We love America’s National Parks.
The National Park Service turns 103 this year and everyone can celebrate by taking advantage of a *free entrance day to all parks on Saturday, April 20. National Park Week, April 20-28, 2019, is USA’s largest observation of national natural and cultural heritage.
“It’s about exploring amazing places, discovering open spaces, enjoying affordable vacations, and enhancing America’s best idea—the national parks. It’s all happening in your national parks,” according to the NPS web site.
Be sure to check out National Park Week.org. “There you can share your national park photos, videos, and tips. While you’re there, learn all about the ways you can help support your national parks all year round.”
America the Beautiful passes
On none ‘fee free days,’ consider one of the following passes that are available:
- Annual Pass — Cost: $80, available for everyone.
- Free Annual Pass for U.S. Military — Current U.S. military members and dependents.
- Free Annual 4th Grade Pass — Check out the Every Kid in a Park program.
- Senior Pass — $80 lifetime pass for those age 62 and over. $20 for annual Senior Pass.
- Free Access Pass — Lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.
- Free Volunteer Pass — For volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program.
“A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.”
Photos: (Top) RVer Jimmy Smith at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. (Bottom) Entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. (Julianne G. Crane).
