7 Free days to visit U.S. national parks in 2025 (plus extra savings tips)
Travelers regularly ponder when to visit a national park. These sacred treasures hold so much history and natural beauty that there is never a bad day to visit. However, free entry always makes everything better. The National Park Service (NPS) offers seven entrance fee-free days in 2025 to celebrate national parks and promote outdoor recreation.
The United States houses over 400 park sites managed by the NPS. Many parks charge an entrance fee, typically $5 to $35. This year, guests can visit any of these sites without paying an admission fee on the following days:
January 9 - National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter, Jr.
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 Day
September 28 - National Public Lands Day
November 11 - Veterans Day
If these dates do not work with your schedule, other ways exist to save money. The NPS offers passes and discounts to U.S. military families, military veterans, disabled citizens, senior citizens, and fourth graders. Visit the NPS site for details.
An America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 but gives you access to all our national parks. Consider a road trip to regions with multiple parks nearby to maximize the yearly pass. Where can you find these areas?
Although separate parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are so close that the NPS treats them as one giant park. You automatically get access to the other when you pay an entrance fee. Two parks for the price of one is an easy win for travelers.
Sequoia National Park boasts the world's most giant tree and the tallest mountain in the continental United States. Kings Canyon has the planet's second-largest tree by trunk volume, and its natural beauty rivals that of Yosemite National Park.
Although not a full-fledged national park, Mount Rushmore is a national memorial managed by the NPS. South Dakota's famous landmark is about an hour from Wind Cave National Park and an hour and a half from Badlands National Park. Travelers can quickly access three iconic park sites. The area comprises many other significant destinations, including Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park.
Wind Cave is renowned for its unique calcite formations called boxwork. The cave contains more boxwork than all other caves combined. Badlands National Park showcases vast mixed-grass prairies and otherworldly layered canyons, buttes, and spires. Guests regularly spot bison, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep in the park.
Yellowstone, America's first national park, and Grand Teton sit within miles of each other, offering visitors an opportunity to explore two parks with stunning natural beauty, exotic wildlife, and unique geological formations.
Yellowstone proudly boasts hydrothermal features, including the famous Old Faithful Geyser. Visitors from all around the world come to see the geyser faithfully erupt with predictable regularity. Grand Teton is known for its namesake mountains, one of the youngest ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Both parks offer rewarding hikes and scenic drives with the potential of spotting wildlife nearly around every bend.
Although in two different states, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, is a quick 45-minute drive from Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas. Travelers can access the parks from the same road, the National Parks Highway.
Carlsbad Caverns features the Big Room, an aptly named cavern 750 feet underground. The Big Room Trail is 1.25 miles, treating guests to breathtaking views of stalactites and stalagmites, some delicate, others massive. Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers rewarding hikes through rocky canyons and rugged mountains. The park's namesake peak is the highest point in Texas.
The state of Utah harbors five beautiful national parks with two adjacent pairs. Only an easy half-hour drive separates Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. Bryce Canyon and Zion sit about an hour and a half apart. Between the two pairs, Capitol Reef National Park is approximately 2.5 hours from Bryce Canyon and 3 hours from Canyonlands. Travelers can visit one of the park pairs on a weekend getaway or all five parks during a more extended trip.
Utah presents a unique opportunity as a springboard for national park enthusiasts. Travelers can drive from Canyonlands to Black Canyon of the Gunnison or Mesa Verde in Colorado in approximately 3 hours. Zion National Park is about 3.5 hours from the Grand Canyon's North Rim or 5 hours from its South Rim.
Beyond admission fees, consider weather and crowd levels when planning your visit. The NPS maintains a website for each national park where you can find information on hours of operation, weather, current conditions, activities, and guided tours.
Each park sets its hours, which may vary seasonally. Many parks offer more summer activities due to weather and staffing. You may discover fewer areas to explore in winter. Visit the specific park website for current information before your trip.
May through September is a great time to visit most parks, so you have improved odds of decent weather and plenty of activities. Crowd levels in most parks typically peak from June through August.
Now is the time to plan your 2025 national park adventure. The NPS recently announced seven days to visit any national park site without paying an entrance fee. Your wallet can remain heavy while your heart and mind get enlightened by stunning natural beauty in the great outdoors.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Visitor from Boston falls off cliff near Kīlauea
HAWAII, Hawaii (KHON2) — A visitor at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was rescued by first responders after falling 30 feet off of a cliff when they ventured off the Byron Ledge Trail on the night of June 11. The visitor, a 30-year-old man from Boston, sustained minor facial injuries. National Park Service officials said the man wanted to get a closer look at the Kīlauea eruption, got too close to the cliff's edge and fell at around 9 p.m. Officials said he did not have a flashlight or headlamp. Pele continues to dazzle with eight hour volcanic episode Search and rescue teams were already in the area, as they were managing traffic, responded quickly and were able to perform a high-angle rescue, hoisting the man to safety. Thankfully, a tree had broken the visitor's fall and saved him from falling an additional hundred feet, which could have been to the NPS, there are multiple ways to stay safe at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as well as parks across the country. The service said to: Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Avoid earth cracks and cliff edges. They are often unstable or hidden. Do not climb over rock walls, railings or safety barriers. Keep an eye on your entire party, especially keiki. Carry a flashlight or wear a headlamp at night, along with sturdy footwear. Kīlauea has been erupting since December 2024; and while the stunning volcanic performance is a must-see, park officials remind the public that there are many hazards that come with the beauty. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
One of the best hidden-gem beaches in America is in Colorado: List
DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has lots of outdoor adventure opportunities to offer, and while the Centennial State might be known more for its ski slopes and hiking trails, the Rocky Mountains are also home to one of the best hidden-gem beaches in America. That's according to Frugal Flyer. The online affordable travel blog recently held a survey and released its 2025 list of the 95 Best Secret Beaches in America. Coloradans don't have to go far to visit one of them, but they will need to take a hike. Colorado campground named among favorites in America: Hipcamp The report found that Americans are not looking for boardwalks and beachfront bars; they are looking for peaceful beach escapes with plenty of space to stretch out, and they're willing to put in extra effort to get there. Most of the top places on the list were in Hawaii, Florida and along the West Coast. A handful of inland states had sites on the list, with Sandbeach Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park ranking at No. 35. Sandbeach Lake, which sits at 10,280 feet in elevation, is only accessible via a hiking trail. According to the National Park Service website, the hike from the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead is 4.2 miles with a 1,970-foot elevation gain, and takes about four to five hours. There are a few camp sites near the lake, and the NPS website has guidelines for how people can visit Sandbeach Lake, including information about: Directions to the trailhead How to navigate the trail Preparing for extreme weather and emergencies Hiking single file on trails and side by side where there are no trails Where to camp and explore Using carry-in/carry-out bear-resistant food storage containers How to cook meals The trailhead is about an hour and a half drive away from Denver, according to Google Maps. Several other inland bodies of water made the list, which the report said signals a shift that people are starting to value the quiet serenity that can't be found on the coast. States without coastlines on the list include Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, West Virginia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Kentucky, Utah, Nebraska and more. Unique Colorado roadside attractions to visit 'From Lake McConaughy in Nebraska to Leigh Lake in Wyoming and Iona's Beach in Minnesota, these freshwater escapes are becoming the new darlings of summer travelers who want calm water, loons at sunset, and zero crowds,' the report read. The study also found that the effort to reach some sites is not just worth it — it's part of the appeal for beach lovers. 'In a travel culture obsessed with instant access, this trend hints at something deeper: people are craving intentionality, even in how they unplug,' the report said. Colorado Renaissance Festival 2025: Everything you need to know Coloradans can go the extra few hundred miles to visit other sites that made the list. Some near Colorado include: 37: River Island State Park – Arizona 39: Elephant Butte Lake (hidden coves) – New Mexico 48: Sunset Beach (Lake Thunderbird) – Oklahoma 62: Newton Hills State Park – South Dakota 71: Leigh Lake – Wyoming 72: Quail Creek Reservoir – Utah 83: Lake McConaughy (Western shores) – Nebraska 87: Glen Elder State Park – Kansas The full list of the best secret beaches can be found on the Frugal Flyer website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Visitor rescued from Hawaii Volcanoes park after falling 30 feet off cliff
Visitor rescued from Hawaii Volcanoes park after falling 30 feet off cliff Show Caption Hide Caption Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spews stunning lava fountains Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewed lava fountains exceeding 1,000 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor was rescued by first responders Wednesday night after falling 30 feet off a steep cliff while trying to get a closer look at the Kilauea volcanic eruption, according to park officials. The 30-year-old man from Boston suffered minor facial injuries, according to the National Park Service. He had strayed from the popular Byron Ledge Trail to get a better view of the eruption, but "got too close to the sheer cliff edge," according to a Friday press release. A tree broke his fall, otherwise he risked plunging "another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death," according to the release. Rangers were notified of the incident at around 9 p.m. They saved the visitor in a high-angle rescue, rappelling down the cliff face to hoist him back up to the ledge. On the day of the accident, the volcano – considered one of the world's most active – was spewing lava fountains of more than 1,000 feet. Evenings are an especially popular time for park visitors to visit eruptions and watch the lava glow against the night sky. However, the park said the man did not have a flashlight or headlamp. Raw Hawaii: Why you need a whole day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Since Kilauea began erupting in late December, the park has seen an increase in visitors coming to witness the natural spectacle, with congested parking lots and crowded overlooks. Eruptions are also considered a sacred event in Hawaiian culture as this landscape is believed to be the home of Pelehonuamea, goddess of creation and destruction. The park said it consistently warns visitors about the safety hazards of watching the volcanic eruptions. During the initial eruption, the park released a public warning, saying that a toddler wandered off from his family and ran toward a 400-foot cliff edge on Christmas Day. "Those who ignore the warnings, walk past closure signs, lose track of loved ones, and sneak into closed areas to get a closer look do so at great risk," the park had said following the close call.
