If you’re looking for a fun frugal activity to do on the weekends, have you considered visiting a national park?
On a recent visit to Boston, we visited the USS Constitution inside Boston National Historical Park. The USS Constitution is the oldest naval ship in the world that’s still in commission. It was commissioned in 1797 by George Washington.
Our kids loved walking through the interior and hearing the tour guide explain all the various parts of “Old Ironsides,” including how the USS Constitution earned its nickname.
Best of all, admission was free.
Admission is free in the majority of our 419 National Parks, but for those that do require a fee, you can get in without paying on Free Entrance Days. There are five days in 2023 when you can get entry into a National Park without paying:
- January 16th to celebrate the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 22nd to celebrate the first day of National Park Week
- August 4th to celebrate the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 23rd to celebrate National Public Lands Day
- November 11th to celebrate Veterans Day
If you want to maximize the savings, the National Parks Service maintains a list of parks that will be waiving entrance fees. My home state of Maryland has five participating “parks,” including Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry was the site of the Battle of Baltimore and the inspiration for Francis Scott Key in his writing of the national anthem.
A 7-day entrance pass for our family would typically run $30, so it will be nice to save that when we visit this weekend.
Other Ways To Gain Free Access
Are you visiting a national park but won’t be doing so on a free entrance day?
There are other ways to get free or discounted access.
Travel With A Fourth Grader
Every Kid Outdoors is a program that gets you access to the national parks and waterways for free through August 31st, 2023. Access is granted to the student, up to three adults, and any other children in the group under 16 years old.
Show Military Identification
If you are a member of the U.S. military and dependents, you can get free annual passes through the National Park Service and the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series. This includes access to federal recreation sites, which include national parks.
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