5 Days You Can Get Into Yellowstone National Park For Free

Every year, the National Park Service sets aside a few days when admission is waived for visitors.

In 2022, there are five free entrance days. That means you can visit any National Park that usually charges admission for free. One of the free entrance days is January 17, the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Unfortunately for Montanans, that date falls in the middle of winter when motorized access to National Parks within the state is prohibited.

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The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenities or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

The good news is, that there are still four free entrance days left this year, and one of them is right around the corner. To celebrate the first day of National Park Week, admission at YNP will be waived on April 16. It gets even better.

Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 15, weather permitting, the following roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public.

• West Entrance to Old Faithful
• Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful (via Norris)
• Norris to Canyon Village
• North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs to Northeast Entrance (open year-round)

For more information about opening dates for roads in Yellowstone National Park, click here.

Here are the remaining free entrance days to National Parks in 2022