Veterans Day is Monday.
It’s also a free admission day to America’s national parks, the last day this year, including Yosemite and all other national parks in California. Also in California, veterans can enter 144 state parks for free on Veterans Day.
“We are excited for the public to explore national parks on Veterans Day, and especially invite current military personnel and their dependents, veterans and Gold Star families to get a military pass so they can enjoy free access to parks every day” , says National Park. Service director and Navy veteran Chuck Sams said in a statement, “As a veteran, it is wonderful to see other veterans and their loved ones exploring parks, learning our country’s history and finding peace in nature.”
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Here’s what park lovers need to know.
Are all US National Parks in California free?
They are on open days, of which there were six this year.
The rest of the year, only about a quarter of the parks within the National Park System charge entrance fees, including many of the most popular parks. The fee often covers entry for several days and, if traveling with a vehicle, for several people.
Travelers can see which parks charge fees on the National Park Service website and park-specific web pages.
Veterans, military personnel and their dependents, Gold Star families, fourth graders and their families, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities may enter the national parks for free year-round.
State parks in California will be free for veterans on Monday
Veterans can also visit 144 state parks for free on Veterans Day.
The state appreciates the sacrifices made by the nation’s military and their families, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in a statement.
California parks: Vets can enter 144 state parks for free on Veterans Day
The parks that honor historic military sites or veterans include:
A complete list of parks can be found at parks.ca.gov/VeteransDay2024.
To enter any of the parks for free, park staff must show a valid military ID or California driver’s license that identifies the person as a veteran, according to a California State Parks news release. The VA.gov app, accompanied by a valid government photo ID, is also accepted. Evidence of discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct will also be accepted.
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Does every state have a national park?
Yes and no.
There are 431 units within the National Park System, all of which are commonly considered parks, although they are as inclusive as national battlefields, historic sites, parkways, and seashores. By that definition, there is a national park in every state.
However, only 63 of them are what most people consider national “NP” parks, such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. Not every state has one. Some states, such as Utah and California, have multiple parks, and many of them charge entrance fees.
Potential visitors can find the nearest national park on the park service’s Find a Park webpage.
The story continues below.
Why do national parks charge fees?
Fees are used to improve visitor services, such as improving accessibility to Acadia National Park, replacing boardwalks in Everglades National Park, and restoring the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park.
“At least 80 percent of recreation fee funding remains in the park where it is collected, and the remaining 20 percent is used to benefit parks that do not collect fees or parks that generate only a small amount of revenue,” according to the National Park Service , which shares park-specific examples of paid dollar use through an interactive map on its website.
Wes Woods II of the USA Today Network also contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California’s 9 national parks are free to visit on Veterans Day
