Free entry for the NPS's 110th birthday

The National Park Service is celebrating its 110th birthday on Aug. 25 by offering free admission to all national parks, as reported by multiple outlets including FOX 9, the Gainesville Sun, Naples Daily News, and TCPalm. The free entry applies to U.S. citizens and residents only, according to the National Park Service. Non-residents must pay regular entrance fees and any applicable nonresident fees on free entrance days unless they have a Non-Resident Annual Pass, which costs $250 compared to $80 for a Resident Annual Pass.

The National Park Service was created on Aug. 25, 1916, with the purpose to "preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations," as stated in the agency's founding legislation. The Denver Post also notes that the NPS was created by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

National Park Week and themed days

The free admission day is part of National Park Week, which runs from Aug. 22 through Aug. 30, according to the Gainesville Sun, Naples Daily News, and TCPalm. The week includes themed days, such as Watch Wildlife Wednesday on Aug. 26 and Freedom Friday on Aug. 28, as reported by The Denver Post. The National Park Week theme is "Celebrate America's Story" in honor of the nation's 250th anniversary, according to the Florida-based outlets.

Regional highlights

In Colorado, entry to all national parks and monuments will be free on Tuesday, as reported by The Denver Post. Colorado is home to four national parks — Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison — and an additional 13 national monuments, trails, and historic sites overseen by the National Park Service. All of those will be accessible for free this week, though Rocky Mountain National Park still requires a timed reservation.

In the Midwest, FOX 9 lists dozens of parks across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin that will be free on Aug. 25, including Indiana Dunes National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Voyageurs National Park, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

In Florida, there are 11 national parks, as reported by the Gainesville Sun, Naples Daily News, and TCPalm. These include Big Cypress, Biscayne, Canaveral National Seashore, Castillo de San Marcos, De Soto National Memorial, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Fort Caroline National Memorial, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

Presidential statement and other celebrations

President Trump issued a statement encouraging residents to enjoy free admission to a national park on Aug. 25, as reported by the Gainesville Sun, Naples Daily News, and TCPalm. The statement described America's national parks as "hallmarks of the American Spirit."

The Google doodle on Aug. 25 celebrates National Park Week at Yellowstone and offers a virtual tour of Yellowstone National Park with Google AI narration, according to the same Florida-based outlets.

Future free admission dates

For those who cannot visit this week, the National Park Service has announced free admission dates for 2026: Sept. 17 (Constitution Day), Sept. 26 (National Public Lands Day), Oct. 27 (Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday), and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), as reported by The Denver Post and the Florida outlets. Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for U.S. citizens and residents only, according to a quote from the National Park Service carried by the Florida outlets.

Perspectives

  • National Park Service: The agency is offering free admission to celebrate its 110th birthday and to encourage visitation, with the stated purpose of preserving natural and cultural resources for future generations.
  • President Trump: In a statement, he encouraged residents to enjoy free admission, describing national parks as "hallmarks of the American Spirit."