When is National Park Week? See which California spots you can visit for free
Need a getaway? You can soon visit a national park in California for free.
The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees for Yosemite National Park and other popular spots in celebration of the start of National Park Week.
That means you can get free admission to some of the Golden State’s most spectacular destinations.
It’s “an opportunity to experience the wonders of nature, culture and history without the cost of entry,” the National Park Service said in a December news release.
California is home to a total of nine national parks, more than any other state in the nation, according to state tourism website Visit California.
About 12,160,000 people visited national parks in California in 2024, according to federal data, up 7% from the previous year.
Here’s what to know:
When can I visit national parks in California for free?
You can visit national parks across California for free on Saturday, April 19, according to the National Park Service.
The fee-free day marks the start of National Park Week, which runs from Saturday, April 19, to Sunday, April 27.
It’s a “great way to explore a new park or an old favorite,” the National Park Conservation Association said on its website.
Of the 400-plus national parks in the nation, just over a hundred parks normally charge entrance fees, with costs ranging from $5 to $35, according to the National Park Service.
“Fee-free days” apply only to entrance fees and do not cover “amenity or user fees for camping, boat launches, transportation, special tours or other activities,” according to Parents Press, which describes itself as the Bay Area’s “go-to parenting guide.”
Where are national parks in California?
According to Lonely Planet, California is home to three of the “very best” national parks in the United States: Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
The top national parks “preserve some of the continent’s wildest places and most spectacular landscapes, from soaring mountains and fantastically sculpted canyons to rugged coastlines, vast grasslands and towering forests,” the travel guide said.
Travel + Leisure named Yosemite and Sequoia national parks among the best national parks of 2024, along with Redwood National Park.
Here’s where to find national parks in the Golden State:
Northern California:
Central California:
Southern California:
Go to the Park Service’s Find a Park website to discover national parks, historic sites, historic trails, monuments, preserves and recreation areas across California.
What are fee-free days for national parks in 2025? See dates
In 2025, visitors get free entrance to more than 400 national parks across the country on a total of six days, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 20, the National Park Service said in its release.
“Free national park days offer an incredible opportunity for people of all ages to explore some of the United States’ most stunning and significant natural landscapes without the barrier of an entrance fee,” Parents Press said, encouraging people to “immerse themselves in nature” and “sparking a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife conservation.”
Here’s when you can visit a national park without paying an entrance free:
- April 19: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Sept. 27: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, you can get also free admission to public lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the following days in 2025:
- July 16: Bureau of Land Management’s birthday
- Oct. 12: First Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week
This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "When is National Park Week? See which California spots you can visit for free."
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