National parks will offer free admission on these six days in 2025
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky above Joshua Tree National Park during the Perseids Meteor shower in Joshua Tree, California, early on August 12, 2024. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)
If your travels in 2025 take you to one of the more than 400 national park sites across the country, it could be the year of your unforgettable adventure.
The National Park Service recently announced that it is waiving entrance fees for all parks on certain days of the year.
Rangers say they will waive entrance fees on January 20, April 19, June 19, August 4, September 27 and November 11, allowing visitors to experience the sites at no cost.
The free admission is designed to encourage Americans to venture out and explore the country’s 63 national parks and 360 designated sites.
"On designated days throughout the year, all visitors can enjoy free entrance to more than 400 national parks across the country. Whether you are a family looking for a weekend getaway, friends seeking a memorable outing, or even solo adventurers desiring to connect with nature, free entrance days make it easier for everyone to explore the parks," the NPS said.
The six free entrance days in 2025 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
Rangers say the holiday waivers do not cover the costs of amenities or activities at the recreational sites, which can add additional expenses to an excursion.
The NPS warns that due to high demand on free entrance days, parks will likely be busy, so it’s best to make reservations at the sites that require them.
For frequent visitors, the agency suggests purchasing an $80 annual pass that provides access to more than 2,000 federally-managed recreational areas across the country.
Around 325 million people visited national park sites in the U.S. in 2023, with Appalachia’s Blue Ridge Parkway, California’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park taking the top honors as the most visited destinations.
The NPS estimates that 80% to 100% of the entrance fees remain at the parks where the money is collected.
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