Fee Free Days in 2015

Entrance Sign into Fort Jefferson on Garden Key

JDangler National Park Service

News Release Date: January 7, 2015

Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700

Contact: Media Contact Linda Friar, 305-242-7714

Contact: Media Contact Mary Plumb, 305-242-7017

There are nine more reasons to enjoy your national park service units in 2015 - all will offer free admission on nine days in 2015. In addition, Everglades National Park will offer free admission for its annual Vintage Day celebration (March 7, 2015, main entrance only) and its Junior Ranger Day (March 21, 2015). 

The 2015 entrance fee-free days for all national park service units are:January 19(Martin Luther King Jr. Day);February 14-16(Presidents Day weekend);April 18-19(National Park Week's opening weekend);August 25 (National Park Service's 99th birthday);September 26 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11(Veterans Day).

At Everglades National Park, entrance fees will be waived at the main park entrance near Homestead, and at the entrance station at Shark Valley. The main park entrance is located at 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida. Shark Valley is located at 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida (on Highway 41, 25 miles west of the Florida Turnpike).

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/index.htm  (click here to plan your visit Everglades National Park)

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/things2do.htm  (Things to do)

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/directions.htm  (click here for directions)

In addition to ranger programs and concession tours there are a number of permitted guides who offer a variety of more personalized tours.  You can find a list of these on the park website as well.

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/permittedtours.htm

Usually, Everglades National Park has an entrance fee of $10 per car. The entrance fee waiver does not include amenity or user fees for things like camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

At Dry Tortugas National Park, a variety of remarkable experiences await visitors who venture out to this remote national park, including camping, snorkeling, bird watching, fishing, or just enjoying a view from the top of massive Fort Jefferson-- you quickly realize how magical this place can be. 

The park is remote and can only be reached by ferry or sea plane. Before travelling to the park check out the park website or contact the general information number for tips on how best to experience the park at the time of year you plan to visit.  

https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/index.htm  (click here to plan your visit to Dry Tortugas National Park).

Please check in with our official providers of transportation to the park for schedules, prices, and reservations. (All transportation departs from Key West.) Ferries and seaplanes will waive park entrance fees of $5. Ferries run to the park from Key West.

For ferry schedules, prices, and reservations, contact: Yankee Freedom, phone [phone] or 305-294-7009;or http://www.yankeefreedom.com/

For seaplane schedules, prices, and reservations, contact: Key West Seaplane Adventures, phone [phone] or www.keywestseaplanecharters.com.

Fishing and dive charters can be arranged in the Florida Keys and Naples. For a list of service providers check our website "plan your visit" page or call the main park number at 305-242-7700 or click here.

A new National Park Service report shows that over two and a half million visitors to the national park units in South Florida, spent $206 million last year in surrounding communities. That spending supported over 2,700 jobs in south Florida. In Everglades National Park, 1,047,116 visitors spent over $96 million and supported 1302 jobs in surrounding communities. In Dry Tortugas National Park, 58,400 visitors spent over $3.4 million and supported 35 jobs in surrounding communities.

WHAT: 2015 entrancefee-free daysfor all national park units.

WHEN: January 19(Martin Luther King Jr. Day);February 14-16(Presidents Day weekend);April 18-19(National Park Week's opening weekend);August 25 (National Park Service's 99th birthday);September 26(National Public Lands Day), andNovember 11(Veterans Day). Everglades National Park also waives entrance fees for its annual "Vintage Day" being held onMarch 8, 2015(main entrance near Homestead only);and its annual Junior Ranger Day, scheduled forMarch 21, 2015(both Homestead and Shark Valley entrances). 

WHERE: Everglades National Park entrance stations near Homestead and Shark Valley, and at Dry Tortugas National Park. More information on

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.