By Natalie B. ComptonThe Washington Post
The national park system is one of America’s greatest treasures. It spans the country’s most wild corners and important cultural heritage sites, balmy beaches and breathtaking mountains. Our parks are backdrops for iconic family vacations, honeymoons and solo adventures.
And for six days in 2025, the parks are free to visit.
Thanks to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, the National Park Service waives entrance fees on what it calls “days of celebration and commemoration,” which include national holidays or park-specific ones. You’ll still have to pay for services and amenities like camping reservations, special tours and boat launches.
The six free-entry days this year are:
Jan. 20 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
April 19 — First day of National Park Week
June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Aug. 4 — Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day
Sept. 27 — National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
Cynthia Hernandez, a Park Service public affairs specialist, says the number of days has varied depending on the year.
“Between 2009 and 2017, the number of days increased, originally to assist those with financial constraints during the recession and then to help celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary,” she said in an email.
But entrance fees are essential for the parks and provide revenue for improving facilities, addressing maintenance issues and enhancing the overall park experience for visitors, Hernandez added.
If these particular dates don’t fit your travel schedule, there are still more than 300 national park sites — like national monuments, seashores, historical points of interest and extensive trails — that are free to visit year-round.
Less-crowded national parks
While the country’s most popular parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, are exquisitely beautiful and natural contenders for where to visit on the free days, consider the country’s lesser-known options for fewer crowds. Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is a standout, with ribbon-colored rock formations and Native American and Mormon historic attractions.
Travelers with disabilities may consider parks that provide all-terrain wheelchairs (like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado) or beach wheelchairs (Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado, Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Gulf of Mexico). Rentals are complimentary, but supply is limited so reservations are strongly recommended.
Pet owners may prefer one of the roughly 50 sites where dogs are allowed, including the Prince William Forest Park in Northern Virginia or Arkansas’s Hot Springs National Park.
Heads up: While the parks are free to visit during fee-free days, some still require reservations to enter, so plan accordingly.
