Attention lovers of wilderness, wildlife, and free stuff: this is not a drill. Lace up those hiking boots as fast as you can, extract that kayak paddle from the back of the garage, and head to your nearest national park RIGHT NOW. Leave your wallet at home, though, because you’re not gonna need it. Why? Because ALL national parks are free to enter until April 24th. Yup. Free.
This week is the centennial celebration of the founding of the national park system. National Park Week runs until next Tuesday, and during this time admission to every single national park across the country rings in at a sweet zero dollars.
The National Park Service has put together a handy tool that will help you locate your closest park. Begin your search here. Young explorers can also become a Centennial Junior Ranger by completing a booklet that will teach them about the history of the national parks. As far as we know, it’s an honorary title without any actual civic duties or cool swag. But hey, resume building has to start somewhere. Check out the activity book here.
While you’re tracking down that bottle of sunscreen from last year, check out these awesome national parks that are free this week.
- Death Valley National Park, California & Nevada
Flickr/Thomas Hawk
Flickr/Thomas Hawk This national park is the lowest point in North America. Check out the unearthly salt flats of Badwater Basin, or visit the ghost town of Titus Canyon.
- Yosemite National Park, California
Flickr/Aftab Uzzaman Yosemite was one of the first national parks in the nation, and features of the natural landscape date back over 10 million years. Yosemite is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Flickr/Jerry and Pat Donaho This park is about 60 miles long, but actually measures a mere 6 miles wide on average. The park is filled with gorgeous red rock formations including domes, arches, and natural bridges.
- Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Flickr/Always Shooting
Flickr/Matthew Paulson This park is known for its 242,756 acres of stunning butte, spire, and tower rock formations. Badlands also features some of the most beautiful grass prairie in the country.
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Flickr/Gord McKenna Named after the majestic Teton mountain range, this park offers miles and miles of pristine wilderness, sparkling lakes, and over 200 miles of trails. It’s a great place to camp and explore.
- Arches National Park, Utah
Flickr/Jerry and Pat Donaho The name says it all: Arches is filled with gorgeous natural arches of all shapes and sizes. Over 2,000 of them, in fact. Sunsets at this park are out of this world.
- Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
Flickr/Andy Simmons
Flickr/Jason Carpenter With over 33,265 acres of natural beauty to explore, you won’t run out of things to do in Haleakala park. Visitors can check out the striking volcanic landscape of Mount Haleakalā or hike through the verdant tropical rainforest of the island.
- Glacier National Park, Montana
Flickr/Brian Kingsley The Rocky Mountains are your playground at this spectacular national park. Hike over 700 miles of trails and learn about local wildlife, such as the native mountain goats and grizzly bears. Stop by Hidden Lake for a gorgeous photo opportunity.
- Denali National Park, Alaska
Flickr/Domen Jakus This incredible park includes the continent’s highest mountain. At 20,310-feet high, Mount Denali (which was formerly known as Mount McKinley) is one of the most stunning natural features in the country. There’s also plenty of tundra and glacier to explore.
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana & Idaho
Flickr/Clint Losee
Flickr/Brook Ward Yellowstone National Park just may be the nation’s most beloved natural preserve. With over 3,500 square miles of untamed wilderness, including colorful hot springs and imposing mountains, Yellowstone is a magical place to explore.
- Acadia National Park, Maine
Flickr/Peter Rintels This rugged park is a great place to take in some stunning New England fall foliage, catch a fresh lobster, or hike beautiful coastal trails.
- Everglades National Park, Florida
Flickr/Jerry This park is actually one of the most ecologically threatened areas in the country. Shrinking water levels and rising pollution have left this beautiful aquatic environment in jeopardy. Visit while you can.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee
Flickr/Michael Hicks This national park draws the biggest crowds – over nine million visitors a year come to explore the beautiful deciduous woodlands, marvel at the large swathes of wildflowers, and hike over 800 miles of trails.
- Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Flickr/SNORKELINGDIVES.COM
Flickr/Evangelio Gonzalez This place is anything but dry. Located in the Gulf of Mexico, this seven-mile long string of islands is perfect for snorkeling and diving. The area is host to some of the healthiest coral reefs in the in North America.
- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Flickr/m01229
Flickr/Kevin Vance This park encompasses almost 300 square miles of old-growth forest, gorgeous mountain vistas, and fascinating wildlife. Visitors can journey along Skyline drive, which traverses 105 miles of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains.
Get to your closest national park today! There’s never been a better (or cheaper) time to commune with nature. So, where are you headed?
Flickr/Thomas Hawk
This national park is the lowest point in North America. Check out the unearthly salt flats of Badwater Basin, or visit the ghost town of Titus Canyon.
Flickr/Aftab Uzzaman
Yosemite was one of the first national parks in the nation, and features of the natural landscape date back over 10 million years. Yosemite is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Flickr/Jerry and Pat Donaho
This park is about 60 miles long, but actually measures a mere 6 miles wide on average. The park is filled with gorgeous red rock formations including domes, arches, and natural bridges.
Flickr/Always Shooting
Flickr/Matthew Paulson
This park is known for its 242,756 acres of stunning butte, spire, and tower rock formations. Badlands also features some of the most beautiful grass prairie in the country.
Flickr/Gord McKenna
Named after the majestic Teton mountain range, this park offers miles and miles of pristine wilderness, sparkling lakes, and over 200 miles of trails. It’s a great place to camp and explore.
The name says it all: Arches is filled with gorgeous natural arches of all shapes and sizes. Over 2,000 of them, in fact. Sunsets at this park are out of this world.
Flickr/Andy Simmons
Flickr/Jason Carpenter
With over 33,265 acres of natural beauty to explore, you won’t run out of things to do in Haleakala park. Visitors can check out the striking volcanic landscape of Mount Haleakalā or hike through the verdant tropical rainforest of the island.
Flickr/Brian Kingsley
The Rocky Mountains are your playground at this spectacular national park. Hike over 700 miles of trails and learn about local wildlife, such as the native mountain goats and grizzly bears. Stop by Hidden Lake for a gorgeous photo opportunity.
Flickr/Domen Jakus
This incredible park includes the continent’s highest mountain. At 20,310-feet high, Mount Denali (which was formerly known as Mount McKinley) is one of the most stunning natural features in the country. There’s also plenty of tundra and glacier to explore.
Flickr/Clint Losee
Flickr/Brook Ward
Yellowstone National Park just may be the nation’s most beloved natural preserve. With over 3,500 square miles of untamed wilderness, including colorful hot springs and imposing mountains, Yellowstone is a magical place to explore.
Flickr/Peter Rintels
This rugged park is a great place to take in some stunning New England fall foliage, catch a fresh lobster, or hike beautiful coastal trails.
Flickr/Jerry
This park is actually one of the most ecologically threatened areas in the country. Shrinking water levels and rising pollution have left this beautiful aquatic environment in jeopardy. Visit while you can.
Flickr/Michael Hicks
This national park draws the biggest crowds – over nine million visitors a year come to explore the beautiful deciduous woodlands, marvel at the large swathes of wildflowers, and hike over 800 miles of trails.
Flickr/SNORKELINGDIVES.COM
Flickr/Evangelio Gonzalez
This place is anything but dry. Located in the Gulf of Mexico, this seven-mile long string of islands is perfect for snorkeling and diving. The area is host to some of the healthiest coral reefs in the in North America.
Flickr/m01229
Flickr/Kevin Vance
This park encompasses almost 300 square miles of old-growth forest, gorgeous mountain vistas, and fascinating wildlife. Visitors can journey along Skyline drive, which traverses 105 miles of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains.
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