Get into all national parks for free on April 19

Want to get outside and enjoy nature for free?

For the kickoff of the annual National Park Week, which for 2025 will be held April 19-27, the park service is offering free admission to all its parks and monuments on Saturday, April 19.

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This can save you a $50 entry fee or even more, but here’s what you need to know:

You might be shocked to learn this, but these freebie days are really, really popular. For maximum enjoyment, I suggest getting there at sunrise, before everyone else is even out of bed. No crowds, you can find parking, and sunrise is really beautiful, right? C’mon. You can do it this once.

And here’s when you can visit all national parks free in 2025.

And here’s a tip about sunrise: In Yellowstone, the rivers send up huge clouds of steam before dawn because of underlying hot springs. This is remarkable to see, but the steam starts evaporating the minute the sun hits them. To see this remarkable phenomenon, get on the road just before the sun comes up. It’s worth the effort. Plus, all the parking lots will be empty.

You don’t need to sign up or register. But check if you need reservations, because April 19 is in the middle of Easter weekend. You’ll need to go to recreation.gov and search for the park you want and “timed entry” to find the reservation information. I didn’t find any reservation requirements for Yosemite.

Here are the nine national parks in California: Channel Islands (the boat ride won’t be free), Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Lassen, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Yosemite. (Note that Yosemite’s still going to be snowy, and probably Lassen and Kings Canyon too.)

Personally, I suggest Joshua Tree, which is my favorite local place. We go at dawn and hike until the sluggards start arriving, usually around 11 a.m. head to lunch, and then either drive home, or stop in Desert Hot Springs for a soak in a hot spring resort.

Note there are special national park events all week long, so take a look online to see what’s available. And enjoy!

Learn more: nps.gov