National Parks In Florida: See Which Ones Are Free On MLK Day

LAKELAND, FL — Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn't just a federal holiday and day of service — it's also a chance to visit national parks that normally charge entrance fees. The next fee-free day scheduled by the National Park Service is Monday.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day provides one of the few opportunities each year to visit national parks for free after fee increases took effect Jan. 1 at various locations. The additional revenue will be used to fund deferred maintenance across the system of 419 parks, historic and cultural sites, and monuments.

The National Park Service lists online all parks requiring entrance fees and the amount of the fees. Entrance fees will be waived at the following Florida parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

• Canaveral National Seashore, 212 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL 32796. The park is open Monday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Castillo de San Marcos, 1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084. First admission is at 9 a.m. and last admission is at 5 p.m.
• Dry Tortugas National Park, 40001 SR-9336
  Homestead, FL 33034. The park is open 24 hours per day but the visitor center is only open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
• Everglades National Park,. 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33194. The Miami entrance in Shark Valley is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Separate fees apply for tram tours and bike rentals.
• Gulf Islands National Seashore, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563. The park is not waiving fees on MLK Day but will be waiving them on other days, including Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Thanksgiving Day.

The other fee-free days in 2020 are:

• Saturday, April 18: First Day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
• Tuesday, Aug. 25: National Park Service Birthday
• Saturday, Sept. 26: National Public Lands Day
• Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day

See the full list of national parks in Florida. Many parks are free year-round.