You can visit dozens of WA national, state parks for free. See when & where to go
Looking to get outside? You can explore Washington’s national parks — and dozens of other scenic spots — for free.
The U.S. National Park Service is offering no-cost admission to must-visit sites across the United States in celebration of National Public Lands Day.
“National Public Lands Day is special because it provides all lovers of the environment – old and new – an opportunity to show our appreciation for these unique places,” the National Parks Service said on its website.
Here’s what to know:
How can I get free admission to national parks in Washington?
The National Park Service said it’s offering free admission at “all national parks that charge an entrance fee” on Saturday, Sept. 27.
That includes all 63 national parks in the country, as well as other sites run by the National Park Service that typically charge admission.
Entrance fees typically cost $5 to $35, according to the National Park Service.
When is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September.
The annual event, which started in 1994, is organzied in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation.
In addition to free admission, several parks invite volunteers to “roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes – from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between,” the National Park Service said on its website.
The 2024 event drew 7,600 volunteers across 130 sites, the federal agency said.
Which Washington national parks can I visit for free?
You can visit any of the three national parks in Washington state — Mount Rainier National Park southeast of Puget Sound, Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula and North Cascades National Park in northwest Washington— for free on Saturday, Sept. 27.
The National Park Service also operate several sites in Washington state:
- Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve in Whidbey Island
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle
- Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area in Ferry, Stevens, Lincoln and Grant counties
- Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon and Washington
- Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Richland
- Minidoka National Historic Site in Bainbridge Island
- Nez Perce National Historical Park near Asotin
- San Juan Island National Historical Park in Friday Harbor
- Whitman Mansion National Historic Site in Walla Walla
Which Washington state parks offer free entrance?
You can also get free admission at dozens of Washington State Parks locations on Saturday to mark National Public Lands Day.
It’s one of 12 days in 2025 when visitors can access state-owned public recreation lands in Washington without paying a parking fee.
“On these days, visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park a vehicle at a Washington state park or on lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,” Washington State Parks said on its website.
Passes cost $11.50 for the day or $35 for yearlong access to millions of acres of state land.
According to Washington State Parks, the most visited state-run parks in 2024 included Deception Pass State Park in Oak Harbor and Lake Sammamish State Park near Seattle.
You can find information about the closest state parks to you on the parks department’s website.
Is there another way to access national, state parks for free in 2025?
If you miss National Public Lands Day, don’t worry.
You’ll have another opportunity to get into national and state parks for free. In 2025, all National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees will offer free admission to everyone on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, the federal agency said on its website.
You can also visit Washington State Parks sites without a Discovery Pass on Veterans Day.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "You can visit dozens of WA national, state parks for free. See when & where to go."