Alaska: Gates of the Arctic National Park
National parks don't get any more wild than this one. Gates of the Arctic National Park is a can't-miss Alaskan destination. Rivers wind through the park, making it an ideal away-from-it-all destination for packrafting, backpacking or kayaking. Note that this park does not have roads or established trails.
Arizona: Montezuma Well National Monument
Visit the spot where life began, according to Yavapai legend, at Montezuma Well National Monument. Although access to the nearby Montezuma Castle National Monument costs $10, the Montezuma Well is free to access. There, you'll see Native American ruins alongside the well and follow a nature trail as it winds below trees beside Beaver Creek.
Arkansas: Hot Springs National Park
Hearken back to the Golden Age of Bathing on your visit to Hot Springs National Park. Go ahead and drink the water — or "quaff the elixir" as they used to say back in the day. It's safe, healthy for you and free at fountains and water bottle fill sites around the park.
Meander through eight bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923. Some bathhouses are now home to National Park Service offices, shops and museums. Others still provide baths in the thermal pools, but you'll pay a fee to use them
California: Channel Islands National Park
Experience California the way it used to be at Channel Islands National Park. The chain of islands is one of the best free national parks for an away-from-it-all experience. Bring your snorkel and fins to explore kelp forests, sea caves and coves of colorful fish. Or, explore island trails and relax on a remote beach, a little patch of paradise you'll likely have all to yourself. Note that you might need to pay for a boat or plane ride to the islands.
Colorado: Hovenweep National Monument
Discover six prehistoric villages that once housed more than 2,500 people between 500 and 1300 A.D. See multistory towers clinging to the edge of rocky cliffs. The park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places to go stargazing
Connecticut: Weir Farm National Historic Site
You won't have to imagine you've stepped into an Impressionist landscape at Weir Farm — you'll be in one. The historic site is the only national park devoted to American painting.
Explore a picturesque farmhouse, stone walls and gardens for free at the park. Feeling inspired? Pick up free art supplies at the park to experience a memorable family vacation.
Delaware: First State National Historic Park
The U.S. has come a long way when it comes to religious and ethnic tolerance. But Delaware was actually one of the first regions to embrace diversity, even before it became a state in 1787.
Recount the lives of Swedish and Finnish settlers from as early as 1699 as you read ancient tombstones at the Old Swedes Church in Wilmington. Or visit the two-story brick home of John Dickinson, aka the "penman of the Revolution," who inspired the country to independence.
Florida: Biscayne National Park
You'll find so much more at Biscayne National Park than on the miles of sandy beaches that Miami is famous for. Grab your snorkel and discover underwater shipwrecks along the Maritime Heritage Trail, or keep your feet dry to walk in the footsteps of pineapple farmers. Visit during summer to witness loggerhead sea turtles nesting in the sand, or escape to this national park for the perfect vacation destination to escape the cold.
Georgia: Jimmy Carter National Historic Site
Learn what life was like growing up for the 39th president of the United States at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. Visit his boyhood farm where wayside audio exhibits let you hear about Carter's childhood in his own voice. Recapture the excitement of his 1976 run for presidency at a free museum at the Plains Train Depot. Browse through exhibits at the Plains High School and several visitors centers.
Hawaii: World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
Take a break from salty beaches and swaying palms to revisit a pivotal time in American history at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. See the sunken battleship USS Arizona still at rest where she was struck down about 15 minutes into the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Arrive early to get one of 1,300 free tickets to see the USS Arizona Memorial
Idaho: Nez Perce National Historic Park
Marvel at the mountains and valleys at Nez Perce National Historic Park. The area was home to the Nez Perce. Put on your hiking boots and walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark at Canoe Camp.
Illinois: Pullman National Monument
Pullman wasn't your usual factory town. The Queen-Anne-style architecture and aesthetic appeal seem idyllic, but Pullman has its own bloody tales to tell. Discontented workers and U.S. Army troops clashed in 1894, leaving dozens dead. Today, you can revisit the neighborhood's storied history as you walk through the green spaces of Arcade Park or marvel at the architecture of this historic park.
Indiana: George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Watch colorful kites dip and soar along the Wabash River at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. And don't miss the elaborate memorial dedicated to the famed American frontiersman Colonel George Rogers Clark. Relive his travels as you gaze at seven 28-foot murals.
Iowa: Effigy Mounds National Monument
Visit more than 200 American Indian mounds at Effigy Mounds National Monument. Discover mounds in the shapes of turtles, bison, bears, deer and other animals as well as conical burial mounds in the park. Watch a 15-minute film on mound building at the visitors center and strike out on trails through the area's breathtaking terrain. And, while you're in Iowa, don't miss its unique roadside attraction: the largest frying pan in the world
Kansas: Fort Larned National Historic Site
Immerse yourself in authentic frontier military life at Fort Larned National Historic Site. Stroll through historic buildings restored to their original appearance and wander nature trails. During special events, dive deeper into this historical site as you interact with staff dressed in period clothing.
Louisiana: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
Explore not just one but six sites spread over southern Louisiana at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. See the French Quarter in a new way as you learn about its unique history. Browse historic homes and museums. Then, watch alligators basking on the banks of a bayou at Barataria Preserve or clap along to Cajun music at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center.
Maine: Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Visit President Theodore Roosevelt's beloved summer getaway at Roosevelt Campobello International Park. Wiggle your toes in the sand or explore the island trails to discover forests, bogs and beaches.
Maryland: Glen Echo Park
You might not initially think of amusement parks when you think about visiting a national park. But in the early 1900s, Glen Echo Park was Maryland's answer to Atlantic City and Coney Island. Today's Glen Echo Park hearkens back to the old days with its historic buildings and attractions, a perfect backdrop for throwback vacation photos.
Massachusetts: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
You don't have to wait for national park free days to learn how iron and steel is made. Visit Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site to see free demonstrations of the process that made this the birthplace of the American iron and steel industry. Enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the ironworks by hiking its nature trail or strolling through its 17th century herb garden.
**Michigan: River Raisin National Battlefield Park
After the U.S. defeat at River Raisin, "Remember the Raisin" was the battle cry for the remainder of the War of 1812. You'll remember this park for its picturesque riverfront. Hike a 0.6-mile loop through the battlefield, and browse through artifacts and exhibits in the visitors center.
Minnesota: Voyageurs National Park
Let your cares slip away as you immerse yourself in the sounds, scents and sights of a boreal forest at Voyageurs National Park. Paddle interconnected water routes in your canoe or kayak, or have a picnic at the water's edge. At night, gaze up at the stars. In the winter, go snowshoeing.
Mississippi: Natchez National Historical Park
Explore the grand architecture of antebellum mansions at Natchez National Historical Park. Although there are small entrance fees to enjoy guided tours inside most of the mansions, you won't have to pay a penny to explore the William Johnson House. The famed barber built the home from bricks he gathered from buildings devastated by the tornado of 1840.
Missouri: George Washington Carver National Monument
Frail childhood health gave George Washington Carver enough freedom from plantation chores so he could tend to a secret garden hidden in the Missouri woodland. Take a journey along the 1-mile Carver Trail to discover the woodland that inspired Carver as a child. Learn about his life at the visitors center museum, visit the graves of the plantation owners and see where the famous peanut product inventor was born.
Montana: Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Not only is Montana a great state for low-cost camping spots, it's home to the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. The ranch house was the center of a cattle empire once spanning 10 million acres. It now honors America's cattleman.
Nebraska: Homestead National Monument of America
The Homestead Act of 1862 spurred people of all backgrounds to head to the frontier to claim land. Follow the Quilt Trail to discover the meaning behind popular quilt patterns made by thrifty women readying their families for the journey west. Or visit the Palmer-Epard Cabin and imagine what life was like living in its one room with 10 children.
Nevada: Great Basin National Park
From sage-covered desert foothills to the aspen-shrouded slopes of Wheeler Peak, you'll find a wide range of natural diversity at Great Basin National Park. Even though the park receives less than 10 inches of rainfall annually, you can discover more than 800 species of plants along its trails. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, too. You might notice a bighorn sheep peering down from lofty heights or a pygmy rabbit scuttling into the underbrush.
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