National Parks waive park fees next month

The National Park Service will waive visitor fees next month during National Park Week, officials said Tuesday.

Parks will be open to the public free of charge from April 17 to 25, to coincide with National Park Week. The special fee program also coincides with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and the 75th anniversary of the nation’s most visited national park, the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 392 national parks will also offer special pricing deals on tours, lodging and souvenirs, the Park Service said.

“National parks preserve our heritage, promote recreational experiences, and provide places of quiet refuge,” National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said in a statement. “Most people live within a short drive of a national park so I encourage everyone to spend some time enjoying America’s Great Outdoors during National Park Week.”

The Interior Department also waived fees on three weekends last summer in an effort to provide cost-friendly vacation options for families struggling through the economic downturn.