Celebrate National Public Lands Day With a Free Visit to Oklahoma State Parks

The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department is celebrating National Public Lands Day by waiving parking fees at state parks

OKLAHOMA CITY — To celebrate National Public Lands Day, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department is waiving parking fees at Oklahoma State Parks on Saturday, Sept. 24.

National Public Lands Day, held annually on the fourth Saturday of September, was established by the National Environmental Education Foundation and shines a spotlight on enjoying public lands.

Oklahoma’s 38 state parks currently make up over 80,000 acres of public land in the state. The State of Oklahoma owns 25,000 of those acres and leases the remaining 55,000 acres from various government entities.

From the bats at Alabaster Caverns to pelicans at the Grand Lake area to deer at Bevers Bend, public lands in Oklahoma State Parks provide habitats with room to roam for a diversity of wildlife.

Oklahoma State Parks’ vision is to provide citizens and visitors with public spaces that enhance and protect the environment, promote the quality of life in Oklahoma, encourage tourism and actively seek to maintain a balance between resource protection and recreational land use.

The beautiful landscapes of Oklahoma are worth cherishing. Oklahoma State Parks protect priceless areas, like Natural Falls State Park in Colcord. Photo Credit: Lori Duckworth/Oklahoma Tourism.

At state parks in Oklahoma, visitors can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities, like horseback riding, watersports and even wild caving. Click here to read about 10 unique experiences found in Oklahoma’s state parks.

Oklahoma State Parks encourages Oklahomans and visitors alike to visit a state park for free Saturday. To learn more about Oklahoma State Parks, visit TravelOK.com/Parks.

Visitors of all ages can descend into the gypsum caves at Alabaster Caverns State Park in Freedom. Thrill-seekers can even try their hand at spelunking. Photo by Lori Duckworth, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

Lake Murray State Park near Ardmore is a perfect spot for adventuring out on the water. Photo by Lori Duckworth, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

Equestrians can hit the trails at Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton. Nine Oklahoma State Parks are horse-friendly, and several parks offer stables on-site. Photo by Lori Duckworth/Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

Media Contact: Rylie Mansuetti, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation DepartmentRylie.Mansuetti@TravelOK.com

Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department 123 Robert S Kerr Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (800) 652-6552

About the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation DepartmentThe Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department works to preserve, maintain and promote the state’s natural assets and cultural richness through tourism. Oklahoma State Parks, which oversees the state parks, lodges and golf courses, is a division of the department. Oklahoma State Parks’ mission is to advance the exceptional quality of life in the state by preserving, maintaining and promoting Oklahoma’s natural assets and cultural amenities. Travel Promotions, another of OTRD’s divisions, administers programs designed to build awareness of the state as a destination and educates on the economic importance of the Oklahoma travel and tourism industry. To learn more about the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, visit TravelOK.com.