National Parks In Florida: Free Admission On Public Lands Day

FLORIDA— Plans this weekend? Pack up the family Saturday and head to a national park in Florida, like Canaveral National Seashore, to enjoy an afternoon of volunteering or sightseeing on National Public Lands Day.

Organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation and several federal, state, and nonprofit partners, it’s the largest single-day volunteer event held on U.S. public lands.

During National Public Lands Day, Florida residents can volunteer at a nearby public space or enjoy free admission at all national parks, including Assateague Island and Fort McHenry. This includes sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other participating federal agencies.

“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our country’s public lands acted as a safe haven for all Americans to gather with their friends and families,” Meri-Margaret Deoudes, president and CEO of the National Environmental Education Foundation, said in a news release. “NPLD gives us an opportunity to return the favor. …We invite the public to join us in giving back to these spaces that have played such an important role in our lives.”

The day provides one of the few opportunities each year to visit national parks for free after fee increases took effect in 2020 at various locations.

The National Park Service lists online all parks requiring entrance fees and the amount of the fees. Entrance fees will be waived at the following Florida parks on National Public Lands Day:

• Canaveral National Seashore, $40
• Castillo De San Marcos National Monument, $45
• Dry Tortugas National Park, $15
• Everglades National Park, $55

The next fee-free day will be Veterans Day, Nov. 11, according to the National Park Service.

See the full list of national parks in Florida. Many parks are free year-round.

For those hoping to volunteer, there is no shortage of opportunities. More than 500 volunteer events are currently registered on the National Environmental Education Foundation’s website.

Here are some events happening at Florida parks. Search more events online.

• Lake Mirror Cleanup removing all trash that has made its way into the lake, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland
• Let's explore Myakka River State Park, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota

National Public Lands Day was established in 1994 and is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. The purpose is to “celebrate the connection between people and green space in their community,” according to the National Parks Service.