Free national-park admission on Memorial Day

The National Park Service said U.S. residents will get free entrance to national parks on Monday, May 25, 2026, as part of its Memorial Day observance. The agency said the fee waiver applies at parks that normally charge an entrance fee, while other charges such as timed-entry reservations, camping, tours or concession fees can still apply. (nps.gov) Florida and California also announced Memorial Day-related free admission offers, but those programs differ by state and by who qualifies. (content.govdelivery.com) The result is a patchwork of fee waivers that depends on where travelers are going and what kind of park they plan to visit. ### Who gets into U.S. national parks for free on Memorial Day? (parks.ca.gov) The National Park Service said “US residents will not be charged entrance fees” at national parks on May 25, 2026. The agency posted the Memorial Day waiver on its holiday page and directed visitors to its entrance-fee and pass information for details by park. Not every national park charges an entrance fee, but the waiver covers the ones that do on that date. The NPS notice is specific to entrance fees. The agency’s Memorial Day page says visitors should still check individual parks for other requirements, and the service’s standard fee structure means reservations, amenity charges and third-party services may remain separate from the one-day entrance waiver. (nps.gov) ### Does Florida’s offer cover the whole holiday weekend? Florida State Parks said it will offer free admission over Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 23, through Sunday, May 25, 2026. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced the waiver in a May 13 release and said the offer is intended to invite visitors to state parks during the three-day holiday weekend. (nps.gov) Alexis A. Lambert, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, said in the release that Memorial Day is “a time to pause and reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.” Florida’s announcement covers state parks broadly, though visitors still need to check individual park conditions, hours and capacity before going. (nps.gov) ### Is California opening all state parks for free? California State Parks said its Memorial Day offer is narrower than the federal and Florida programs. The agency said veterans, active-duty service members and reserve military personnel can receive free day-use admission at participating state park units on Monday, May 25, 2026. (content.govdelivery.com) The California agency said visitors must show a valid military ID or proof of discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct to qualify. Its Memorial Day 2026 page lists participating park units, meaning the offer does not automatically apply to every state park location or to every kind of fee charged at a park. (content.govdelivery.com) ### What fees can still show up even on a free-admission day? Entrance fees are the charges most clearly waived in the federal and state announcements. The National Park Service says the Memorial Day benefit is a free-entrance day, while California describes its program as free day use for eligible military visitors at participating units. (parks.ca.gov) Florida’s release refers to free admission to state parks over the holiday weekend. Park-specific costs can still remain. California’s FAQ says separate museum admissions and private-event charges are not covered by its military free-admission program, and the NPS directs travelers to park-specific information because national park units can have additional reservation systems or service fees beyond the gate price. (parks.ca.gov) ### Where should visitors check before they go? California State Parks has posted its Memorial Day 2026 participating-park list online, along with the identification required for eligible visitors. The National Park Service has posted its Memorial Day page and links to entrance-fee and pass information for parks across the system. (nps.gov) Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection published its Memorial Day weekend waiver on May 13, and park-specific details remain available through the Florida State Parks system. Travelers heading out for the May 23-25 weekend or the May 25 federal holiday can verify hours, closures and reservation rules on those agency pages before arriving. (parks.ca.gov) (content.govdelivery.com) (parks.ca.gov)