North Carolina National Park Offering Free Entrance Days Through 2024
If you wish to capture the beauty of the North Carolina landscape without breaking the bank, you’re in luck! The National Parks are offering multiple fee-free entrance dates for visitors…
Crew members prepare a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer prior to an unsuccessful reenactment of the Wright brothers’ first flight during Centennial celebrations at the Wright Brothers National Memorial December 17, 2003 in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. There are opportunities to go see the park for free this year.
Photo by Corey Lowenstein-Pool/Getty ImagesIf you wish to capture the beauty of the North Carolina landscape without breaking the bank, you're in luck! The National Parks are offering multiple fee-free entrance dates for visitors to take advantage of throughout 2024, including a park in North Carolina.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills is the only NC national park participating in the free entrance day service. Access to the park usually involves an entrance pass priced at $10 for adults 16 and older.
However, this year the national park will be free for visitors on these eight select dates:
- Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Saturday, April 20: First day of National Park Week
- Wednesday, June 19: Juneteenth
- Sunday, August 4: Great American Outdoors Day
- Monday, August 19: National Aviation Day
- Saturday, September 28: National Public Lands Day
- Monday, November 11: Veterans Day
- Tuesday, December 17: 120th anniversary of the Wright brothers' very first flight
The Wright Brothers National Memorial offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, where you can explore many historically significant locations where the Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the world.
As listed on the official park website, you can visit the exact spot where the brothers first took flight, as well as the famous Wright brothers monument. The visitor center also has many interactive exhibits for a fully immersive experience.
But perhaps the coolest feature of the park is the sculpture of the iconic plane that was used for first flight, which you are even allowed to touch and climb.
But if you can't make it on one of the fee-free days, not to worry. You may qualify for an America the Beautiful annual pass, which allows free or discounted entry for certain people. Military veterans, active duty military members, those with disabilities, and children in the fourth grade are allowed free access to every national park.
Click here for a full list of national parks participating in fee-free visit days.
All 41 of the North Carolina State Parks You Should Visit This Year
The weather is beautiful and it's time to start thinking about summer adventures at all 41 of the North Carolina State Parks.
There are currently 41 areas part of the NC State Parks system, including 34 parks, four recreation areas, and three state natural areas, according to NC Parks.
That opens up the door for a ton of adventure, whether you like camping, hiking, beaches, mountains or everything in between.
"Come to our parks to marvel at our state's most beautiful natural resources, enjoy your favorite outdoor activities, and learn about the rich science, culture, and history that make our parks great," NC Parks says on their site. "From Gorges State Park on the Blue Ridge escarpment to Jockey's Ridge State Park in the Outer Banks, you'll find mysterious bay lakes, wild swamps, sandhills with their longleaf pine habitats, piedmont river systems, and bold mountain streams."
The closest state parks to Fayetteville are Carvers Creek (right here in Cumberland County!), Raven Rock, Jones Lake, Weymouth Woods, Singletary Lake, and Lumber River.
So here's a look at all 41 of those amazing places to check out, with links to each park, so you can learn more for your North Carolina State Parks adventure!
Momodu Mansaray/Getty ImagesImage Courtesy NC State Parks System
