Wednesday, August 4, 2021, designated as “Great American Outdoors Day,” marks the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).
The law, which passed with strong bipartisan support, makes unprecedented investments in national parks, public lands and American Indian schools. All public lands and national parks are free to visit on August 4, 2021.
Public Lands and National Parks Are Free to Visit on August 4
To support the Department’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to public lands, entrance fees will be waived on August 4 at all fee-collecting public lands managed by the Department of the Interior.
Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use and use of special areas, remain in effect.
See Other National Park Fee-Free Days Here
“Creating new jobs and stimulating our economy is a top priority of the Biden-Harris administration. Through the Great American Outdoors Act, we are investing in the American people, and in the future of our public lands and sacred spaces. I invite all Americans to experience the beauty and bounty of our nation’s public lands – not just on August 4 but every day of the year.”
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
The GAOA helps support the goals of President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative to back locally led efforts to conserve, restore and protect lands and waters across the nation to help address the climate and biodiversity crises, increase equitable access to the great outdoors and strengthen the economy.
This summer is especially busy on many public lands. While most of the 423 National Park Service sites are open, visitors may find limited services in and around national parks.
Check individual park websites or download the NPS App for specific details about their operations.
You can find alternatives to the most popular parks in this blog post. Public lands enthusiasts are encouraged to similarly plan their visits with the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Great American Outdoors Act
The GAOA provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million per year.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard the nation’s natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans.
Additionally, the GAOA established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to provide needed maintenance at critical facilities on public lands and Indian schools.
LRF-funded projects will help reduce Interior’s deferred maintenance backlog of over $22 billion and improve recreation facilities, dams, water and utility infrastructure, schools and other historic structures.
Other projects aim to increase public access by restoring and repairing roads, trails, bridges and parking areas.
For Fiscal Year 2022, GAOA-funded projects for Interior are expected to support more than 17,000 jobs and generate $1.8 billion in local communities.
Between planned Fiscal Year 2021 and proposed Fiscal Year 2022 funding, Interior has LRF deferred maintenance projects in all 50 states and multiple U.S. territories.