Visit National Parks For Free, Volunteer On Public Lands Day 2022

ACROSS AMERICA — Plans this weekend? Pack up the family Saturday and head to a nearby national park 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, people can volunteer at a nearby public space or enjoy free admission at all national parks. 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. A full list of national parks to visit in every state is also available online. Many parks are free year-round.

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

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.

Search events online.

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.