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‘Fee Free Weekends’ during National Park Week

Jennifer Ortiz | jortiz@wtop.com

April 15, 2017, 3:32 PM

WASHINGTON — Saturday, April 15 marks the beginning of National Park Week, a weeklong celebration of America’s natural treasures. And to make it more accessible for people to get out and explore  the national parks, admission to every national park will be free until April 23.

There are more than 400 national parks throughout the nation, and only 117 of them charge an entrance fee. According to NPS, the fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees and transportation entrance fees. Reservation, camping, tours, concessions and third party fees are not included.

In this June 7, 2013, photo, the placid meadows and hills of Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpburg, Md., are a contrast with the Civil War violence that once raged across this land. So consuming is the serenity at Antietam that it can seduce you into ignoring the story of the mayhem that unfolded here on Sept. 17, 1862.(AP Photo/Cal Woodward)
In this June 7, 2013, photo, the placid meadows and hills of Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpburg, Md., are a contrast with the Civil War violence that once raged across this land. So consuming is the serenity at Antietam that it can seduce you into ignoring the story of the mayhem that unfolded here on Sept. 17, 1862. (AP Photo/Cal Woodward)
AP Photo/Cal Woodward
Boats plow through the Inlet seperating Assateague Island National Seashore, right, from Ocean City, Md., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, in this southeastern view with the Atlantic Ocean at left. Wind and water have been rolling Assateague west for eons. But the jetty, left, built in 1935 to preserve this inlet blocked the replenishing flow of sand from the sea. Since then, the island's northern end has eroded to only a few hundred yards wide and a few feet above sea level in some stretches. National park officials say a strong storm or two could trigger the breakup of this island famous for wild horses. (AP Photo/Stephen Cherry)
Boats plow through the Inlet separating Assateague Island National Seashore, right, from Ocean City, Md., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, in this southeastern view with the Atlantic Ocean at left. The island is famous for wild horses. (AP Photo/Stephen Cherry)
AP Photo/Stephen Cherry
Riding the old time canal boat. (Courtesy National Park Service)
This photo shows an old time canal boat on the C&O Canal. Today the old fashioned transportation system is the feature of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which stretches for 184.5-miles.   (Courtesy National Park Service)
Courtesy National Park Service
FILE - In this undated image, a flag flies at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Md., where Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," and shot off the cannon which defended the city against the British in an undated photo. (AP Photo, File)
FILE – In this undated image, a flag flies at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and shot off the cannon which defended the city against the British in an undated photo. (AP Photo, File)
AP Photo, File
Fort Washington is shown along the Potomac River Monday, June 16, 2003, in Fort Washington, Md. Built in 1824, Fort Washington guarded the capital through the Civil War and World War I before being decommissioned in the 1940s. Now a national park, the aging fort fights a new enemy that poses threat much graver than enemy guns. (AP Photo/Matt Houston)
Fort Washington is shown along the Potomac River Monday, June 16, 2003, in Fort Washington, Md. Built in 1824, Fort Washington guarded the capital through the Civil War and World War I before being decommissioned in the 1940s. Now a national park, the aging fort fights a new enemy that poses threat much graver than enemy guns. (AP Photo/Matt Houston)
AP Photo/Matt Houston
Joquetta Johnson, a school teacher from Baltimore, enjoys the overlook of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Saturday, June 21, 2008. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park lies in a tri-state area, with a hour drive from Washington D.C. and Baltimore. (AP Photo/Martin B. Cherry)
AP Photo/Martin B. Cherry
A local kayaker cools off making his way through a roaring set of rapids Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, at Great Falls in northern Virginia. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
A local kayaker cools off  making his way through a roaring set of rapids Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, at Great Falls in northern Virginia. Many kayakers rate Great Falls Park rapids as some of the best in the state . Its rapids are long, violent and complex. Swimming is dangerous and rescue is difficult even for experts. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
AP Photo/Ron Edmonds
This picture was taken Thursday, Sept. 15 along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. (Courtesy National Park Service)
This picture was taken Thursday, Sept. 15 along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. (Courtesy National Park Service)
Courtesy National Park Service
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In this June 7, 2013, photo, the placid meadows and hills of Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpburg, Md., are a contrast with the Civil War violence that once raged across this land. So consuming is the serenity at Antietam that it can seduce you into ignoring the story of the mayhem that unfolded here on Sept. 17, 1862.(AP Photo/Cal Woodward)
Boats plow through the Inlet seperating Assateague Island National Seashore, right, from Ocean City, Md., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, in this southeastern view with the Atlantic Ocean at left. Wind and water have been rolling Assateague west for eons. But the jetty, left, built in 1935 to preserve this inlet blocked the replenishing flow of sand from the sea. Since then, the island's northern end has eroded to only a few hundred yards wide and a few feet above sea level in some stretches. National park officials say a strong storm or two could trigger the breakup of this island famous for wild horses. (AP Photo/Stephen Cherry)
Riding the old time canal boat. (Courtesy National Park Service)
FILE - In this undated image, a flag flies at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Md., where Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," and shot off the cannon which defended the city against the British in an undated photo. (AP Photo, File)
Fort Washington is shown along the Potomac River Monday, June 16, 2003, in Fort Washington, Md. Built in 1824, Fort Washington guarded the capital through the Civil War and World War I before being decommissioned in the 1940s. Now a national park, the aging fort fights a new enemy that poses threat much graver than enemy guns. (AP Photo/Matt Houston)
A local kayaker cools off making his way through a roaring set of rapids Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, at Great Falls in northern Virginia. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
This picture was taken Thursday, Sept. 15 along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. (Courtesy National Park Service)

Participating parks in Maryland:
Antietam National Battlefield
Assateague Island National Seashore
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Fort Washington Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (in West Virginia)

Participating parks in Virginia:
Assateague Island National Seashore
Colonial National Historical Park
George Washington Memorial Parkway’s Great Falls Park
Prince William Forest Park
Shenandoah National Park

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation have partnered this year to bring National Park Week celebrations. Other activities this week include Junior Ranger Day, Earth Day and Park Rx Day.

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