See National Parks for Free on 'Get Outdoors Day'
Need an excuse for a summer excursion? This Saturday, June 9, all U.S. national parks and other locations managed by the National Park Service can be entered free of charge as part of National Get Outdoors Day.
All 397 locations within the national park system are offering free entry, from Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Colorado and Utah's Dinosaur National Monument.
The fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours or use of concessions. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond June 9 will need to purchase an entrance pass for the remainder of their stay.
If you can't find your way to the wilderness this weekend, there will also be fee-free days at national parks on Sept. 29 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 10-12 (Veterans Day Weekend).
The National Park Service's Get Outdoors Day is an effort to encourage Americans to get out and experience their national park areas, according to a statement from the organization.
"National Get Outdoors Day provides an opportunity for kids of all ages to explore and enjoy their national forests and grasslands," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "This is an open invitation for some healthy fun. Once you've experienced the forest, we think you'll keep coming back."
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