Free entry days into U.S. National Parks announced

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Author's note: The following information is a copy-and-paste from the U.S. National Park Service website page announcing the free entry days.

America's Best Idea - the national parks - gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.* (Clicking on this link will take you to the list of the hundreds of national parks that will waive their entry fee on the dates below).

Mark your calendar for these fee-free dates in 2012:

• January 14-16 - Martin Luther King Jr. weekend
• April 21-29 - National Park Week
• June 9 - Get Outdoors Day
• September 29 - National Public Lands Day
• November 10-12 - Veterans Day weekend

To make the fun even more affordable, check out these discounts and special offers from park partners and neighboring businesses:

• National Park Hospitality Association
• National Parks Promotions Council 

 Here's a tip - many of your 397 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.