WA State Parks reveals the 12 days you can get in for free in 2025. Here’s when they are
In order to park at a Washington State Park, you’d normally need a Discover Pass, the admissions pass used to access the state’s public recreation lands. Passes, which also apply to some land managed by the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife, cost $30 to $35 for a year, or $10 to $11.50 for a single day.
But for 12 days next year, you’ll be able to get in to Washington State Park locations for free.
Earlier this week, Washington State Parks revealed the dates of its Discover Pass free days for 2025. The list remains mostly unchanged from 2024, although the day after Thanksgiving was taken off and replaced with the anniversary of the U.S. Forest Service first commissioning Smokey Bear.
2025 WA Discover Pass free days
Here’s when you can visit a state park for free next year:
Jan. 1, New Year’s Day and First Day Hikes
Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
March 9, Billy Frank Jr.’s Birthday
March 19, 112th anniversary of Washington State Parks system’s founding
- April 22, Earth Day
- June 7 and June 8, Free Fishing Weekend
- June 19, Juneteenth
- Aug. 9, anniversary of the U.S. Forest Service creating Smokey Bear
- Sept. 27, National Public Lands Day
- Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day
- Nov. 11, Veterans Day
How to buy a Discover Pass
If you want to visit a state park outside of those 12 days, you’ll have a few options for buying a Discover Pass. You can purchase an annual pass online at the Discover Pass website for $35. Your pass will then be sent to you in the mail. Each annual pass can be used for two vehicles, but only one at a time. You can also buy a printable, one-day pass online for $11.50.
The state also maintains several on-site Discover Pass pay stations, where you can buy an annual pass for $30 and a one-day pass for $10. You can find the complete list of locations on the State Parks website.
This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 12:08 PM with the headline "WA State Parks reveals the 12 days you can get in for free in 2025. Here’s when they are."