Many national parks have direct connections to the American military—there are dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we are and where we came from as a nation. They are tactile reminders of the values, the ideals, and the freedoms that our veterans protect.

The majestic landscapes, natural wonders, and patriotic icons that we cherish as a society have also inspired military members through the years. The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the Statue of Liberty are just a few of the national parks that have served as reminders of home to those stationed abroad. On Veterans Day, or any day, honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country with a visit to a national park.

The National Park Service invites all visitors to remember our veterans by visiting any National Park Service site for free on Veterans Day, November 11, 2018.

This Veterans Day also marks the 100th anniversary of the end of hostilities of World War I, which took effect on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918, also known as Armistice Day.

This Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 is Veterans Day in the United States. Dedicated to those who have served their country, the federal government has set aside this day to honor those still alive and those fallen.

The National Park Service does their part to remember veterans by waiving entrance fees at all National Park Service sites for Nov. 11 and 12, as they typically do around the day of remembrance.

NPS has many different programs they do with active-duty members and veterans, as they offer free entrance all year long for active duty U.S. military to national parks. They also run programs like Vets on the River that organize experiential river trips for vets and their families.

Many commemorative events will also be taking place at some of the historic battlefields and military sites that are part of the National Park Service system.

However you plan to commemorate those who have served this Veterans Day, know that access to our nation’s public lands is free and should be enjoyed by all — especially those who have fought to keep those lands public, among our other freedoms.

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The National Park Service offered 10 fee-free days in 2017, but nearly a third of those days are yet to come.

This fall, travelers will get three opportunities to get into national parks free of charge: on Sept. 30 for National Public Lands Day, and on Nov. 11 and 12 for Veterans Day weekend. On those days, all entrance fees will be waived, though camping and other fees may still apply.

The fee-free days apply to the 124 national parks that normally charge visitors, including Crater Lake National Park, and Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon; Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Washington; and Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks around the northwest region of the USA.

With fall foliage turning in September, and snow falling in the higher reaches of Pacific Northwest parks in November, it’s a great opportunity to see some of the nation’s most awesome sites in a different light.

It’s also a good time to go if you’re averse to crowds. For example, only about 10,000 people visited Crater Lake last November, according to park service statistics, compared with nearly 200,000 people in July.

But before you go, be sure to call or check park websites for seasonal closures, which in most cases will limit the areas you can explore.

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The National Park Service has long encouraged visitors to avoid peak crowds by planning their trips in the spring. And to give you even more impetus, here’s another good reason to visit this month: free admission.

For four days in April, 2017 — April 15, 16, 22 and 23 — the National Park Service will waive entrance fees at the 118 national parks that normally charge visitors. The fee-free days are all part of National Park Week, which is celebrated from April 15 to 23. In total, 10 free days are offered in 2017. After April, the other fee-free days are Aug. 25, Sept. 30, and Nov. 11 and 12.

Entrance fees, commercial tour fees and transportation entrance fees are all included in the fee waiver. Other charges, such as those for camping, tours and concessions collected by third parties, are generally not included. Park officials say the fee-free days are designed to make sites accessible to a broader group of people.

But if the dates don’t work for you, there are plenty of other ways to save when visiting any of the 417 areas that make up the parks system. An annual pass to the country’s national parks costs only about $80. And U.S. residents age 62 and older can obtain a lifetime senior pass for only $10. Those with disabilities and members of the military (and military families) can get annual passes for free.

In addition to the highly popular sites such as Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, there are plenty of lesser-known parks to check out including Congaree in South Carolina, Dry Tortugas in Florida, and North Cascades in Washington.