There are a total of 8 fee free national park days in 2026, which means you can get into any of the more than 400 parks, monuments and conservations areas, many of which usually charge a pretty penny, for free (or almost free)! And we highly recommend you take advantage of these days if you’re traveling on a budget, hoping to save some dough on your next adventurous outing, or you’re looking for any excuse to visit a national park near you (or not so near you).
Which you totally should, ’cause they’re pretty dang great! Some of our favorite experiences in national parks? Backpacking in Denali, Hiking in Glacier, camping in Acadia, kayak camping in Everglades, backpacking rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, and backpacking on Isle Royale might just be a few park experiences at the top of our list.
So if you’re ready to enjoy some seriously epic landscapes, pack the camera and start planning! And remember that you’ll still need to make reservations ahead of time at these national parks.
Free National Park Days in 2025
- Jan. 20, 2024: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 19, 2024: First day of National Park Week
- June 19, 2025: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Aug. 4, 2024: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Sept. 27, 2024: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11, 2024: Veterans Day
Free National Park Days in 2026
You’ll notice any days tied to federal holidays celebrating Black history and most celebrating public lands have been eliminated by the current presidential administration. In their place, “patriotic” fee-free days have been added, raising the number of free national park days this year, but at a cost that doesn’t sit well with us.
- President’s Day: February 16, 2026
- Memorial Day: May 25, 2026
- Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday: June 14, 2026
- Independence Day weekend: July 3–5, 2026
- 110th Birthday of the National Park Service: August 25, 2026
- Constitution Day: September 17, 2026
- Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday: October 27, 2026
- Veteran’s Day: November 11, 2026
Can’t make it to a park that usually charges an entrance fee on one of these fee-free park days? We highly recommend an America the Beautiful parks pass if you plan to visit more than 2 parks in a year. It costs $80 for U.S. residents (most parks that require a fee charge $35 per vehicle) and you can visit as many parks as you want in a year! We get one every year (last year we visited Everglades, Shenandoah, Great Smokey Mountains, Yosemite, Guadalupe Mountains, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef Arches and Canyonlands, Death Valley, Great Sand Dunes, and Rocky Mountain National Parks! All for $80 (plus an extra $35 once or twice when we forgot our pass…)! Worth it? I’d say so.
So get out there, enjoy these beautiful places, and wander on!
