Catalogue

  • Quick Answers
    • When are National Park Service Free Entrance Days?
    • Where Can You Visit During NPS Free Entrance Days?
    • Is Everything Free During NPS Free Entrance Days?
  • Recommended Places to Visit
    • 1. Acadia National Park
    • 2. Grand Teton National Park
    • 3. Glacier National Park
    • 4. Assateague Island National Seashore
    • 5. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
    • 6. Grand Canyon National Park and Lake Mead
    • 7. Zion National Park
    • 8. Rocky Mountain National Park
    • 9. Everglades National Park
    • 10. Yellowstone National Park
  • Show More

Given how the last year and a half has been particularly hard on just about everyone, it's perfectly fine to think about taking a vacation. And no, we don't mean working from home on the back patio with a cocktail. We mean an honest-to-goodness, get-out-there-on-the-road vacation. Did you know the US National Park Service is offering free entrance days? That's right! Between now and Veterans Day, you have 2 chances left to explore one of America's more than 400 national parks and recreation areas. Read on to discover some fantastic places around the United States where you can plan a great family vacation, scenic holiday, or just a fun daytrip. Here is your guide to making the most of your 2021 National Park Free Entrance Days.


US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

For 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) has announced several Free Entrance Days at all the NPS sites that normally charge entrance fees. This means everywhere from Yellowstone and Yosemite to Dinosaur National Monument and Assateague Island National Seashore. If you want to take advance of the remaining Free Entrance Days, don't wait to start planning. Some of America's best national parks are quickly approaching their peak seasonal splendor. Make sure you save these dates on your calendar. Remaining NPS Free Entrance Days for 2021:

  • September 25 – Celebrating National Public Lands Day
  • November 11 – Celebrating Veterans Day

Glad you asked! All National Park Service-managed sites that normally charge an entrance fee will be free of charge on NPS Free Entrance Days. This includes many of the 63 main national parks as well as hundreds of other conservation areas operated by the National Park Service. NPS Free Entrance Days are the prefect chance to visit someplace new or return to one of your all-time favorites.


No. Only the normal park entrance fee will be waved. Charges for various amenities such as the use of RV electrical and wastewater hookups, or activity fees associated with campgrounds, boat launches, park transportation, and tours are not included in the fee waiver.


US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Picturesque Atlantic coastline is the principal draw at Acadia National Park in Maine. The many coves and rocky inlets provide countless opportunities to snap some great photos. As with most well-established national parks, Acadia features numerous campgrounds. These include Smuggler's Den, Backwoods, Bass Harbor, and Seawall. Space is provided for both tent camping and RV parking. There are also semi-permanent accommodations if you're looking for a more hotel-like feel. Make sure to explore Mount Desert Island and find your way to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Although it's sometimes overlooked in favor of Yellowstone to the north, Grand Teton National Park ranks among the finest national parks in the United States. Grand Teton is a hiker's paradise. The park is filled with a series of exquisite mountains centered on Grand Teton and has 6 major campgrounds within its boundaries. One thing to keep in mind is that nighttime temperatures often drop quite low, even in summertime. Make sure you pack some extra gear for cold nights. Once you're inside, explore the park's lakes and rivers and enjoy its majestic environment. Late summer and into early fall brings out a diverse array of wildlife. This makes Grand Teton a fantastic place to take advance of an NPS Free Entrance Day.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Tucked deep into Northern Montana on the border with Canada, Glacier National Park is a place for those who crave a little solitude. Glacier National Park features some stunning alpine landscapes and rich mountain waters. This place epitomizes Big Sky Country. Visitors can enjoy over 700 miles of pristine wilderness trails suitable for everyone from novice explores to hearty backwoods enthusiasts. It's not all about camping and hiking though as Glacier National Park is a great places for fishing, bicycling, and general outdoor photography. Summer is when nature rolls out the carpet for visitors so be sure you don't miss out.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Assateague Island is a great East Coast destination that offers beachfront camping. Just imagine trading in your normal nighttime sounds for the roll of the Atlantic Ocean gently singing you to sleep. Much of Assateague Island is exposed to onshore breezes and direct sunlight so make sure you pack some extra layers and plenty of sunscreen. The island's major attraction is its the bands of wild horses. Once domesticated, the horses on Assateague now roam free like their ancestors. These magnificent creatures can been observed frolicking on the shores, playing in the fields and wooded areas, or herding together on the open lands. They are an integral part of Assateague and make for a great summer at the beach.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Hawai'i is America's tropical paradise. With lush green landscapes, black volcanic beaches, and world class surf breaks, it's an all-around ideal destination. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island and is where you will find Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes. Kīlauea has been erupting nearly continuously for decades and Mauna Loa is the world's largest shield volcano. Given the park's size, it helps to have some form of transportation. If you don't have your own car, try booking a tour in Hilo city. There are numerous hiking trails crisscrossing the park, so you will have ample opportunity to get out and explore.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

A trip to Las Vegas provides a convenient launching pad into the great outdoors. From Sin City, you can explore some of the best recreation areas in North America. Set along the Colorado River, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park anchor a large network of pristine wilderness areas. Enjoy stunning vistas and incredible natural beauty, all within a day's drive from the Las Vegas Strip. Sport fishing is a highly popular activity at Lake Mead. The waters are considered some of the best fishing grounds in the United States. Largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, rainbow trout, and other species are prevalent in the lake waters. Grand Canyon National Park is roughly a 4.5 hour drive from Las Vegas. You can also consider coming north out of Flagstaff, Arizona, which is far closer. The best time to visit stretchs from September through November so this is another place where you can take full advantage of the remaining NPS Free Entrance Days.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Zion National Park is tucked into Southwest Utah, not far from the small town of St. George. Zion has a unique geography that supports many different habitats, giving the park an unusual diversity of plant and animal species. The best options for travel are to arrive from Las Vegas or St. George, Utah. The small town of Springdale is located just outside the park boundaries and has a number hotels and guest houses. Conditions in the park change with the seasons and Zion can be a fickle environment. Spring is a pretty time to visit but also one of the more challenging. Sudden rainstorms can crop up and cause flash floods. Fall is arguably the best time to visit. Temperatures have cooled by then and rains are less frequent. Make sure to pay attention to trail conditions.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

If you're looking for a place to explore the Rocky Mountains in all their majestic glory, the best place for you is Colorado. Fully 78 of the range's 100 highest peaks are located here, including the 30 highest. Rocky Mountain National Park is a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve and contains a multitude of species, scenic hiking trails, river recreation, phenomenal camping, and more. As you're considering where to go and what to see, it's helpful to keep in mind the park's five main regions. They each have their own draw whether it's the large meadows and chance to see moose and other game in Region 1, hiking the Alpine tundra in Region 2, losing yourself in the vast isolated wilderness areas in Region 3, sticking close to the heart of the park in Region 4, or going backcountry in Region 5. Come answer the call of the wild and experience the adventure of a lifetime.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

Everglades National Park was established in 1934 to protect the unique ecosystem of tropical wetlands located due west from downtown Miami. As the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness area of any kind east of the Mississippi River, the Everglades ecosystem is unlike any other tropical wetlands on Earth. Given the environment does not support a vast network of roads, the entrances to Everglades National Park are not connected. Which entrance you choose will depend in part on where you're coming from and what you want to see. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is convenient if you're coming from downtown Miami. From points south near Homestead, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is most accessible. Boating through Everglades National Park is a favorite thing to do. Make sure you have the proper registration and permits and observe all regulations in order to safeguard this precious resource.



US National Park Service 2021 Free Entrance Days

America's oldest National Park is just the place to take advantage of a National Park Service Free Entrance Day. Yellowstone National Park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest continuous stretch of undeveloped land in the continental United States. Traveling between major regions in the park is only practical with a car or other motorized transportation. A network of roads arranged roughly in a figure-8 pattern form the park's main arteries. Open year-round, Yellowstone changes with the seasons. Avid travelers might choose to explore late in the year when fewer visitors add to a sense of isolation amid snow-covered valleys. Consider a visit to Yellowstone for Veterans Days and take advantage of the 2021's final NPS Free Entrance Day.


These 10 national treasures are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of great places for your 2021 vacation. We didn't even have a chance to mention Denali National Park in Alaska, Cape Code National Seashore, or Michigan's spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If you're still wondering how to make the most of 2021, don't let this opportunity to explore America's national parks pass you by. National Park Service Free Entrance Days are an amazing opportunity to explore some of America's most treasured resources. What are you waiting for? Start planning your national park adventure today.

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