Heads up to those looking for an incredible way to enjoy the outdoors this weekend, all National Parks will be free to enter across the United States as the service celebrates National Public Lands Day. National Public Lands Day is an annual event held on the fourth Saturday of September, hosting the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort across over 130 national park sites.
National Public Lands Day
Last year, National Public Lands Day saw over 7,600 volunteers donating 41,500 hours of service across over 130 national park sites. Volunteer opportunities can be found through the National Park Service’s website.
National Public Lands Day isn’t the only day you can volunteer for the National Park Service, either. Throughout the year, sites have volunteer opportunities from supporting education and public-facing programs to maintaining and building trails. You can find further opportunities by contacting a park near you.
Free Entrance Days
There are 7 free entrance days throughout the year, including National Public Lands Day. On these days, all national park sites that usually charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Other fees like timed entry reservations, camp site fees, and more, still may apply. Make sure to check the park you plan to head to ahead of time for more information.
