The US National Park Service has announced that there will be ten free entrance days to national parks in 2017. These free entrance days are a great opportunity to explore the national parks! In addition, all 4th graders and their families can get free entrance into not only national parks but all federal lands in 2017 as part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative.

If you have or know a 4th grader and don’t know about this program, be sure to check it out! And if you are or know a 4th grade teacher, pass along some great teaching resources that complement the program. Everyone else, mark your calendar for these 2017 free entrance dates — get ready to find your park and discover why national parks are America’s best idea.

January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 20:  Presidents Day
April 15-16 and 22-23: National Park Week Weekends
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

North Cascades NP

Mt. Rainier NP

Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Mt. Hood National Forest

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Waterfall above Emerald Pools

The park maintains ropes for climbing the headlands

Zion National Park

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

Wind Cave National Park

Denali National Park

Glacier National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Memorial

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower National Monument

Redwood National Park

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Denali National Park

Saguaro National Park

Washington Monument

Death Valley National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Virgin Islands National Park

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site

Virgin Islands National Park

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

In addition, some other state and federal lands will waive entrance fees for National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Make it a 2017 new year’s resolution to find your park. Enjoy your next visit to a national park, whether it’s for a week or a weekend!