2nd NPS "Fee-Free Weekend" is Next Weekend!

Tuesday July 7, 2009

You already know that visiting a national park can be a very cost-effective way to spend a vacation. The NPS has sweetened the deal this summer even more by offering three "fee-free weekends" at national parks across the country. The first has already come and gone, but you can start planning now to take advantage of the next one, which is coming up on the weekend of July 18^th and 19^th. Fees are waived not only at "lesser known" parks, but also at the big ones, such as Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. NPS.gov has a full listing of fee-free weekend parks.

Many park concessioners are also offering special deals to coincide with the free weekend. Some of the offers include a free reusable tote bag, free group picture and buy-one-get-one-free deals on organized tours. ParkPartners.org has a full listing of the special deals happening.

The fee-free weekends are a great excuse to get out and see one of America's great national parks. If you can't make this one, you have one other opportunity this summer on August 15^th and 16^th. Choose a park and start planning now!