National Parks In North Carolina: Free Entrance Day Coming Soon

NORTH CAROLINA — 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 North Carolina parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

• Appalachian National Scenic Trail — open year round
• Blue Ridge Parkway — open year round, although subject to change due to weather conditions
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore — various locations, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Cape Lookout National Seashore — various locations, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site — 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, NC. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Fort Raleigh National Historic Site — 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Guilford Courthouse National Military Park — 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Moores Creek National Battlefield — 40 Patriots Hall Drive, Currie NC. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail — affiliated parks, sites open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Trail of Tears National Historic Trail — operating hours of various museums, historic sites and parks vary
• Wright Brothers National Memorial — Highway 158, Kill Devil Hills, NC. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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 North Carolina and surrounding states. Many parks are free year-round.