A 3-year-old girl is gaining attention for her journeys through all the country’s National Parks.
WASHINGTON – 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.
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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
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Images from Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks. ( )
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Images from Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks. ( )
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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA – AUGUST 5: A long line of cars creeps slowly to the north Highway 120 entrance of Yosemite National Park as viewed on August 5, 2023, just outside Yosemite National Park, California. Large summer crowds in the Park have caused congestion throughout the Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, with lines of vehicles up to two hours long at all three of the main entrances. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
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FILE – An entrance to Glacier National Park in St. Mary, Montana, on October 19, 2023. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Utah’s Zion National Park (Robert Ray)
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The landscape of Canyonlands National Park in Moab, Utah, is seen in April 2024. (Robert Ray)
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The landscape of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, is seen in April 2024. (Robert Ray)
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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.