National Park Week is a special celebration of our national parks that happens one week every year and gives folks a host of opportunities to engage with America’s most treasured landscapes.
During National Park Week there are a number of special events as well as “free days” where admission to all national parks is waived.
National Park Week is a great time to learn more and interact with national park units of all shapes and sizes! In this article I’ll cover everything you need to know about National Park Week including what it is, when it happens, where to celebrate, and the 2026 free entrance days.
What is National Park Week?
National Park Week is an annual weeklong celebration of the national parks that is intended to give folks a time to reflect on how incredible our national parks and national park units are, what they mean to us, and how we can continue to protect these important places.
During the week there are a number of special events as well as “free day(s)” where entrance fees are waived on all national park units.
When is National Park Week 2026?
The official dates for National Park Week 2026 are Saturday, April 18 through Sunday, April 26. Each year, National Park Week coincides with Earth Day (April 22).
National Park Free Entrance Days in 2026
This year, April 19 is the National Park Week free entrance day, meaning entrance fees will be waived for all visitors. With free days come large crowds, so if you do decide to visit a national park on a free day, pack patience!
I recommend visiting lesser-visited national parks and national park units on the free days. You’ll actually get to enjoy them.
Here is the full list of NPS free entrance days for 2026.
| Date | Occasion |
| January 20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| April 19 | First Day of National Park Week |
| August 4 | Great American Outdoors Act Anniversary |
| September 27 | National Public Lands Day |
| November 11 | Veterans Day |
Keep in mind that “free entrance” means the entrance fee is waived. Other fees like camping, reservations, and tour costs still apply.
Where is National Park Week?
There is no official location for National Park Week! Celebrate it however you’d like, wherever you’d like to. The goal is to appreciate these special places and the folks who manage them, so be as creative as you’d like.
National Park Week Events 2026
Here’s a list of 2026 National Park Week events.
- April 19 – Fee-Free Entrance Day
- April 22 – ParkRx Day / Earth Day
- April 26 – National Junior Ranger Day
Ways to Give During National Park Week
National Park Week is a great time to give back to your national parks! There are a number of organizations that benefit the parks in various ways (including ours!). Here’s our list of top ways to give back.
- More Than Just Parks – Let’s start with us (why not, right?). Support our efforts to showcase and conserve the national parks by subscribing to our newsletter (free or paid version).
- National Parks Conservation Association – A top national parks organization that’s more political than the congressionally mandated National Park Foundation. Contributions to the NPCA go toward supporting conservation efforts as well as fighting national parks bad guys.
- National Park Foundation – The National Park Foundation was chartered by Congress to be the official charity of the National Park Service. It is a non-partisan organization. Contributions to the NPF go toward supporting their efforts to promote and conserve the parks.
The official dates for National Park Week 2026 are April 18 – April 26.
National Park Week is a special celebration of our national parks that happens one week every year and gives folks a host of opportunities to engage with America’s most treasured landscapes.
The five NPS free entrance days in 2026 are January 20 (MLK Day), April 19 (National Park Week), August 4 (Great American Outdoors Act Anniversary), September 27 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).
Helpful National Park Resources
If you’re looking for some resources to dive into National Park Week, I recommend you check out the following helpful articles.
Best National Parks Ranked – All 63 US National Parks Ranked By Experts
Free Downloadable National Parks Map & List – List & Map of National Parks By State (+ Printable Checklist)
National Parks Videos – 25 BEST National Park Videos to Watch Now
What is a National Park – What Exactly is a National Park?
Most Visited National Parks – Top 10 Most Visited US National Parks
Least Visited National Parks – Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
Best National Park Road Trips – 10 Best National Park Road Trips
East Coast National Parks – Top 10 Best East Coast National Parks Ranked
West Coast National Parks – 25 Best West Coast National Parks Ranked
Best National Monuments – All 128 US National Monuments Ranked (Best to Worst)
