How to Visit National Parks On A Tight Budget

Want to plan an amazing trip to a National Park this summer, but worried about what it will cost? With careful planning, National Parks can actually be quite affordable. In this post, I share my best tips for visiting National Parks on a budget.

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1. Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass Annual Parks Pass

If you plan on visiting more than three National Park, National Monument, or other public land sites around the US in a year, the America the Beautiful Pass can save you a lot of money on entrance fees.

For $80, this Interagency Annual Pass grants you free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country for an entire year, including National Parks, Bureau of Land Management Land, National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, and more.

When you consider that entry fees can be as high as $35 for just one Park, this pass can save you money if you plan to hit a couple of parks in a year. The America the Beautiful Pass covers one vehicle with up to four passengers.

I have firsthand experience of how the Annual Pass pays for itself. Back in 2013 during my cross-country move, I decided to pull off at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. I purchased an Annual Pass on the spot and in less than two months, it paid for itself:

• Petrified Forest National Park ($10)
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area ($10)
• Zion National Park ($30)
• Red Rocks National Conservation Area ($7)
• Arches National Park ($25).

If I had paid the entrance fees for these parks separately, it would have cost me $82. And keep in mind, this was only over the span of two months – I still had 10 months left in the year to visit additional Federal Lands!

Note: There are also discount or free annual passes available for seniors (62+), US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities, military members, and veterans.

2. Opt for Camping Over Hotels

I always opt for camping in National Parks. It’s so much cheaper than staying in hotels. Most campsites range from $18 – $35, depending on what facilities are available and whether you need an RV hookup. Compare that with the price of hotels in or near the park, which can be hundreds of dollars, and you see the clear winner for visiting National Parks on a budget.

To save even more on campsite fees, many National Parks are surrounded by public lands that are free to camp on (although sites typically don’t have amenities like bathrooms and showers).

If you’re new to camping, you’re in luck. I have lots of car camping resources to help you plan your National Park camping trips. Start with these blog posts:

• Car Camping 101: How to Plan, What to Pack, & More
• Car Camping Essentials (including a PDF packing list!)
• Road Trip Essentials Checklist

3. Cook Your Own Meals

Food in National Parks is like food at airports: not very good and super expensive. If you’re visiting a National Park on a budget, I recommend bringing and cooking most of your own food and meals. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks too.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few blog posts & other resources to help you plan out your camping meals:

• Camp Cooking Essentials for Camping
• 6 Easy One-Pot Camping Meals
• Best Lightweight Vegan Backpacking Food Ideas
• Best Hiking Snacks

4. Take Advantage of Free Entrance Days

Did you know that there are a handful of days throughout the year where National Park entrance fees are waived? These fee-free days aren’t just limited to the National Parks either. There are over 400 National Monuments, Historic Sites, Memorials, and other designations of the National Park System that participate in fee-free days.

I recently traveled to Bryce Canyon National Park and lucked out that it happened to be a fee-free day. I forgot my America the Beautiful Pass, so I was especially happy to not have to pay the entrance fee.

Keep in mind that fee-free days will draw more people, so use my tips on how to avoid the crowds at National Parks and be patient if visiting on free days.

5. Plan A Trip When Your Child is in 4th Grade

Every Kid Outdoors is a government program that grants 4th graders and their families (all children under 16 and up to 3 adults) free entrance to National Parks. All your Fourth grader needs to do is fill out a diary of the things they’d like to see and do and then print out a paper pass to show the rangers at National Park entrances.

The Every Kid Outdoors program is valid for one school year and you can read the official rules and instructions here.

6. Plan a Trip with Your Parents or Grandparents

Seniors (62+) are eligible for a lifetime National Parks Senior Pass that has a one-time fee of $80. This pass grants seniors access to National Parks for free and will cover up to 3 additional people in a vehicle.

So if your grandparents or parents have been wanting to take a road trip, start planning a National Parks adventure with them!

7. Search for Campervan Deals

If you don’t want to camp, but hotels are too expensive, consider renting a camper van (here are some camper van rental companies to choose from)! You know it’s my favorite way to travel and also makes it easier to cook food for yourself.

Many camper van and RV companies offer deals in the off-season or for longer-term rentals. If your dates and itinerary are flexible, this could be a great way to visit the National Parks on a budget.

For the greatest savings, make sure you rent a van that gets good gas mileage, otherwise the money you save on the hotel will be spent on gas.

8. Visit a National Monument Instead

Most people are familiar with notable National Parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Glacier, but not as familiar with National Monuments. National Monuments are a great budget-friendly alternative to National Parks because they typically have considerably cheaper (or no) entrance fees and campsites are either free or inexpensive.

But what about the views and recreation? While I think most National Parks feel a bit more grand, many National Monuments are still very impressive and have way fewer tourists, making the experience better overall.

9. Visit A Free National Park

Did you know that more than 100 of the 400+ National Park Service sites do not charge an entrance fee to visit? Some examples of these are Channel Islands National Park, Great Smoky Mountains, and Biscayne National Park. This is one of the easiest ways to visit National Parks on a budget!

10. Visit National Parks in the Off-Season

While visiting a National Park in the shoulder or off-season won’t save you on entrance fees, it could save you money on accommodation! Many hotels and rentals will offer discounts during non-busy months, so consider visiting in the least popular months to save money. Not only will visiting National Parks in the off-season be a little cheaper, but you’ll also have fewer crowds to deal with!

For some inspiration, here are my favorite National Parks to visit in the off-season:

What are your tips for visiting National Parks on a budget? Do you have any suggestions to add? Let me know in the comments!