Should National Parks Be Free?

        Waterfalls pouring off cliffs. Bison munching grass. Deep red rock canyons stretching for miles. These are just a few of the natural wonders protected in America’s national parks. 

        These wild spaces draw millions of visitors every year. And that’s why they were created. There’s a stone archway at one of the entrances to Yellowstone National Park. It reads: “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” 

        But can all people really enjoy these parks? 

        Certain parks charge an entry fee, including Yellowstone. And research shows that cost is a top reason some Americans don’t visit them.

        So now some people are wondering: Should national parks be free?

    Waterfalls pouring off cliffs. Bison eating grass. Canyons stretching for miles. These are some of the natural wonders found in America’s national parks.

    Many people visit these wild spaces. And that’s why they were created. There’s a stone arch at one of the entrances to Yellowstone National Park. It reads: “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

    But can all people enjoy these parks?

    Some parks charge an entry fee, including Yellowstone. And research shows that cost is a top reason some people don’t visit them.

    Should national parks be free?

    Waterfalls pouring off cliffs. Bison munching grass. Deep red rock canyons stretching for miles. These are just a few of the natural wonders protected in America’s national parks.

    These wild spaces draw millions of visitors every year—and that’s why they were created. There’s a stone archway at one of the entrances to Yellowstone National Park that reads, “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

    But can all people really enjoy these parks?

    Certain parks charge an entry fee, including Yellowstone. And research shows that cost is a top reason some Americans don’t visit them.

    So now some people are wondering: Should national parks be free?

    In the mid-1800s, America nearly lost its natural beauty. Millions of Americans were moving west. Farms and roads began to cover the landscape. The government wanted to save the country’s wilderness. So it created the first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872. 

    More national parks were created starting in 1890. They were described as spaces where all people could connect with nature. Yet some parks started charging a fee for visitors as early as 1908.

    Many still do today. Fees at national parks range from $5 per person to $35 per car for a week’s stay. And that’s just for entering the parks. Food and lodging inside or near the parks can be expensive. For example, a hotel in Yellowstone could cost around $100 to $300 per night. That doesn’t even include the airfare or gas needed to get there.

    Plus, national parks are public places that receive funding through taxes. (Taxes are money the government collects from people’s paychecks.) Shouldn’t Americans get to enjoy these parks without paying even more money? 

    In the mid-1800s, America nearly lost its natural beauty. Millions of people were moving west. There were more farms and roads. The government wanted to save the country’s wilderness. So it created the first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872.

    More national parks were created starting in 1890. They were created so that all people could connect with nature. Yet some parks began charging fees as early as 1908.

    Many still do. Fees at national parks range from $5 per person to $35 per car for a week’s stay. And that’s just for entering the parks. Food and lodging in or near the parks can cost a lot. A hotel in Yellowstone could cost around $100 to $300 per night. That doesn’t include the cost of getting there.

    Plus, national parks are public places that get funding through taxes. (Taxes are money the government collects from people’s paychecks.) Shouldn’t Americans get to enjoy these parks without paying even more?

    In the mid-1800s, America was in danger of losing its natural beauty. As millions of Americans moved west, farms and roads began to cover the landscape. The government wanted to preserve the country’s wilderness. So it created the first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872.

    More national parks were created starting in 1890. Although they were described as spaces where all people could connect with nature, some parks started charging a fee for visitors as early as 1908.

    Many still do today. Fees at national parks range from $5 per person to $35 per car for a week’s stay—and that’s just for entering the parks. Food and lodging inside or near the parks can be expensive. For example, a hotel in Yellowstone could cost around $100 to $300 per night, in addition to the airfare or gas needed to get there.

    Plus, national parks are public places that receive funding through taxes. (Taxes are money the government collects from people’s paychecks.) Shouldn’t Americans get to enjoy these parks without paying even more money?