If you plan to fill your 2025 calendar with a few trips to America’s national parks, but you’re simultaneously hoping to keep costs low, there are a few different ways to approach your travels.
One of the most cost-effective strategies is to purchase the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. The $80 pass covers all entrance and standard amenities fees for federal recreation sites (including national parks) for an entire year. While only one person can use the card—pass holders are required to show photo ID—it covers everyone in a private vehicle or four per person fees.
Alternatively, there are several methods for visiting the national parks without paying a dime. From planning trips on free entrance days to using a volunteer pass, here’s every single way to visit national parks for free this year.
Free Entrance Days in 2025
There are a few specific times of the year when all National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees are completely free. See the remaining free admission days in 2025 below:
- September 27: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
It’s important to note, however, that other fees, like reservation fees or timed entry, may still be applicable at some of the sites.
Military Service Members and Veterans
Outside of visiting on the above days, there are several other ways you can enter national parks free of charge—one of which is with a military ID. All U.S. military service members and veterans, as well as their dependents, can enter U.S. national parks for free. This applies to Gold Star families (families who have lost a loved one while serving on active duty) as well.
Americans and U.S. Residents Living With Permanent Disabilities
U.S. citizens or residents with permanent disabilities are also eligible for free entry with the America the Beautiful-The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass. The pass doesn’t cost anything, but you will be required to show a valid photo ID and documentation of a permanent disability. The latter can be shown in the form of a statement by a local physician, a document issued by a federal agency (like Social Security Disability), or a document issued by a state agency.
The ‘Every Kids Outdoors’ Program
As part of the Every Kid Outdoors program, fourth-grade students in the U.S. and family members traveling with them can also enter national parks for free. Valid for the entirety of the school year—from September through August—the pass must be printed from the Every Kid Outdoors website. Parks do not accept digital versions. If you’re a fourth-grade teacher, you can print passes for each of your students.
The Volunteer Pass
The final way to visit national parks for free in 2025 is with the Volunteer Pass. Anyone who volunteers at least 250 hours at a federation recreation site is eligible for the annual pass. Notably, these volunteer hours don’t have to be accrued strictly on land managed by the National Park Service sites. You can also receive the pass if you’ve participated in volunteer work or projects on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wildlife Service, or the US Army Corps of Engineers.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-visit-us-national-parks-for-free-in-2025-11798571