Free Admission to National Parks in 2025

Start planning now. There are six FREE admission days to national parks, monuments and historic sites in 2025, the same as in 2024.

There are more than 400 National Park Service sites nationwide, with at least one in every state.

The fee-free days continue a tradition of FREE admission days to increase access, promote recreational opportunities, improve visitor facilities and conserve natural and historical treasures in national parks, for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people and also foreign visitors to the USA and to our national park sites.

Approximately 100 NPS sites charge an entrance fee, with costs ranging from $5 to $35. The other 300-plus national parks sites do not have entrance fees.

On admission free days, only the admission is free.

The fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for camping, boat launches, transportation, special tours, or other activities such as IMAX theaters.

Tours by uniformed Park Rangers are always free.

2025 FREE Admission Dates are –

January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 19 – First Day of National Park Week
June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day
August 4 – Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day
September 27 – National Public Lands Day
November 11 – Veterans Day

How to Plan a National Park Visit

Where:

With more than 400 national parks, monuments, and historic sites, there’s something for everyone.

Visit NPS.gov/findapark to explore the park options nearest you. If you’re visiting a park that normally charges an entrance fee, review your entrance pass options before you arrive.

When:

The National Park Service is waiving the entrance fee for parks on six days in 2025, so consider planning your visit then.

Otherwise, pick a date that works for you to visit and keeping in mind seasonal changes, how much daylight you’ll need, and if you need to get to the park early in the day to get parking or take advantage of lower temperatures.

How:

Some national parks require advanced reservations for camping, lodging, or timed entry.

Research and book early to secure your spot, especially for popular parks.

Pick the right activity for you and your family:

Review the possible activities, including ranger-led programs, scenic hikes, tours, and more.

Planning allows you to maximize your experience while balancing active days with relaxation. Consider your experience and skill level when picking your activity.

Prepare for the unexpected:

Sometimes, our travel plans might change last minute or even during the hike. Do your research to know what else the park has to offer if you don’t end up being able to do what you planned that day.

For example, if there’s more rain than you prepared for, visit the park museum or take a scenic drive. Make sure you check the park website or the NPS App for updated conditions, seasonal closures, and alerts.

Bring the proper gear:

Plan like a Park Ranger and pack essentials like water, appropriate clothing, and maps.

You can download park maps for offline use from the NPS App so you can find your way even if there’s no Wi-Fi.

Note that water might be hard to find in some parks, so make sure you bring your own, especially if you’ll be outside for a while.

FREE All the Time

Most parks are free to enter all of the time, approximately 100 out of 430+ national parks charge an entrance fee. With at least one national park in every state, no one is too far from an adventure.

Take a look at www.nps.gov/findapark to see what adventure awaits and refer to our Trip Planning Guide as you prepare for your next visit. Mark your calendars and get ready for a year of adventure in 2025

Follow the National Park Service on social media and visit www.nps.gov for announcements about specific Free Entrance Days information, suggested itineraries, and informative articles highlighting parks near you.

Timed Entry Requirements at Some National Parks

Some more popular national parks now require advance reservations.

Always check the National Park Service website for the specific rules about the location you want to visit.

Detailed information about what there is to see and do at each park is available on NPS.gov or the NPS app.

It is important to know before you go what is open and available, especially if you are interested in overnight accommodations.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter at top of Angels Landing trail, Zion National Park_evelynkanter — ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter at top of the Angels Landing Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Timed Entry for the Most Popular National Parks

What started in 2022 with Arches National Park in Utah, has now spread to several other popular national parks, to control crowds and limit damage to the delicate infrastructure.

Some timed entry requirements are for the entire park, others for a specific area or season. Visit each website for specific information and registration requirements.

Yosemite National Park, California

entire park
February and mid-April through the last weekend of October

Arches National Park, Utah

entire park
Tickets for April 2024 will go live on Recreation.gov beginning at 8 am MST on January 10, 2024.
The park will release tickets three months in advance in monthly blocks. Reservations will be required from 7 am to 4 pm daily and will cost $2 per reservation.
For those without an early reservation, some next-day tickets will be available at 6 pm daily.
For more information, including a complete schedule of ticket releases, visit go.nps.gov/ArchesTicket

Zion National Park, Utah

Angels Landing Trail

Glacier National Park, Montana

Going-to-the-Sun Road, North Fork, and Many Glacier

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

entire park

Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

sunrise viewing at the summit

National Parks support 300,000+ US Jobs

In 2021, 297 million people visited national parks and spent $20.5 billion in local communities.

This supported 322,600 jobs across the country and had a $42.5 billion benefit to the U.S. economy.

Most national parks are always free to enter.

Only about 100 of the 400+ national parks have an entrance fee.

For parks with an entrance fee, the cost ranges from $5 to $35 and the money remains in the National Park Service, with 80-100% staying in the park where collected.

The funds are used to enhance the visitor experience by providing programs and services, habitat restoration, and infrastructure maintenance and repair.

Get a Pass

The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass  allows unlimited access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks, for the passholder and companions accompanying them.

There are also free or discounted passes available for currently serving members of the

Other federal land management agencies offering their own fee-free days in 2024. They  are the

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
As always, stay safe, plan ahead, and #recreateresponsibly.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) and is a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

The photo is me, after climbing one of the world’s largest sand dunes, in Namibia.