Mark these ten dates on your calendar if you want to visit a federal forest or national park for free this year.
In recognition of federal holidays or public lands festivities, federal public lands agencies will once again grant visitors a break by waiving entrance, parking, and day-use fees for a restricted number of days this year.
This year, from January to November, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have all agreed to celebrate ten fee-free holidays. Not all agencies observe all holidays.
All five federal agencies observe four holidays: Veterans Day on November 11, National Public Lands Day on September 27, Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, and Juneteenth on June 19.
Presidents Day was removed from the calendar the next year after the federal public lands agencies started implementing Juneteenth as the newest fee-free day in 2023.
The majority of land management organizations also offer annual passes that let users enter public lands year-round without paying extra. The U.S. Forest Service’s $30 Northwest Forest Pass and the $80 America the Beautiful Pass, which is valid on all federal lands, are two options.
Throughout the year, state parks in Oregon and Washington, along with municipal organizations like Metro, have their own set of fee-free days.
The following list includes all federal public lands fee-free days in 2025:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 20.
April 19 is National Park Week’s first day (exclusive to the National Park Service).
June 14 is National Get Outside Day (exclusive to the US Forest Service).
June 16 is the birthday of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (only the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).
Juneteenth, June 19
July 16 is BLM’s birthday (exclusively for the Bureau of Land Management).
August 4th is the Great American Outdoors Act’s anniversary (exclusively for the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management).
National Public Lands Day is September 27.
October 12: National Wildlife Refuge Week’s first Sunday (exclusive to the US Fish and Wildlife Service)
November 11th is Veterans Day.
Hale Jamie
503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB; [email protected]
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