Our system of parks and historic sites was founded on the principle that everyone deserves affordable access to the outdoors. A century later, New York State Parks and Historic Sites is still helping New Yorkers reap the physical and mental benefits of connecting with nature and history. While our low fees for camping, park day-use, historic site admission, and golf are within the reach of most of our guests, there are always ways to save even more in every season. Read on to check out some pro tips!

Summer Savings

Affordable summer getaways. With a base rate of $15 per night, state park camping is the most affordable vacation around. Our parks were designed to be complete destinations, with trails, fishing, boating, swimming, and programs for all ages on site. You might say they’re the original all-inclusive getaway! Sign up for our free Camper Loyalty Program to earn 10 points for every dollar that you spend on overnight accommodations at all New York State Parks Campgrounds.

Walk, bike or take a Nature Bus. Did you know that Vehicle Use Fees, or facility entry fees, only apply to cars and trucks? If you have a park within walking or biking distance, you can save the fee. You can also take public transit to a park. Some of our parks are on or near regular routes. Also, check out the free seasonal NFTA Adventure Bus in the Buffalo-Niagara Region, CDTA Nature Bus in the Capital Region, and UCAT Nature Bus in Ulster County.

Save on recreation gear and sample a new hobby. Want to try kayaking, canoeing or disc golf without a big investment? Borrow our gear! Many of our parks and golf courses rent equipment such as kayaks, canoes, disc golf discs, and golf clubs. Check with the park before you visit to see what they have to offer, which may vary for each season.

Travel through time with living history. Summer is peak season for living history events at our historic sites. Keep your eyes peeled, and you can take in everything from full-scale battle re-enactments to military encampments and demonstrations of daily life. As you talk to the interpreters and re-enactors, you’ll see history come to life like never before. Most events are free with admission or have a nominal cost.

Use our sunscreen at pools. As part of the NY SWIMS initiative, our 53 swimming pools gave away roughly 35 gallons of free sunscreen in 2024. The program is continuing in 2025.

Frugal Fall Fun

Take a walk on the historic side. Explore the grounds of our dozens of historic sites from dawn to dusk, free of charge. In addition, many of our historic site buildings offer admission under $10 per person.

Visit a free park. Many parks eliminate their fees after the summer or reduce the number of days per week they charge. Some of our parks are always free. Here are some you can visit free of charge as of August 2025:

Western New York

• Barcelona Lighthouse, Westfield
• Buckhorn Island State Park, Grand Island
• Buffalo Harbor State Park, Buffalo
• De Veaux Woods, Niagara Falls
• Devil’s Hole State Park, Niagara Falls
• Joseph Davis State Park, Lewiston
• Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora
• Reservoir State Park, Niagara Falls
• Whirlpool State Park, Niagara Falls
• Wilson Tuscarora State Park, Wilson

Central New York and Finger Lakes

• Betty & Wilbur Davis, Schenevus
• Bowman Lake State Park, Oxford
• Helen McNitt State Park, Cazenovia
• Old Erie Canal State Historic Park, Dewitt to Rome
• Oquaga Creek State Park, Bainbridge
• Pixley Falls State Park, Boonville
• Robert V. Riddell State Park, Davenport
• Harriet Hollister State Recreation Area, Springwater
• Two Rivers Recreation Area, Waverly

Capital Region and North Country

• Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim
• Peebles Island State Park, Waterford
• Black River Trail, Watertown
• Robert Moses State Park, Massena

Long Island

• Brentwood State Park, Brentwood
• Brookhaven State Park, Ridge
• Cold Harbor Spring State Park, Cold Harbor
• Shadmoor State Park, Montauk
• Trail View State Park, Woodbury

Hudson Valley

• Franny Reese State Park, Highland
• Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring
• Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, Dobbs Ferry (park office)
• Mills Norrie State Park, Staatsburgh
• Schunnemunk State Park, Orange County
• Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo
• Storm King State Park, Cornwall-on-Hudson
• Wonder Lake State Park, Holmes

All New York City state parks are free of charge!

Wallet-Friendly Winter

Save storage space and funds on winter activity gear. Don’t spend the year tripping over your snowshoes and skis — borrow ours! Snowshoes, cross-country skis, ski pulks for young children, snow tubes and ice skates are available to rent for a low fee at many of our parks, including:

• Niagara Falls State Park
• FDR State Park, Yorktown Heights
• Fahnestock Winter Park, Carmel
• Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton
• Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim
• Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs
• Thacher State Park, Voorheesville

Find your people. In an era where it can be challenging to build community, our parks and historic sites bring people together. You can meet like-minded people on our First Day Hikes or winter programs. There are programs geared for families, programs for teens and adults, and programs that everyone can enjoy. Volunteer opportunities abound, particularly with our Friends groups.

Engage your brain and body, not your wallet. When you think of us, you probably think of camping, hiking and history first. But many of our parks and historic sites host concerts, yoga classes and other wellness activities, art classes and crafting programs, lectures, and more for free or for a low cost. Beat cabin fever by checking our events listings regularly.

Build your own traditions. With Thanksgiving, New Year’s, and the array of year-end holidays, winter is a season of traditions. Our parks and historic sites offer programs and events themed around the holidays, but also invite you to join them in creating your own traditions all year long. Whether you always bring the family to the Bear Mountain ice skating rink, celebrate spring with a maple sugaring program at Letchworth, never miss the midsummer Lorenzo Driving Competition in Cazenovia, or hit up the atmospheric Hulda’s Night at Rockefeller State Park Preserve where “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was set, our parks and historic sites are the perfect places to establish traditions with family, with friends, or on your own.

Spring Into Savings

Hold your special event at a state park or historic site. Whether you’re planning a wedding, a reunion, a graduation party, or just a spring get-together, pavilion rentals are an affordable way to go. But the secret’s out on this one — book up to 11 months in advance, as reservations go quickly!

Take advantage of our Pass Programs. The Empire Pass is $80 per calendar year, covers vehicle use fees, and is open to all New Yorkers. It pays for itself in roughly eight visits. If you visit regularly, it’s perfect for you! Roughly 70 public libraries have one that you can borrow, so consider checking with yours if purchasing a pass doesn’t work for you. The free Lifetime Liberty Pass for veterans, active military and Gold Star Families also includes free greens fees, free swimming pool entrance, and a refund on the base rate for camping. The Access Pass for people with disabilities offers similar benefits and is also free. And if you’re 62 or older, the Golden Park Program provides free weekday entry to most of our parks with just a New York State driver’s license or non-driver ID.

Stay connected. In 2024, thousands of New Yorkers flocked to our parks free of charge during a heat wave courtesy of the Governor’s office. How did they hear about it? Maybe they subscribed to our email list and got notified. Or maybe they downloaded our free Explorer app and saw the alert. Connect with us for general information, for trip-planning inspiration, and for breaking news about occasional savings days like these.

—Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist