National Parks

What can a family do on vacation that does not cost a fortune? Sure, the kiddos would love to spend 5 days at the closest theme park or water park; but that just isn't a feasible option for many families on an annual basis.

Personally, I like to find family activities that are specific to the area we are visiting. For example, I am a huge fan of our National Parks. Our family has visited many of them. They have a Junior Ranger program, geared toward grade school children. At many NPS locations, they offer the programs, which usually consist of a small booklet of age-appropriate activities. Successful completion of those activities results in the child earning a badge or patch, along with a certifcate. Our experience has been that most locations do not charge for the Junior Ranger program. Those that do tend to charge a minimal fee to cover the cost of printed materials. I believe the highest we paid was $3 per child.

Not only are National Park Service locations inexpensive to visit, there is a huge educational component involved. Everyone, from toddler to senior citizens, can learn new things. Supporting the NPS also helps to preserve pieces of our nation's history.

Now, just how much does it cost to visit the NPS sites? The answer is, it depends. Generally speaking, children under 16 years old are admitted free with paying adults. Each park has it's own fee, although there are some that are free, especially the lesser-known, more natural facilities. If you know you will be visiting a variety of parks, it is quite worthwhile to purchase the annual pass. One pass provides entry for the vehicle, the driver, and up to 3 more adults into the parks. The fee is $80, and the pass is good for one year. This is an excellent investment for a family planning to visit several parks in a year.

There are also some discounted NPS passes. For example, Senior Citizens age 62 and up can purchase a lifetime pass for just $10. For those who have permanent disabilities, the parks offer a lifetime pass for free. The discounted passes do not offer all the benefits of the full pass; but they are certainly worth considering, if you meet the requirements. The discounted NPS passes must be requested in person, and supporting documentation is required. Just pick them up at the entrance station for the first NPS site you visit. Click here for full information on these passes.


I'll review some specific locations in later posts. For now, take a virtual tour of our National Parks here.