The National Park Service will have five entrance fee-free days in 2022. The free admission days are designed to encourage discovery and visitation of the country’s variety of national parks. With at least one in every state, national parks are accessible places to visit to refresh body, mind and spirit.
“Whether on an entrance fee-free day or throughout the year, we encourage everyone to discover their national parks and the benefits that come from spending time outdoors,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “National parks are for everyone and we are committed to increasing access and providing opportunities for all to experience the sense of wonder, awe and refreshment that comes with a visit to these treasured landscapes and sites.”
The free entrance dates for 2022 are:
- Monday, January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Saturday, April 16 – First Day of National Park Week
- Thursday, August 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Saturday, September 24 – National Public Lands Day
- Friday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Unchanged for 2022, the fee schedule for Great Falls Park is as follows:
- Per Vehicle $20
- Per Person $10
- Per Motorcycle $15
- Park-Specific Annual Pass $35, valid for 12 months from date of purchase
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. Annual Passes purchased at either park (Virginia or Maryland) 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.
Free annual passes to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks, are available for members of the U.S. Military and their dependents, U.S. Military veterans, Gold Star Families, fourth grade students, and eligible NPS volunteers. U.S. Citizens with a permanent disability can obtain a free lifetime pass. U.S. Citizens 62 years and older can purchase an $80 lifetime pass or a $20 annual pass. The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is a good option for those who visit multiple parks each year. Those traveling with passholders can usually also enter parks for free.
Alert:
Great Falls Park in Virginia entrance may close temporarily on nice weekends.
On weekends, if the park fills and parking not available, the entrance will close. When the intersection at Georgetown Pike & Old Dominion Drive is blocked by police, drivers may not enter until the park is reopened. There is no street parking.
COVID-19 Response
At the present time, masks are required for everyone, regardless of location or vaccination status, in all NPS building, crowded outdoor spaces, and all forms of enclosed public transportation. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus . Before visiting, check the park website to determine its operating status.
Source: National Park Service / NewsMedia@nps.gov