U.S. National Parks: Free Entrance Days Announced

January 4, 2011 (Washington, DC) - Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011 and encouraged all Americans to make a New Year’s resolution to visit a national park this year.

Here are the *fee-free days for over 100 National Parks in 2011:
* January 15-17 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend)
* April 16-24 (National Park Week)
* June 21 (First day of summer)
* September 24 (Public Lands Day)
* November 11-13 (Veterans Day weekend)

When you search for National Parks  near you, you will find out information on fees, hours, and facilities. So far, there isn't a complete published list of participating parks that I have found.  If you are interested in a specific park, contact them to see if they are participating.  *Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise. There are 394 national parks that never charge an entrance fee.

The National Park Service also offers park passes year round.  The Senior Pass would be a nice gift for friends or family ages 62 and older and can be bought in person and is valid at participating Federal Recreation sites.