UNITED STATES — The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that it will waive admission fees on six occasions in 2024, adding Juneteenth to its usual roster of holidays.
The following will be entrance fee–free dates in 2024:
- Jan. 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Sept. 28: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day
This is the first time that NPS will observe Juneteenth with free park admission. Juneteenth, which commemorates of the abolition of slavery in the United States, was designated as a federal holiday in 2021.
In 2023, there were five fee-free days at national parks. Parks waived entrance fees on Jan. 16 for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, on April 22 for the first day of National Park Week, on Aug. 4 for the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, on Sept. 23 for National Public Lands day and on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.
The NPS reminds visitors that other fees might still apply on free entrance days.
“The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation or special tours,” the agency says on its website.
Veterans and current members of the U.S. military can qualify for free park admission year-round through these park programs.
