Celebrate National Park Week with FREE ENTRY to Florida’s 11 National Parks

The National Park Service offers a number of entrance free days throughout the year, with everyone invited to experience the magic and wonder of national parks for free!

The National Park Service protects our nation's greatest treasures and tells our shared stories.

Love national parks? There's a holiday for that! Join The National Park Service for National Park Week, a nine-day celebration of everything "parks". Not just about more than 400 national parks nationwide of different shapes, sizes, and types, including 11 here in Florida.

Also discover what the National Park Service does through their programs and partners to preserve natural and cultural heritage and provide recreational opportunities in places across the country—and even the world!

National Park Week is happening April 20 to April 28 this year. Entrance fees will be waived on April 20, 2024, to kick off the celebration and to encourage everyone to enjoy their national parks in person.

Then, National Park Service parks, programs, and partners will host events and activities all week to celebrate National Park Week.

The 11 national parks in Florida include Canaveral National Seashore, the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic Coastline in the sunshine state, and is only a one hour drive from Orlando.

In addition to Canaveral National Seashore, Florida is home to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Big Cypress National Preserve, and more.

2024 Theme Days

Each day of National Park Week has a special theme to showcase many ways to experience, learn, or get involved with national parks and what we do outside of our park boundaries.

Saturday, April 20: Discovery. What will you discover? A new place, a new interesting fact, a new activity...

To kick off National Park Week and encourage you make that new discovery, entrance fees are waived on April 20!

Sunday, April 21: Volunteers. Use your time and talents as a volunteer in your national parks. Find opportunities to volunteer for a single event or long term position.

Monday, April 22: Earth Day. Join the global celebration encouraging education and stewardship of the planet's natural resources. Many parks are hosting volunteer events. You can also find ways to practice conservation at home.

Tuesday, April 23: Innovation. History of our nation's innovation is preserved in national parks. Also learn about the innovative projects happening in parks or through our programs today.

Wednesday, April 24: Workforce Wednesday. Meet our incredible workforce of employees, interns, fellows, volunteers, contractors, partners, and more. Consider joining our team!

Thursday, April 25: Youth Engagement. Calling the rising generation of stewards! Learn about the opportunities for youth and young adults to get involved and see what your peers are up to.

Friday, April 26: Community Connections. Learn about the important work our programs and partners are doing in communities across the country both within and outside of our park boundaries.

Saturday, April 27: Junior Ranger Day. For kids (and kids at heart), become a Junior Ranger through in-person or online activities to learn about special places or topics. You may even earn a Junior Ranger badge!

Sunday, April 28: Arts in Parks. Home of many arts past and present, find your muse creating arts within parks. Also learn about preserving and practicing arts in your communities through the work of our programs and partners.

The cost to enter parks with entrance fees ranges from $10 to $35. The funds remain in the National Park Service and 80-100% stays in the park where collected. The revenue supports visitor services, including enhancing accessibility, restoring wildlife habitat, and providing ranger programs, and adding or upgrading restrooms, campgrounds, trails, and other facilities.

The fee waiver for the fee-free days applies only to National Park Service entrance fees and does not cover amenity or user fees for camping, boat launches, transportation, special tours, or other activities.

The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass covers entry at more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks.

There are also free or discounted passes available for current members of the U.S. military and their dependents, military veterans, Gold Star Families, fourth grade students, individuals with permanent disabilities, and senior citizens. 

The remaining entrance fee-free days for 2024 are:

• April 20 – First Day of National Park Week 

• June 19 – Juneteenth

• August 4 – Great American Outdoors Day

• September 28 – National Public Lands Day

• November 11 – Veterans Day

Will you be visiting a National Park soon? Let us know in the comments below!

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