Free Admission At Maryland's National Parks This Weekend

Every national park across the country will offer free admission this weekend to celebrate National Park Week. Admission will be free on Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23.

Here are 15 sites in Maryland to check out from the National Park Service. They range from Civil War battlefields to wildlife refuges.

Antietam, Sharpsburg: The Battle of Antietam, fought here, is known as the bloodiest in American history.

Assateague Island: Beaches, marshes and bays are part of the landscape on this 37-mile barrier island, which is partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia. It is home to bands of wild horses.

Catoctin Mountain, Thurmont: This park in Frederick County was created under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the Great Depression.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Hagerstown: Take a look at the C&O Canal, which enabled coal, lumber and other products to get to market for 100 years along the Potomac River.

Fort Foote, Oxon Hill: Built in 1863, this site was designed to strengthen the ring of fortifications encircling Washington, D.C. Two of the guns that protected Washington remain along with earthworks.

Fort McHenry, Baltimore: The defense of Baltimore at this location inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Fort Washington: Built to defend the river approach to Washington, D.C., this fort has evolved as a brick and stone structure in the 19th century to concrete and steel in the 20th century.

Glen Echo Park: Started in 1891, this park offers year-round cultural and recreational activities.

Pictured, Glen Echo Park.

Greenbelt Park: Just 12 miles from Washington, D.C., the park features a 174-site campground, 9 miles of trails and three picnic areas.

Hampton, Towson: The Hampton estate includes a Georgian mansion, overseer's house and slave quarters.

Pictured, Hampton National Historic Site.

Harmony Hall, Prince George's County: The 18th century mansion was purchased by the National Park Service in 1966 to preserve southern Maryland cultural heritage.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, Cambridge: This new national park is a tribute to Harriet Tubman, who helped carry others out of slavery. The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is located next door.

Above, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center opened in March 2017.

Monocacy, Frederick: Soldiers fought along the banks of the Monocacy River during the summer of 1864 in the Civil War.

Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm, Oxon Hill: Originally a plantation home during the War of 1812, the site transitioned to a hospital farm and then to a national park.

Piscataway, Accokeek: Piscataway Park is home to wildlife, boardwalks, nature trails and a public fishing pier. The National Colonial Farm is also on-site.

More Opportunities For Free Park Admission

If you're not able to get out this weekend, don't worry. The National Park Service is holding three other free entry events this year, including Aug. 25 for the National Park Service Birthday; Sept. 30 for National Public Lands Day; and Nov. 11 and 12 for Veterans Day.

"The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees," the service says. "Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise."

The service also points out that even at typical rates, admission to the national parks is affordable, ranging from $3 to $30. Veterans, people with disabilities and fourth graders can all get free passes, and seniors can pay $10 for lifetime passes.

Want to locate a national park? There are more than 400 nationwide, and you can use this tool to find one.

See Also: The State Of US Forests—6 Questions Answered

Aerial of Fort McHenry by Tom Darden, Maryland Governor's Office. All photos courtesy of National Park Service.