All Days You Can Visit National Parks for Free in 2017
National parks are nice any time of the year (yes, even in winter ), but if you don’t want to spend money on a park pass, take advantage of the free National Park Service days this year. There they are.
Unlike 2016, when there were two weeks off in addition to the regular weekends to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, there are only ten days off in 2017. Most dates are in spring or fall, so you can enjoy the parks when they bloom or change color for fall.
- January 16 : Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February 20 : Presidents Day
- April 15-16 : weekend before National Park Week.
- April 22-23 : weekend after National Park Week.
- August 25 : National Park Service Birthday
- September 30 : National Day of State Lands.
- November 11-12 : Veterans Day weekend.
Of course, free days are likely to be popular, so if you’re planning to camp or stay at nearby hotels, make a reservation now to beat the crowd. You can always find a way to enjoy parks, even those as popular as Yosemite, without bumping into the crowds. For example, you can use an app like Chimani to plan your trip or discover less popular walking routes.
National Park Service Announces Free Pay Days for 2017 | National Park Service