The National Park Service has announced five entrance fee-free days in 2020, as shown below.
On these days, all national parks will waive entrance fees:
- Monday, January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Saturday, April 18 – First Day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
- Tuesday, August 25 – National Park Service Birthday
- Saturday, September 26 – National Public Lands Day
- Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Entrance fees for the Great Falls area parks at both Maryland’s Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and Virginia’s Great Falls Park will increase on January 1, 2020 as part of the National Park Service’s stated efforts to address infrastructure needs and improve future visitor experiences.
Effective January 1, 2020 the fee schedule is as follows:
- Per Vehicle $20
- Per Person $10
- Per Motorcycle $15
- Park-Specific Annual Pass $35
Passes purchased at either park are valid at both parks.
All money collected from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service (NPS), with at least 80 percent retained locally at C&O Canal and the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
The Great Falls Annual Park Pass allows access on both the Virginia and Maryland side of the Potomac River and pays for itself in two visits, allowing visitors to enjoy daily changes in the river levels and the seasonal changes in the park. The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, active duty members of the U.S. military, fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.
Information shown above drawn from the NPS website. For more information, see https://www.nps.gov/grfa/learn/news/great-falls-entrance-fees-to-increase-january-1.htm