WASHINGTON, DC — Many national parks charge entrance fees, and some visitors wait for fee-free days or buy the $80 America the Beautiful Pass. But a group of parks is free to enter every day of the year, with no pass required.
That makes them appealing for travelers who want a low-cost trip without planning around a special calendar date. From the Smokies to Alaska, these parks offer scenery, wildlife and history without an admission charge.
Great Smoky Mountains, Redwoods and New River Gorge stand out for scenery
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, shared by Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most visited national park in the country and has never charged an entrance fee. Visitors come for long ridgelines, more than 800 miles of trails and major fall color displays.
Redwoods National and State Parks in California protects some of the tallest trees on Earth, while New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia offers a deep canyon, a dramatic bridge overlook and strong rafting and climbing access.
North Cascades, Congaree and Cuyahoga Valley offer less crowded options
North Cascades National Park in Washington draws far fewer visitors than some other western parks, despite its glaciers, peaks and turquoise lakes. Congaree National Park in South Carolina preserves one of the last intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forests in the U.S.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio gives Midwest travelers an easier day trip, with waterfalls, trails and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Brandywine Falls is one of its best-known stops.
Alaska parks and Wind Cave provide wildlife, glaciers and underground views
Glacier Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai in Alaska are all free to enter, though reaching them can require a boat, plane or long drive. Glacier Bay is known for tidewater glaciers, Wrangell-St. Elias for its enormous wilderness, and Katmai for brown bears and Brooks Falls.
Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota pairs prairie wildlife with one of the world’s longest cave systems. The park’s above-ground areas are free, even though cave tours carry a fee.
Hot Springs and Gateway Arch add urban and historic choices
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is built around historic bathhouses and thermal springs in the middle of a city. Visitors can walk Bathhouse Row for free and explore the area without paying admission.
Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri is the smallest national park in the system and is free to view from the grounds along the St. Louis riverfront. The tram ride to the top costs money, but the park itself does not.
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