2022 was a massive year for U.S. national parks. There were nearly 312 million recorded recreational visits, according to the National Park Service, marking the highest number of park entries since before the pandemic.
To entice Americans to continue experiencing national parks, the National Park Service has been offering free admission to all visitors on various days throughout the year. The next one coming up is on August 4.
The date commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020. The law was celebrated for its bipartisan investments to "improve visitor experiences, bolster climate resilience, and invest in the economy by creating good-paying jobs" at the parks, according to the Department of the Interior. Since then, Aug. 4 has been observed as Great American Outdoors Day.
???? The Great American @OutdoorsAct is now law. ????
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) August 4, 2020
This completes decades of bipartisan work to fully and permanently #FundLWCF and will provide jobs for the American people, economic stimulus to communities in need, and ensure future generations can enjoy the #GreatOutdoors. pic.twitter.com/QSVXnhJq4H
Of the more than 400 parks, monuments, seashores, and other NPS lands, only about 100 require an admission fee. This includes some of the country's most popular outdoor attractions like Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Death Valley, and the Grand Canyon. While the park gates are open to all on these free entry days, visitors will still need to pay fees for overnight camping, cabin rentals, transportation, group day use, and use of special areas.
If you can't make it to the great outdoors this Friday, you still have two more chances this year to score free entry to every park in the U.S.: Sept. 23 for National Public Lands Day and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. The weather isn't exactly the most pleasant to be outside for long periods of time, so just be sure to stay hydrated and lather on the sunscreen.
