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Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 7:40 am
by ERIC
Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm
Visitors sitting around a campfire in a national park.
America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three
fee-free weekends at more than
100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.
Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:
* June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
* July 18-19, 2009
* August 15-16, 2009
And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own
special offers.
Here’s a tip – many national parks never charge an entrance fee, so you can
plan inexpensive visits year round!
For a list of family fun activities this summer, visit
National Parks: The Place to Be for Family Fun.
*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.
Re: Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:12 pm
by rightstar76
They're full of it in my opinion. To get the five bucks off you have to spend at least 25 dollars. Give me a break. But if inexpensive is what they're trying to sell, I have some pigs with wings. Good luck getting an inexpensive room in SEKI. Lodgepole Campground isn't cheap either. Still, I like the fact that you don't have to pay an entrance fee those weekends. But inexpensive family vacation it aint.
Re: Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:54 am
by dave54
Rightstar is right. The fees keep steadily increasing and the NPS dos not have much to show for it.
Fortunately, I have a lifetime pass. If I had to pay an entrance fee I would visit a NP far less than I do now.
Re: Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:23 am
by trav867
Not to hijack the thread, but can anyone explain- if I enter SEKI from the west (Lodgepole) I must pay $10 for an overnight camping permit. If entering from the east (Whitney Ranger Station) there is no fee, regardless of whether my plans include nights in SEKI. What's the rationale? If you include the car permit, it costs something like $20 to enter via lodgepole vs. free from Whitney Ranger Station.
Re: Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:19 pm
by Trekker
Well, you're usually driving in from the West. From the East, you have to hike through a designated Wilderness area (John Muir) before you enter the park. A lot of difference in traffic, not to mention trailhead entry points.