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All 392 U.S. national parks will have free admission this weekend, on Aug. 14 and 15. Parks will also offer additional family-friendly activities and special offers on tours, lodging, food and souvenirs.
"Parks are fun and affordable destinations and great places to engage in healthy, outdoor activities, whether for a few hours or a few days," U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement.
The program was launched in April as a part of National Park Week, a campaign of the National Park Service, and will continue into the fall in an effort to engage families and communities to visit America's Great Outdoors.
"National parks preserve our heritage, promote recreational experiences, and provide places of quiet refuge," said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis.
Normally, 146 of the 392 national parks charge entrance fees ranging from $3 to $25. The other 246 do not charge for admission. The fee waiver does not include other fees, such as those charged for camping, reservations and use of concessions.
The NPS will host two more free admission days this fall: Public Lands Day on Sept. 25 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
A complete listing of parks and promotions is available here.
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