You probably don’t need another reminder of just how expensive travel (and the cost of living, generally) are these days. From increased gas prices and groceries to rising rent and insurance costs, we’re getting used to seeing higher prices everywhere we go. So occasionally, it’s nice to be reminded when something is available to you at a discounted rate or free. And it’s even better when it’s something that you can learn from or experience in nature.
We’re digging in to find the best resources for you to access our beautiful national parks and incredible museums across the country — and at a discounted rate or free, so you can save a little extra money in this expensive economy while enriching your life at the same time.
How to enter national parks for free
The federal government runs national parks for preservation purposes, specifically the National Parks Service (NPS). There are over 420 national parks, encompassing 84 million acres nationwide. Interestingly, national historic sites, national battlefields, and national trails are a few of the places of interest that fall under the NPS umbrella and are considered part of the vast national park network.
Free Admission Days
Most national parks are free to enter regularly. Of the 424 parks, only about 100 of them charge an entrance fee. However, there are designated free admission days for the parks where there are typically admission fees.
Each year, the National Park Service chooses designated dates for free general admission for everyone. These dates are typically published in December of the following year. In 2023, the remaining
free admission dates are:
August 4, 2023 —- in celebration of Great American Outdoors Day
September 23, 2023 —- in honor of National Public Lands Day
November 11, 2023 — Veterans Day
If you are searching for the latest information about a national park or where one is located near you, you can use the
NPS.gov directory.
Before you head out and explore a national park or battlefield, you can check the price of admission (if any) or possibly plan your outing on a free admission day.
America The Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Lands Pass
If your schedule doesn’t allow you to wait until a Free Admission Day is posted, you can order a
Federal Lands Pass for $80. This pass allows you and the guests traveling in your car (up to four more adults) unlimited entrance into any of the federal sites, including those within the:
U.S. Forest Service
National Park Service
Fish and Wildlife Service
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
US Army Corp of Engineers
The annual pass may be $80 for most U.S. citizens, but if you’re a senior citizen, member or the military, or other included group, then the pass may be free or $20.
Fourth Grade National Park Pass
Are you a teacher of a fourth grade class or parent of a fourth grade student? The NPS offers a unique opportunity for all fourth grade children across the country. Through the
Every Kid Outdoors program, a fourth grader can register online and obtain a free pass for any national park and historic site for an entire year. The best part? The free passes are valid for immediate family members too.
I recently completed the
registration process for my fourth grader and can attest to how easy it is to set up. You simply fill out the form online and print out the pass. You do have to bring a physical copy with you for the free admission. It couldn’t be any easier for families of fourth graders to explore throughout the country.
How to find discounted tickets or free admission to museums
Perhaps the outdoors aren’t your thing and you love learning indoors through museums and cultural centers. These types of outings typically include pricey admission fees which makes it hard to take the entire family. If the price of admission tickets to museums has scared you away, you will appreciate the numerous opportunities to explore them across the country at a discounted (or even free) price.
Check the museum’s website
If there’s a particular museum you’re interested in, you can start by going directly to the museum’s website to find out if there are any free admission days or discounted days. For example, there is a popular museum located near my home called the
Morris Museum of Art. If you visit the website directly, then you’ll notice every Sunday there is free admission. Naturally, if I want to save on my admission fee then I need to choose Sunday to go for a visit.
If you’re interested in children’s museums, there are often specials or discounts listed directly on the site too. For instance, the
Children’s Museum of Atlanta advertises several savings opportunities available, such as military or educator discounts.
Free admission through banks
Some banks offer cardholders discounted or free museum entry as a perk for their patronage. The two largest banks offering this benefit are Bank of America and Capital One.
Bank of America
Bank of America offers the
Museums on Us program for any Bank of America, Merrill, or U.S.Trust cardholder free museum admission during the first weekend of every month. The free admission is good at any of the 255 participating museums in the program.
Capital One
Any Capital One rewards cardholders are eligible to enroll in the
Capital One Cultivast program. This program allows members to visit any of the 60 participating museums around the world for free, with a six-month membership. Members can also bring one guest for free during the six-month complimentary membership and enjoy special exhibits and special events during their membership period.
Culture Pass Program through the Local Library
Another opportunity to save on museums and cultural centers is through the Culture Pass Program, which may be available through your local library. A Culture Pass program provides a library with complimentary museum admission tickets. A library cardholder can sign up for use for one of these passes on a rotating basis.
Not all libraries participate in this program, so you have to check with your local library district. If they don’t participate, they may offer their own similar program free or discounted museum entrance.
One more benefit of your library card is how it may also get you free admission into state parks. Depending on what library you belong to and what state you live in, you may be eligible for free state park admission passes simply by presenting your library card. For example, if you’re registered with a
Georgia public library, you can enjoy free or discounted admission to Georgia state parks and historical sites.
Museums for All Program
If you are enrolled in the food assistance program (SNAP benefits) and have an EBT card, you are also eligible for participation in the Museums for All program. Simply present your EBT card and a photo ID to one of over 1,000 participating museums, and you receive a discounted or free admission ticket. You can check out the full directory of
participating museums here.
The best part is, this program includes children’s museums, zoos, planetariums, nature centers, and a wide variety of other places of interest, so everyone in your family can find something they love.
Discounts for military families, students, and teachers
Many museums offer free or reduced admission prices for military members, students, and teachers. If you fall into one of these categories, you should contact the museum directly or search the website to confirm if there are any existing discounts.
For military members, the
Blue Star Museums program is another way to enjoy free admission. This program is for active-duty military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserves, and their families. You simply register for the Blue Star program and you’re on your way to enjoying admission to over 2,000 participating museums, nature centers, zoos, and children’s museums.
The bottom line
Museums, cultural institutions, zoos, and nature centers are all wonderful places to expand your mind and dig deeper into experiences. While doing this often comes with a price tag, you may be surprised at how many discounted and free admission opportunities are available to you and your family. With so many chances to gain free or discounted admission, you and your family can enjoy yourselves without busting your budget.
