National Parks on a Budget - Tips for Saving Money

Want to explore the national parks but on a tight budget? You’re going to love this episode of Exploring the National Parks!

Visiting the national parks is actually a great option for you if you love to travel but don’t have a ton of money to spend on it. We are sharing all of our top tips for traveling to the national parks while spending as little money as possible!

Join us as we discuss:

The benefits of an annual pass
When to travel for the most savings
Why we love camping in the parks
How to save on meals in the national parks
Ways to save on gas when traveling to national parks
Taking advantage of all of the free activities in the parks
Days you can visit the parks for free
The benefits of visiting the smaller national parks or national monuments

We hope you enjoyed these money-saving tips that will help you travel to the parks on a budget! If you need help planning your park trips, head to our itineraries for insider tips.

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Tip #1: Buy an annual park pass

If you plan on visiting three or more national parks in one year, you should buy an annual pass!

Let’s break down the math. The annual pass costs $80. On average, the entry fee for one national park is about $30. $30 x 3 = $90. That’s $10 saved!

The annual pass covers more than the national parks. Many federal lands (like national forests, recreation areas, and historic sites) will also accept your America the Beautiful annual pass.

If you are 62 or over, you can get a lifetime park pass for just $80! The benefits extend to other groups, such as the military, the permanently disabled, and 4th graders. Make sure you read up on which discounts you may qualify for on the national park site.

We saved $700 in entrance fees in 2023 alone; granted, we travel more than the average person to hunt down travel tips for you!

Tip #2: Travel during the off-season

This tip is all about balancing risk and reward. Don’t plan to travel to a national park in the off-season that you’re not sure you’ll return to again. You may be stuck visiting during peak season if you want to see all the highlights in one trip.

The benefits are that hotels are typically cheaper, and reservations are easier to get. Crowds tend to be smaller, too. Plus, you get to see a side of the park that most people don’t!

The downsides are that you may get stuck visiting during major construction, or some areas and roads may be closed altogether.

On some trips, we’ve saved up to $200 a night on hotels! Fall tends to be our favorite off-season travel time.

Tip #3: Camp when you can

This tip is our best way to travel to the national parks on a budget!

Camping in the national parks is unlike any other experience. You can lay awake watching the golden hour change to the Milky Way shining above you. And it’s a great way to save a lot of money!

When we first started visiting the national parks, we exclusively camped because it was the only way we could afford to travel. By camping, I learned I love being able to hear the wildlife wake up as the sun goes down from the warmth of my tent.

On a recent trip to Mt. Rainier, we spent around $1,100 over three days staying in a nearby lodge. A few years ago, we spent only $180 on camping. That’s $915 saved! Not only that, we were close to all the hikes we wanted to do.

In some parks, camping is increasing in price, but it’s still cheaper than a hotel.

Tip #4: Cook your own meals

Eating in the national parks can be very expensive and often isn’t worth it. We haven’t found many places we would choose to eat at again.

Pack those peanut butter sandwiches and hot dogs on your next trip. Most campsites or cabins will have fire pits for you to use. Nothing beats a freshly grilled burger cooked over a fire.

Make sure you get your groceries before you get to the park. Prices tend to increase in and around national parks because of the demand and difficulty getting supplies into remote areas.

Tip #5: Fill up on gas before you get to the park

For the same reason that food gets expensive in a national park, gas will also be higher priced. No matter how expensive gas is outside the park, it will always be more costly once you enter.

Many national parks have free public shuttles, a great way to save on gas money. But you’ll have to balance waiting in lines for shuttles (which can get very long) versus how much money you can save on gas.

You may only be able to see some of what you want in a day if you use shuttles, but it is a great way to save money and the environment.

Tip #6: Take advantage of free activities in the park

We feel very strongly about this tip. We believe hiking is the best way to see the national parks – and it’s completely free!

You don’t need an expensive tour guide to see a national park. Most national parks have tons of free ranger-led programs daily during peak travel season. Those ranger programs can range from hiking, snowshoeing, floating, and more!

If you want some guidance as you plan your own affordable adventure, grab one of our itineraries.

Tip #7: Visit the national parks during fee-free days

Every year, the national parks have free entrance days! This tip is a great alternative to buying the annual pass if you only want to visit one national park in a year.

You will typically find around 6 fee-free days each year. Here are the most common free national park entrance days:

Mid-January – Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mid-April – First day of National Park Week
June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day
August 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
4th Saturday in September – National Public Lands Day
Mid-November – Veterans Day

Check this site for the most up-to-date information on fee-free days in the national parks!

Tip #8: Visit national monuments and smaller national parks

Smaller parks and national monuments tend to have lower entrance fees or no entrance fees at all.

There also tend to be fewer amenities available, which means there are fewer places to spend your money.

We tend to relax more when we visit smaller parks. The atmosphere is more laid back, and there’s less we want to run around and do.

Make sure you catch the full podcast episode to hear which smaller parks and monuments we love!

Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! What is your favorite tip for visiting the national parks on a budget? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!

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National Parks on a Budget – Tips for Saving Money