Free Entrance Days at US National Parks
Celebrate the coast-to-coast natural beauty of the USA with a trip to your favorite National Park on special dates when no entrance fee is required!
US National Parks Free Entrance Days
There are currently seven fee-free National Park days each year, plus certain groups of people qualify for a free annual pass! Learn more about these great opportunities to experience places like Georgia’s National Parks or other internationally famous sites like the Everglades, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and many more!
Find a park near you / your vacation site with this National Park Service online tool.
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How to Get Free Entrance to US National Parks
Enjoy the parks of your choice with no entrance fees on select dates!
The Free Entrance Days in 2026 occur on:
- Mon, Feb 16, 2026, for Presidents’ Day*
- Mon, May 25, 2026, for Memorial Day*
- Sun, Jun 14, 2026, for Flag Day
- Fri, Jul 3, 2026, for Independence Day weekend
- Sat, Jul 4, 2026, for Independence Day weekend*
- Sun, Jul 5, 2026, for Independence Day weekend
- Tue, Aug 25, 2026, for Birthday of the National Park Service
- Thu, Sep 17, 2026, for Constitution Day*
- Tue, Oct 27, 2026, for Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday*
- Wed, Nov 11, 2026, for Veterans Day*
Dates marked above with an asterisk (*) are days when visitors can also receive free entrance to US National Forest Sites! Grab your backpack and action camera, and choose a National Park for your next free visit!
Free US National Park Passes
In addition to the Free Entrance Days available to everyone without advance signup, there are other ways to get free entrance to US National Parks. Check out these programs to see if you qualify for a free pass!
Free Every Kid in a Park Program
Families with kids are invited to participate in the “Every Kid in a Park” program when they have a child in the 4th grade. Learn more below about this great program for kids and their families.
All 4th graders are invited to get a free annual National Parks Pass from the “Every Kid in a Park” program!
Every Kid in a Park – Free Parks Pass for 4th Graders
Fourth graders can bring family and friends on adventures free for a whole year with the Every Kid in a Park pass. Sign up in August to take advantage of a full year of free admission to all of the National Parks (you can sign up any time of the year, but the program only lasts through August)!
Free Pass for Veterans and Gold Star Families
Free National Parks Pass for Military
Beginning on Veterans Day 2020, Gold Star Families and Military Veterans are eligible for free access to National Parks, Department of the Interior agencies, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Current U.S. military members(and their dependents) in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Reserve, and National Guard are eligible for a free annual pass. Obtain this pass with a valid ID at one of the federal recreation sites that issue free passes. Veterans may show valid identification to gain free access.
Gold Star Families must download a Free Access Voucher and follow instructions to receive free access to these sites.
Free Access Pass
U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability are eligible for a free pass with documentation of the disability and residency or citizenship. Obtain the free access pass in person, online, or via mail (note that using online or mail requires a $10 processing fee).
Free Volunteer Pass
Volunteers with at least 250 service hours (with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program) are eligible for a free 12-month Volunteer Pass. Visit Volunteer.gov or contact your local federal recreation site for more information about volunteer opportunities.
Discounted US National Park Passes
Free Entrance Days National Parks
For those who do not qualify for the free pass programs above, discounted passes to National Parks are also available to senior citizens!
Discounted Senior National Park Pass
Discounted National Park passes are also available for seniors aged 62+. Applicant must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. Seniors may choose either a discounted annual pass for $20 or a discounted lifetime pass for $80.
These discounted annual park passes will likely pay for themselves after the first park visit!
Tips for Enjoying US National Park Visits
Be sure to take provisions for your National Park adventure, including water, snacks, a compass and map, sunscreen, and a camera to capture your memories! The correct gear will make all the difference in your enjoyment of your park visit(s). If you stay within Georgia, you’ll have different needs from someone on a trip to a more extreme environment like Alaska or Hawaii.
Find Great National Parks to Visit
Browse the list of National Parks in Georgia (including the multi-state Appalachian Trail), or learn more about all of the 400+ park sites within the National Park Service.
Appalachian Trail in Georgia – one of the many beautiful US National Parks
I have traveled to all 50 states and have visited over 40 of our US National Parks — I can confirm that these national treasures contain some of the nation’s most beautiful places! I cannot recommend them enough.
My favorite parks include Hawai’i Volcanoes, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, New River Gorge, Badlands, and Zion. The parks that are still on my list of National Parks to visit include Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Crater Lake, and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Follow Smart Safety Guidelines
Make sure your group is comfortable by following simple, smart safety guidelines.
- Stay Hydrated and Nourished – Be sure to drink enough water and fluids and have some high-energy snacks throughout the day.
- Layer Your Clothing – Research the weather and park conditions you will be visiting. Dress in layers of comfortable, moisture-wicking, or fast-dry clothing to adjust to changing conditions throughout the day.
- Be Comfortable – A little planning can help you feel more at ease as you explore the park. Pack items like water shoes, an extra pair of dry socks, SPF lip balm, and hair ties to ensure maximum comfort in the park.
- Choose Appropriate Footwear – Wear previously worn or broken-in footwear.
- Stay Protected – Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert to changing conditions. Stay on the marked trails and be prepared for common surprises.
- Be Prepared – Keep basic first-aid and emergency supplies with you so you can handle any emergency.
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Free National Park Entrance
For more about great parks in the area, see the GaMountainsGuide.com post about the national, state, and local parks in the Georgia mountains. What are your favorite parks to visit on these free entrance days?
I’m really excited about this post. I live in Romania but my best friend is in U.S with Work and Travel program and he is very close to this location. I would like to share this informations with him. Those free entrance are the best gift for students who are in U.S and work to have some money to travel all around this beautiful zones.
Keep going with this and good luck. I will follow your website and i hope next year I will be there too.
Thank you for following the site and keep in mind that no matter where you live, you can still visit a US National Park for free on these special dates!
Thank you for this motivational reminder. I used to visit parks a lot with my grandchildren. It used to be such a special time for us as they learned about nature and, after their closed up apartment existence, they were so happy and free running all around. I didn’t know about all those free days. I appreciate your checklist because almost every time I went I used to forget something. I am looking forward to a visit to these parks next year when my grandkids visit. Thank you.
Hi JJ, I hope you and your grandkids have a wonderful National Park trip. Remember that if you have grandkids who are in 4th grade this year, to be sure to sign them up for a Free Annual National Parks Pass via the “Every Kid in a Park” program.about:blank#blocked
Hi Alyce
I found your article very interesting and informative. I never knew the things you mentioned about national parks.
It definitely would behoove you to take advantage of those free days. I will have to try to schedule a trip to one of the Georgia parks on a free day. Thanks
All the best
Eric
Hi Eric, I hope you do get a chance to visit the Georgia mountains soon. The best part about the free park days is that you can choose to visit any park in the US (not just US National Parks in Georgia)! Enjoy!!
I really enjoyed this topic. I did not know there where so many free entrance days at the National Parks in the U.S. I love how you included those dates and have a countdown to the next free entrance day. I love the pictures but would love to see more of the national parks. This could increase the desire of wanting to visit.
Hi Jen, The parks are quite photogenic, so more photos is always a great idea! Thanks for visiting!
What a great idea, to promote the free days at the national parks. Our parks in this country are so wonderful, and free days give us more of an affordable to enjoy many of them. If one of these parks contains something on your bucket list, going during a free day would be an added advantage.
I’ve always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. If I could also get a free plane ticket, I think I’d go visit while admission is free.
Hi Fran, Even if you can’t make it to Georgia on these dates, you should check the park finder tool to see if there is a park close enough to you that wouldn’t require a free plane ticket (that might be hard to find…).
Wow, thank you for this. I had no idea there was even a free entrance day thing let alone 5 each year! That may alter my plans for future time off requests.
I thought the lifetime pass for seniors had been discontinued. I’m glad to hear that this is not the case. I have a couple of friends and family who would qualify and I’ll be sure to pass this article along to them.
Again, I really appreciate you bringing this to my attention. Thank you so much,
Scott
Hi Scott, I think that Seniors used to be able to get a much better deal on the National Parks pass, but it’s great that there is at least something available for them to enjoy the golden years and visit the parks. I’ve always enjoyed the experience at every National Park I’ve been to (over 40 and counting)!
This is great, I see the purpose of the the article. It’s very patriotic, courageous, selfless and human to enhance awareness about these access packages. It’s good for people to understand conservation, enjoy the natural beautiful of the Park, the fauna and flora (hope you have both, I’m from SA). It is also good and exemplary for the US National Park to demonstrate social responsibility and love for its veterans.
Be blessed.
Sandikazi
Thank you so much for this interesting and informative article on entrance free days at US national parks, like a lot of people these days I’m finding myself on a tight budget and I really do welcome the idea of taking advantage of the national parks free entrance days, a visit to a national park is a real adventure and an exciting day out for the kids, in fact, it’s can also be a very interesting day for the parents too, thank you once more for sharing.
Russ
Hi Russ, these parks are truly beautiful and fantastic destinations for all ages. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many of them and I find myself wanting to go back whenever possible. Even when you think you know what you’re going to see, it’s truly impressive to go experience it in person. Most people I know who have visited these majestic places (like the Grand Canyon) will tell you that pictures just cannot do it justice… and I agree, there is no substitute for an in-person visit.
I hope you get a chance to visit a national park soon!
Regards, Alyce
Hello,
Nice post of yours! I would love to enjoy some US national park if I can. What actually 4th graders mean? As I am not US citizen I am not aware of this. If I would pick some national park to visit, it would be the one in Georgia and Grand Canyon – this is my personal favourites and I have heard a lot of great reviews on these places. If I go to the USA next year, I would think about this possibility. It is also for foreigners or just US citizens?
Thank you for your great post.
All the best
Renata
Hi Renata, the term “4th graders” refers to children who are in their 4th year of elementary school, which usually happens around age 9 – 10. While the programs to get free annual passes to the National Parks are only for US citizens / permanent residents / students, the free park days are available to everyone!
Warm Regards, Alyce