Up to date February 19, 2026 10:43AM
It begins with one nationwide park journey on the calendar. Then one other. And instantly, your park entrance charges are climbing as quick as your hike’s elevation acquire.
Pull as much as the gate at Glacier Nationwide Park, and also you’ll must fork over $35 per automobile. Or, you can simply go for an annual move, which is able to value you $70. The identical charges apply to different bucket-list nationwide parks like Zion and Yosemite. Or you can go for the $80 America the Lovely move, which will get you into 2,000 recreation websites and the entire nationwide parks for one calendar 12 months. That’s nonetheless no low-cost charge. And as a consequence of coverage adjustments this 12 months, sure parkgoers should pay much more. For worldwide vacationers, the value soars to $100 per individual for marquee parks, or $250 for a non-resident annual move to go to multiple. It’s truthful to say exploring our nationwide park’s iconic arches and alpine lakes doesn’t come low-cost.
However we’re right here to allow you to in on a little-known secret: Lots of our 63 nationwide parks don’t have any entrance charges. Chase waterfalls, summit picturesque peaks, and wander distant wilderness in these 4 nationwide park favorites—all with out paying a dime on the gate.
Redwood Nationwide and State Parks – California
Take a stroll among the many tallest timber on earth in Northern California at Redwood Nationwide and State Parks. This park’s distinctive in that it groups up with three California state parks (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek) to create one huge swath of historical redwood forest and distant Pacific shoreline. It’s additionally far much less crowded than redwood hotspots like Yosemite and Sequoia nationwide parks, and it has a $0 entry charge.
Cathedral-like redwood groves and coastal cliffs listed here are large, wild, and much much less manicured than the pure options in different nationwide parks. The undeveloped great thing about this redwood paradise is what makes it stand out. The urge to crank your neck skyward up the 300-foot big trunks is actual. Sometimes, ensure that to deliver your gaze right down to the fern-filled forest ground to catch a glimpse of vibrant yellow banana slugs grazing on fungi and fallen leaves.
Trails to Hike: You’ll spot the most important timber on the Tall Timber Grove Path (4 miles out-and-back) and shorter Grove of Titans Path (1.7-mile out-and-back). For an extended journey, hike (or backpack) the Redwood Creek Path to achieve distant and secluded old-growth groves. A allow is required to hike the Tall Timber Grove Path. Reserve upfront without spending a dime on-line.
When to Go to: Peak season runs from Might to September as a consequence of drier skies and 70-degree days. You’ll have one of the best shot at recognizing banana slugs, although, throughout the wet season between November to Might. It’s additionally when wildflowers like white and pink striped redwood sorrel and vibrant pink rhododendron begin to bloom.
Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park – Alaska
Most Alaskan adventures require in depth planning and costly logistics. Kenai Fjords, then again, is without doubt one of the few Alaska nationwide parks that offers you entry to glaciers with out the bush airplane price ticket. Regardless of being the smallest of Alaska’s nationwide parks, it’s one of the accessible for hikers and sightseers. One other win: You should utilize the cash you’d sometimes spend on an costly park entrance charge for a guided boat trip (common $100 per individual) by way of the fjords.
Lengthy-distance mountain climbing is restricted in Kenai Fjords as a result of, properly, there are huge glaciers and water-filled fjords. However the trails that do exist in Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park: Epic. Ice guidelines the panorama year-round. Glaciers spill by way of 6,000-foot peaks like frozen rivers, and icefields stretch properly past the horizon. You’ll soak in views of electrical blue glaciers, dramatic snowcapped peaks, and, come summer season, wildflower-filled alpine meadows.
Trails to Hike: The scenic Glacier Overlook Path (2 miles out-and-back) is without doubt one of the greatest methods to see a glacier up shut, and not using a boat or float airplane constitution. For an extended route, hike the Harding Icefield Path. This strenuous, full-day hike climbs 3,500 toes to a view over 700 sq. miles of pure ice.
When to Go to: By July, heavy snow can have melted off the paths, making for extra pleasant treks. Temperatures hover between the 50s and 60s between July and August. It’s additionally when wildflowers bloom. Should you’re trying to keep away from crowds, take into account a shoulder season go to in both Might or September.
Saguaro Nationwide Park – Arizona
Saguaros are magical beings. Their prickly limbs and towering trunks are Seussian in a method that tends to captivate hikers seeing them for the primary time. Saguaro Nationwide Park protects these treasured cacti distinctive to the Sonoran Desert. A visit to this free nationwide park is a vital pilgrimage for any desert lover and people searching for an arid escape. The park is break up into two districts—Saguaro East (the Rincon Mountain District) and Saguaro West (the Tucson Mountain District)—with Tucson smack dab within the center.
The biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert extends additional than Saguaro and the 20-plus different species of cacti in Saguaro Nationwide Park. Gila monster sightings surge throughout the summer season monsoon season (July by way of August) when the reptiles slither out of their underground shelters to rehydrate. Hikers also can spot distinctive desert dwellers like javelinas and roadrunners.
Trails to Hike: Backpack the Mica Mountain Loop (25 miles) for a giant problem. You’ll summit the path’s namesake after climbing simply shy of 6,000 toes in elevation. For shorter day hikes, go for the Saguaro-engulfed Hugh Norris Path (9.8 miles out-and-back), Bridal Wreath Falls, which results in a seasonal waterfall, or the Tanque Verde Ridge Path (as much as 22 miles out-and-back), a customizable ridgeline hike with panoramic views. Backpacking is permitted solely in Saguaro East, and also you’ll want to order your spot at its wilderness campsites ($8/evening, reserve on recreation.gov)
When to Go to: Go late fall by way of early spring for essentially the most comfy temps. Summer season brings brutal warmth, particularly at decrease elevations. Might is the candy spot to catch blooming saguaros, every producing waves of waxy white flowers over a number of weeks.
Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park – Tennessee and North Carolina
This one does include a caveat: You’ll must buy a $5-per-day or $15-per-week parking tag to depart your automotive in Nice Smoky Mountains. However apart from that, the most-visited nationwide park in America doesn’t cost an entrance charge. It’s laborious to pin down precisely what makes Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park essentially the most coveted of all 63 nationwide parks. Perhaps it’s the enduring smoky blue haze that turns the panorama right into a misty masterpiece. The views by no means get outdated both, regardless of what number of occasions you come. Then there’s the autumn colour and waterfall chasing. With greater than 2,000 rivers and streams, it’s simple to examine cascade-hopping off your record on nearly any path you select. And in terms of foliage, it’s one of the spectacular parks for autumn adventures.
Hikers can take their choose of 150 completely different trails within the Smokies, together with 74 miles of the Appalachian Path. To keep away from crowds, head to Cataloochee Valley on the North Carolina facet of the park. Elk viewing pops off right here between late September and early October. Hit the path at daybreak or nightfall on your greatest likelihood at recognizing these magnificent mammals.
Trails to Hike: Waterfall hikes reign supreme within the Nice Smoky Mountains. For a brief route with a giant reward, enterprise to Grotto Falls through the Trillium Hole Path. You’ll attain Grotto Falls on the 1.3-mile mark and may flip round or proceed for an extended problem. Different Smokies showstoppers embrace the Rainbow Falls Path (5.6 miles out-and-back), the place daylight casts a kaleidoscope of colour on the 80-foot cascading falls on sunny days, and the Abrams Falls Path (5 miles out-and-back), which ends on the falls plunging into an emerald pool.
When to Go to: The Smokies shine within the fall. By late September, the forests’ crimson and sugar maples flip scarlet and fiery orange, and birch burn vibrant yellow. Need to keep away from crowds? Take into account a spring journey. The climate’s most dependable in late March and early Might throughout the spring shoulder season. You’ll miss out on fall foliage however delight in plentiful wildflower blooms, particularly in April.
