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National Parks Waive Entrance Fees Today for the Park Service's 110th Birthday

August 25 is one of ten fee-free days the National Park Service schedules each year, timed this time to its own 110th anniversary. It lands in the middle of a summer of near-record crowds and heat-related rescues at desert parks.

Meridians Life Desk

Published 25 August 2026 · Updated 25 August 2026 · 4 min read

National Parks Waive Entrance Fees Today for the Park Service's 110th BirthdayOutdoor
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The short answer

  • August 25, 2026 is a National Park Service fee-free day, marking the agency's 110th anniversary and falling inside National Park Week (Aug. 22-30).
  • The waiver covers entrance fees only; camping, boat launch and timed-entry reservation fees still apply where charged.
  • Arches and Canyonlands national parks responded to 23 heat-related rescues through early August 2026, as search interest in beginner hiking and hiking safety both climbed sharply.
  • Three more fee-free days remain on NPS's 2026 calendar: September 17, October 27 and November 11.

Every national park that normally charges an entrance fee is waiving it today. August 25, 2026 is the National Park Service's 110th birthday, and NPS marks the date every year as one of its scheduled fee-free days — this year it falls inside National Park Week, which runs August 22 through 30.

The waiver is specific: it covers entrance fees only. Camping fees, boat launch fees, and the timed-entry reservation fees that some parks — including Arches, Glacier and Rocky Mountain — charge on top of entrance are not included. Anyone planning a visit around the free day should check the individual park's site for what still costs money.

Why this summer looks different

The free day arrives after a summer of heavier-than-usual strain on desert parks. Arches and Canyonlands national parks in Utah responded to 23 heat-related rescues through early August 2026. At the same time, public interest in hiking has been climbing: search interest in "hiking safety tips" is up roughly 185% and interest in "hiking for beginners" is up roughly 165%, according to Google search data cited by Travelers Today.

  • 323 million recreation visits were recorded across the National Park System in 2025
  • National park trip bookings are up more than 10% in 2026 compared with 2025
  • Airbnb searches for stays near national parks rose 35% year over year
  • Trending destinations by search volume include Death Valley, Mammoth Cave, Kobuk Valley, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Wrangell-St. Elias
  • Zion National Park and its Narrows hike are the most-searched hiking destination this year

The rest of 2026's fee-free schedule

NPS's published list of 2026 fee-free days also includes Presidents Day (Feb. 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (June 14) and Independence Day weekend (July 3-5), which have already passed. After today, three dates remain: Constitution Day (Sept. 17), the anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (Oct. 27), and Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

Sources

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Meridians Life Desk is an editorial desk at Meridians, not an individual. A desk byline means the article was produced and fact-checked to that desk's published standards. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.

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