Did you know? The National Park Service offers free admission to sites that normally charge a fee on certain days each year.
If you’re down for a day trip, there are several Virginia sites participating in fee-free days.
- Shenandoah National Park | Waterfalls, wildflowers, and trails to breathtaking views await you on 200,000+ acres of protected lands.
- Colonial National Historical Park | Spend the day at Yorktown and Jamestown for your fill of colonial and Revolutionary War history.
- George Washington Memorial Parkway’s Great Falls Park | This 800-acre park is just 15 miles outside DC.
- Prince William Forest Park | Nature lovers can head to NoVA for an outdoor oasis originally opened in 1936.
- Harpers Ferry National Historical Park | Take in the Civil War history of this site with programs about John Brown’s Raid and miles of Blue Ridge trails.
- Assateague Island National Seashore | Explore beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests.
There are also several national parks and historic sites closer to Richmond which do not charge for admission, including the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in Jackson Ward.
You could also spend the day exploring the Richmond National Battlefield Park system. Pro tip: Use this map to find all the battlefield sites in the area.
Here are all the fee-free dates so you can plan ahead. Road trip, anyone?
- January 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- April 20 | First day of National Park Week
- June 19 | Juneteenth
- August 4 | Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 28 | National Public Lands Day
- November 11 | Veterans Day
