FREE: No Admission Fees at National Parks Through April 24

If you’ve been putting off a trip to Fort McHenry, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon or another National Park because you’re trying to save money -- now is the time to go.

All entrance fees at National Parks and Monuments in Maryland and across the country are waived through Sunday, April 24 for National Park Week.

Maryland has eight national parks, according to the MSA website, which give the public access to historic homes, Civil War battle sites, mountain trails, and a view of the Atlantic Ocean.

There are plenty of special events going on this week, including:

• April 22: Earth Day - On Earth Day, if you want to roll up your sleeves and pitch in with a project, look for a park where you can help out.
• April 23: National Park Instameet - Join an InstaMeet in a park. Gather in a designated place at a specific time to take photos and short videos to post on Instagram (and other social media) with the same hashtag: #FindYourParkInstaMeet, #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque, #NPS100
• April 24: Park Rx Day - On Park Rx Day, parks will host fun recreational activities that encourage healthy lifestyles and promote physical and mental well being.

Maryland’s national parks are:

• C & O Canal National Historical Park, with a Western Maryland Railway Station Center at 13 Canal St., Room 304, Cumberland
• Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, 2400 East Fort Ave., Baltimore
• Hampton National Historic Site, 535 Hampton Lane, Towson
• Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont
• C & O Canal National Historic Park, Brunswick Visitors Center, 40 West Potomac St., Brunswick
• Monocacy National Battlefield, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick
• C & O Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center, 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac
• Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
• Fort Washington National Park, 13551 Fort Washington Road, Fort Washington
• Greenbelt Park, 6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt
• Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg

There also sites like the Appalachian Trail, Assateague Island -- part of the National Seashore -- the Harriett Tubman Underground Railroad site and many more spots that share both Maryland and the nation's history.

Spring is typically a great time to visit parks, as the number of visitors is much smaller than during peak summer travel. More than 37 million people visit the country's National Parks annually, generating $1.6 trillion in economic benefit.

Need more inspiration? Browse National Parks and Monuments in Maryland

»Photo of Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, from the National Park Service.