UNITED STATES – Heads up National Park lovers, all National Parks across the United States will be free to enter this Saturday, September 28, in celebration of National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day, always taking place on the fourth Saturday of September, is the largest annual single-day volunteer effort in the United States, and has been since 1994. Over 130 National Parks hosted volunteer events last year, bringing 7,600 volunteers and a total of 41,500 hours of service.
There are six Free Entrance Days throughout the year for the National Parks across the Untied States. September 28 is the second to last of 2024, with the last taking place on Veterans Day, November 11. On these days, any entrance fee typically charged to enter a National Park is waived. Other user fees, like amenity fees, camping fees, boating fees, etc, will not be waived.
Volunteer events for National Public Lands Day can be found here. While the National Park Service encourages participation if possible, they also simply encourage visiting a National Park for free and simply enjoying some time outdoors.
“National Public Lands Day is more than a clean-up—it’s a chance to connect with new communities, an event that creates kinship among those working together for a common goal, and an opportunity to use America’s public lands for education, recreation, and overall physical and mental health.”