Visit Yellowstone for free? Get into these scenic Idaho spots without entry fees

Want to get outside? You can explore some of Idaho’s most scenic spots for free.

The U.S. National Park Service is offering no-cost admission to must-visit sites across the United States in celebration of National Public Lands Day.

“National Public Lands Day is special because it provides all lovers of the environment — old and new — an opportunity to show our appreciation for these unique places,” the National Parks Service said on its website.

Here’s what to know:

How can I get free admission to national parks in the US?

The National Park Service said it’s offering free admission at “all national parks that charge an entrance fee” on Saturday, Sept. 27.

That includes all 63 national parks in the country, as well as other sites run by the National Park Service that typically charge admission.

Entrance fees typically cost $5 to $35, according to the National Park Service.

When is National Public Lands Day?

National Public Lands Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September.

The annual event, which started in 1994, is organzied in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation.

In addition to free admission, several parks invite volunteers to “roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes — from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between,” the National Park Service said on its website.

The 2024 event drew 7,600 volunteers across 130 sites, the federal agency said.

Which Idaho national parks, monuments can I visit for free?

Yellowstone National Park is in the only national park with land in Idaho.

Known for its wildlife and geothermal features, America’s first national park spans 2.2 million acres in parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

However, the state has several other sites operated by the National Park Service:

• City of Rocks National Reserve in Almo
• Craters of the Moon National Monument in Acro and Carey
• Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in Hagerman
• Minidoka National Historic Site in Jerome
• Nez Perce National Historical Park

Is there another way to access national parks for free in 2025?

If you miss National Public Lands Day, don’t worry.

You’ll have another opportunity to get into national parks for free. In 2025, all National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees will offer free admission to everyone on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, the federal agency said on its website.