The U.S. National Parks are some of the most beautiful, expansive, and protected places on Earth. But unless you have an annual or access pass (the annual America the Beautiful National Parks Pass is $80 for unlimited access), parks can be expensive to visit — especially if you are keen to visit more than one.
Enter the concept of National Park Service (NPS) fee-free days.
On these days of commemoration or celebration each year, the NPS is “committed to increasing access to national parks and promoting the advantages of outdoor recreation for public benefit and enjoyment,” it wrote.
In 2025, NPS will have six fee-free days.
The free entrance dates for 2024 are:
- Jan. 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 20: First Day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Aug. 4: Great American Outdoors Day
- Sept. 28: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day
“National parks are really amazing places, and we want everyone to experience them,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “The entrance fee-free days encourage people to discover the beauty, history, and inspiration awaiting them in more than 400 national parks throughout the country.”
In 2022 alone, there were 312 million recreation visits to national parks — a 5% increase over 2021’s visitation numbers. The NPS reported that it generated $23.9 billion and supported 378,400 jobs across the country.
Fee-Free Days at National Parks: What You Need to Know
Many national parks are always free to enter. Only about 100 of the 400+ national parks, areas, and monuments have an entrance fee, ranging from $5 to $35 for those that do. However, that money remains in the National Park Service to help fund park infrastructure, restoration, wildlife protection, and visitor programs.
And if you plan a visit around one of the six fee-free days in 2025, just know you’ll want a jump-start on any NPS camping or park accommodations — they fill up fast. Most NPS campsites have web pages allowing you to make advance reservations. If you want the best spot, be the early bird and book it before the 2025 camping season officially kicks off.
Other federal land management agencies also offer their own fee-free days. For example, the Bureau of Land Management typically offers fee-free entry on similar national holidays like MLK Day, George Washington’s birthday, and Juneteenth.
