How To Save Money On Your Next National Park Trip
It’s true that you don’t need a lot of money in the bank to get out and see the National Parks that dot the US. Hiking is free after all, and paired with careful planning + a set budget, a National Park trip can be well within reach for most people with just a few days of vacation. Let is help you plan the National Park trip of your dreams with these money saving tips:
Take Advantage of Free Entrance Days
Did you know the NPS has multiple days every year where entrance into the park is free? It pays to plan your trip during these dates to help minimize any costs associated with entrance fees:
January 17 – Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 16 – First day of National Park Week
August 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 24 – National Public Lands Day
November 11 – Veterans Day
The above dates are for 2022, and the exact dates will change annually. Follow us on Instagram for reminders before every free entrance day!
Use Discount Passes
If your vacation doesn’t land on any of the free-entrance days, it may pay to purchase one of the multiple passes the parks service offers. These passes are especially helpful if you are visiting more than one park during your trip or throughout a one-year period. Below is a list of passes that can help you save; make sure to read any relevant terms and conditions before purchasing, but most include free entrance for passengers in your vehicle:
Annual Pass – Open to anyone wanting to use the parks, $80 gets you a year of free entrance to federally operated recreation sites.
Senior Lifetime – If you’re 62 or older and score a pass for $80 that includes park entrance fees, as well as a 50% discount on various amenity fees and facility services for life!
Access Pass – If you have eligible proof of a permanent disability, you can receive a free lifetime pass with only a $10 handling charge, and the pass includes a discount on some amenity fees.
Military Pass – Apply for your free annual pass if you’re a current U.S. military member or veteran, or a Gold Star Family member.
4th Grade Pass – If you have a student enrolled in the fourth grade within the US, they’re eligible for a free pass that’s valid for the duration of the school year through the following summer (September to August). The pass allows the student – and anyone who can fit into their family’s car – free entrance into the park.
Volunteer Pass – If you’re a volunteer with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program, you can take advantage of this offer for a free annual pass
Single Park Pass – If live locally to a national park, it may pay to purchase an annual pass for that specific park. rates will wary depending on the park.
To learn more and purchase your pass, visit the USGS store online. Additionally, passes can be purchased at the entrance stations of most parks!
Camp In Dispersed Area Instead of Staying In A Hotel
Although staying in town can be fun, travelers who opt to camp instead of staying in a hotel or AirBnb will save hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars.. Many western parks have free public lands that allow camping around the parks, and national park or national forest campgrounds near the park will be significancy cheaper than staying in town. If you want the best of both worlds, opt to camp most nights of your trip and stay in a hotel when the weather is bad or you need a well earned shower!
Road Trip
Not only can road tripping help you see even more sights on your visit, but it can also help save money by the time flights, baggage fees, and rental cars are accounted for. Having your own vehicle also makes things easier if you are traveling to multiple parks and will need to spend long period in the car between each location.
A National Parks trip doesn’t need to break the bank – employing a few quick tips will help you travel more frequently and to even more remote destinations. Planning with these tips in mind will help your trip become more budget friendly, and hopefully make a national parks trip feel much more feasible to your wallet.
Happy hiking!
