Free Entrance To All National Parks This Weekend

National Park Week officially begins this weekend across the United States and that means special park programs, activities, and even free access to all of the most popular parks.

Entry to Yellowstone and Other National Parks In Idaho Free This Weekend

National Park Week happens every year in April, according to the National Park Service website, and for 2022 the dates are April 16th through the 24th. To kick off the special week, entrance to all national parks will be free on Saturday the 16th. That means you can get into Yellowstone, Craters of the Moon, and City of Rocks for free.

Not All National Parks Have National Park In Their Name

National Parks go by many different names across the United States. A National Reserve, National Monument, or National Historic Park are all part of the National Park system. That means here in Idaho you can go to Craters, City of Rocks, Yellowstone, and the Hagerman Fossil Beds. You can also head down to Utah for a visit to Golden Spike, Dinosaur, and Timpanogos Cave and get free entry on Saturday.

Why You Might Want To Skip Visiting Yellowstone In The Spring

Activities And Events During National Park Week

During the week you can visit National Parks for themed events each day or find virtual events from your home. Daily themes include discovery, creativity, innovation, preservation, curiosity, memories, and more.

Entrance to Yellowstone Free this Weekend for 2022 National Park Week

If you do plan to visit a National Park during the event, make sure you check their website for any closures or entrance requirements. In Idaho, some roads, trails, and entrances are still closed due to weather conditions.

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RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.