Every Kid in a Park: Get into any National Park for Free

I have recently discovered a love for National Parks.  This summer we visited Olympic National Park in Washington and had an AMAZING time.  Just last week we were able to go to the Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota!  Did I mention that we were able to get into all of these National Parks for FREE?!?!

Currently most National Parks charge at least a $20 per car fee upon entrance into the parks but rumor has it that that number could bump up to $70 next year!!

My neighbor told me about an initiative by the U.S. Government called “Every Kid in a Park”.  If you have a child in fourth grade, your entire family can get into ANY National Park (or National Wildlife Refuge) for FREE.  If you are traveling in the summer, it can be a child just leaving or getting ready to enter 4th grade.

Here is what you have to do:

::  Go to the website and fill out the info for “Every Kid in a Park.”

::  Print your confirmation (be sure and do this step, they will NOT accept digital versions).

::  Take the printout to the entrance of any National Park.

::  Your 4th grader will be given a plastic “Every Kid in a Park” card and must sign it.

::  Present the card at that park and any future parks through its expiration for free entrance for the entire family!!!

If you don’t have a 4th grader, this won’t be helpful for you this year (unless you want to borrow a 4th grader to take on vacation with you).  🙂  But you can start planning your trips to National Parks NOW based on the current ages of your kids.  Because of the Every Kid in a Park initiative, we are planning to go to Yellowstone when my middle son is in 4th grade (2019) and then to the Grand Canyon six more years when my daughter is in 4th grade (2023)!

What is your favorite National Park and why???