Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Big Bend National Park schedules free days

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Big Bend National Park will waive its entrance fee on five days in 2019. The five entrance fee-free days will be:

  • Monday, Jan. 21 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Saturday, April 20 – Start of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
  • Sunday, Aug. 25 – NPS Anniversary
  • Saturday, Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day
  • Monday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
  • Big Bend National Park normally charges $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per individual. The entrance fee waiver for the fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping or backcountry permits.

Big Bend National Park is one of 115 national parks that has an entrance fee. The other 303 national parks do not charge an entrance fee. The National Park System includes more than 85 million acres and is comprised of 418 sites, including national parks, national historical parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national battlefields, and national seashores.

Last year, 331 million people visited national parks spending $18.2 billion which supported 306,000 jobs across the country and had a $35.8 billion impact on the U.S. economy.

In addition to the standard park entrance fees, Big Bend also offers an Annual Pass for the park for $55, a great deal if you are a frequent visitor to the park. In addition, the annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth grade students, and permanently disabled citizens. 

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666