Travel
National parks are free these days in 2025. What to know before you travel.
National Parks: Rarely visited parks worth going out of your way for
These are among America’s least visited national parks, excluding remote places like Alaska, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Dry Tortugas.
Staff video, USA TODAY
It’s not too soon to start planning 2025 vacations, and outdoor enthusiasts may want to keep a few dates in mind.
On Thursday, the National Park Service released its free entrance dates for next year.
“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 Park Service said in a press release.
From Acadia to Zion and beyond, here’s what travelers planning national park trips should know.
Free national park entrance days for 2025
- 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
The dates match 2024’s free entrance days.
Are all US national parks free?
Yes. All 431 parks within the National Park System are free to enter on those six dates next year.
Only 63 of these sites have “national park” capitalized in their title, like Yellowstone National Park. However, regardless of NPS designation – be it a national historic site or a national seashore – the National Park Service commonly refers to them all as parks, and all will be free on the days indicated above.
Only about a quarter of all parks require entrance passes, with fees topping out at $35. Revenue from the fees goes toward visitor services, like enhancing accessibility, restoring wildlife habitat, and other services and amenities. Travelers can find park-specific fees on the National Park Service website and each park’s webpage.
How can I avoid national park fees?
The easiest way is to visit them on a free-entry day, but national parks are free to enter all year round for some groups of people.
What is the closest national park?
Every state has a park within the National Park System. To find your nearest site, visit NPS.gov/findapark.
The National Park Service encourages travelers to consider a few factors in planning their trips, including “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.” Visitors should also research if advanced reservations are required for timed entry, camping, lodging and activities such as cave tours. More tips can be found on the Park Service’s Trip Planning Guide.
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