The number of free admission days at National Parks will be drastically cut in 2018. This move to cut back on free entrance days has been widely opposed by those who are against the rise of entrance fees at 118 of the 417 national parks in the United States.
After waiving entrance fees for 16 days in 2016 and 10 days in 2017, the National Park Service announced on Tuesday, that there will be four no-cost days next year. This year's free entrance days were comprised of all days around Veterans Day weekend (Friday-Sunday) as well as the weekends that surrounded the National Parks Week. Free entrance days for 2018 will now include the following dates:
- January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- April 21: First day of National Park Week
- September 22: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
In regards to the cut on fee free days, National Park Service Deputy Director, Michael T. Reynolds, commented, "National parks connect all of us with our country’s amazing nature, culture and history. The days that we designate as fee free for national parks mark opportunities for the public to participate in service projects, enjoy ranger-led programs, or just spend time with family and friends exploring these diverse and special places. We hope that these fee-free days offer visitors an extra incentive to enjoy their national parks in 2018.”