Fee-Free Weekend at National Parks + State Parks on September 25

I love parks. Local parks, state parks, national parks. I’m not picky. I just like having places to hike, explore, and relax that aren’t filled with traffic & smog.

Want to check out one on the cheap this summer? Pick a fee-free weekend to go, and you won’t need to pay entrance fees, commercial tour fees, or transportation entrance fees to visit more than 100 national parks.

Fee-free weekends at national parks will take place on the following dates:

• September 25
• November 11

And Georgia’s State Parks are participating in this Saturday’s free day, too, as part of National Public Lands Day; they’re waiving the $5 parking fee as well as the admission fees at the historic sites.

Not all national parks charge a fee. For instance, at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in GA, we can hike up & around the mountain and park for free year-round. To make the most of September 25th’s deal, plan to spend the day at one that typically charge a fee.

Can’t make it? Take advantage of one of the other ways to visit state parks free of charge:

• Wednesdays are free days at all of Georgia’s State Parks, which means that you can skip the $5 parking fee & spend the day hiking the trails, fishing, & generally enjoying being outdoors. You won’t have to drive far to get there, either, as Sweetwater Creek, Panola Mountain, Red Top Mountain, & Fort Yargo are all state parks. We love the trails at Red Top—there’s a good mix, and it’s not too intense for our little ones (they’ve been wandering up & down those hills since they were toddlers).
• Have a library card? You can use it to check out a packet that includes free passes to Georgia State Parks and State Historic Sites. I will definitely be taking advantage of this deal in the coming weeks—Etowah Indian Mounds, Amicalola Falls, and the Dahlonega are among the parks & attractions included in the packet.

–Jennifer Maciejewski