Enjoy Free Entry into the National Parks on These Days in 2023!
2023 has officially arrived, and our team of poster artists, creatives, illustrators, designers, writers, directors, and customer service specialists are excited to begin planning a year of travel! Every year, employees at Anderson Design Group embark on domestic and international trips. Not only do we love to travel, but much of the inspiration for our retro illustrations and vintage-styled poster art comes from our journeys around the country and world.
To start the year off right, we thought we'd begin by highlighting the dates in 2023 when the National Park Service will waive the entrance fee to every National Park on the roster.
All NPS-Managed Sites will be FREE to Enter on These Days
It's not just the 63 National Parks that will open free to the public on the following days, but all National Park Service-managed sites will be free to the public. That means folks can enjoy free access to about 423 National Park Service-managed sites on these days:
- January 16: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 22: First day of National Park Week
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 23: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Want a Stunning Experience Without the Crowds?
The only downside to fee-free days is that the parks, naturally, experience a spike in visitation on these days. If you'd like to get out into the beautiful nature of America's public lands and enjoy fee-free entrance to one of the 423 protected sites managed by the National Park Service, consider these less-traveled alternatives:
- Lassen Volcanic National Park (A visually stunning and less-traveled alternative to Yellowstone).
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Easily accessible, with similar stunning views as the Grand Canyon!)
- Bandelier National Monument (A similar experience to Mesa Verde National Park, but with a fraction of the visitation numbers).
- Devils Postpile National Monument (Stunning rock features, not unlike Yosemite).
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Experience the great American Southwest, but without all the people!)
Consider Purchasing an Annual Pass to Enjoy America's Best Idea
In an ever-present effort to promote inclusion, equity, and accessibility for all, the National Park Service set aside several days each year to offer fee-free days to the public. Many sites managed by the NPS already do not charge entrance fees, but even those that do will provide free entrance to the public on the five days listed above.
However, it is only through the financial support of millions of Americans that these beautiful natural lands are maintained and protected. With that in mind, the NPS encourages National Park enthusiasts to purchase an annual pass.
Quoting the NPS website:
“The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Learn more about the variety of passes offered by the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series.”
2023 is Off to a Good Start!
Visitation to the American National Parks will likely be up again in 2023. (Numbers are still being crunched for 2022, but the parks entertained over 297 million visitors in 2021!) So when you do travel to the parks, bear in mind the impact of human traffic within the parks, and do your best to enjoy these serene natural lands responsibly.
And if you need travel inspiration, our poster artists have produced a collection of National Park poster art, travel art, National Parks illustrations, and vintage-styled art. Choose from over 300 original illustrations created by several artists. Each of our artists shares one thing in common; a love for America's National Parks and the deeper meaning behind the preservation of America's Best Idea.
See you on the trails,
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
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