Escape the Daily Grind and Find Your Park

Life can be grinding. Between the day-to-day stresses of traffic, faulty check-out kiosks, and automated customer service representatives, we could all use a break every once in a while. Luckily, there are over 400 national parks across the country waiting to be explored. And with such a wide range of parks, programs, and activities, odds are there’s one closer to you than you realized.

You can tour the fascinating history of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, go snorkeling on the Wild & Scenic Westfield River in Massachusetts, hike the trails of Washington D.C.’s urban refuge Rock Creek Park, or even go sledding down the dunes at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.

While many national parks are free 365 days a year, 112 of them charge entrance fees. The exception is on fee-free days. There are select days throughout the year that give everyone a chance to visit parks free of charge.