WASHINGTON, DC — Many national parks in the United States charge entrance fees, and some visitors use annual passes or fee-free days to save money. But about one-third of the park system is free to enter every day, with no pass required.
That includes a wide range of destinations, from the Smokies and coastal redwoods to Alaska wilderness, swamp boardwalks, and a city-centered monument in St. Louis.
Great Smoky Mountains, Redwoods and New River Gorge lead the list of fee-free favorites
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina is the busiest national park in the country and has never charged admission. Visitors come for more than 800 miles of trails, sunrise views along Newfound Gap Road and fall color that peaks in mid-October.
Redwoods National and State Parks in California protects some of the tallest trees on Earth, including groves reaching more than 350 feet, while New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia offers a 900-foot-deep canyon and views of the bridge from the visitor center boardwalk.
North Cascades, Congaree and Cuyahoga Valley offer big scenery with easy access
North Cascades National Park in Washington has jagged peaks, more than 300 glaciers and turquoise lakes, with Diablo Lake Overlook and Cascade Pass among the standout stops. Congaree National Park in South Carolina preserves the nation’s largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, where visitors can paddle Cedar Creek or walk the 2.6-mile boardwalk loop.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio sits between Cleveland and Akron and combines more than 100 miles of trails with Brandywine Falls and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Alaska’s remote parks and Arkansas, South Dakota and Missouri round out the free-entry options
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska both deliver major wilderness scenery without an entrance fee, though access is by boat, plane or rough road. Katmai National Park and Preserve is known for brown bears at Brooks Falls and fly-in access.
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas centers on Bathhouse Row, Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota combines prairie wildlife with a vast cave system, and Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri offers free access to the monument grounds and riverfront.
Free entry does not always mean every activity is free inside the park
Even at parks with no entrance fee, some experiences still cost money. Cave tours at Wind Cave, tram rides at Gateway Arch, soaking at Hot Springs and some guided or permit-based activities at other parks are separate expenses.
The free-entry list still gives travelers a way to see major scenery, historic sites and wildlife without paying to get through the gate, making these parks practical options for road trips and longer vacations alike.
Plan smarter with Travel Your Way.