The national parks get even better during free days.
America’s Best Idea — our national parks — is even better when admission is free! Mark your calendar now for entrance fee-free dates for the coming year. On these dates, free entrance is available at national parks across the country that normally charge a fee.
During the fee-free days, the parks waive entrance fees, commercial tour fees and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservations, camping, tours, concessions and fees collected by third parties are not included in this promotion.
2024 Free Days at U.S. National Parks
- January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 23: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Where are the closest national parks to Portland? Here’s a list:
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, WA
See the evolution of this riverside fort come to life. From fur trading post to military base to airfield, Fort Vancouver spans the history of the region.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, Astoria
Walk in the footsteps of America’s most famous explorers as you tour a replica of their winter encampment, Fort Clatsop.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Kimberly (always free)
Take a prehistoric trip back in time at the paleontology hotspot of Oregon. From painted hills to towering cliffs, this fossil-rich landscape holds evidence of ecosystems that span 40 million years.
Crater Lake National Park, OR
Nothing is quite as breathtaking as the aftermath of this erupted volcano. See Crater Lake in all its glory as spring arrives in the mountains.
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, Cave Junction (always free)
Go down under to admire the Marble Halls of Oregon.
Mount Rainier National Park, WA
Take a short drive up North to visit an active volcano. Take a hike around its many trails of visit one of the five rivers in the area. This mountain also boasts the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.
Olympic National Park, WA
Encompassing nearly a million acres, this park is a sight to see. Explore glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and more than 70 miles of wild coastline.
For more information, visit the National Park Service’s website.
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