You can visit 9 national parks in California for free in 2026. Here’s when
Getting outside and being more active are common New Year’s resolutions for 2026.
For people who live in California, those resolutions should be pretty easy to keep.
The Golden States is home to nine national parks and hundreds of thousands of miles of trail systems, making it one of the best states for hiking and outdoor vacations, The Fresno Bee previously reported.
In 2026, U.S. citizens and residents can visit national parks for free on select days — including those in California.
“Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees,” the National Park Service said on its website.
Here’s when park entrance fees will be waived for U.S. citizens in 2026:
When can I visit California national parks for free in 2026?
According to the National Park Service, there are 10 days throughout the year when fees are waived at national parks that typically charge to enter.
The dates in 2026 are:
- Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 16
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Flag Day: Sunday, June 14
- Independence Day weekend: Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 3, 4 and 5
- 110th Birthday of the National Park Service: Tuesday, Aug. 25
- Constitution Day: Thursday, Sept. 17
- Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday: Tuesday, Oct. 27
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
Park officials encourage visitors to arrive as early as possible on days when entrance fees are waived to avoid crowds, The Bee previously reported.
Can I visit Yosemite without paying entry fee? Channel Islands?
Seven of California’s nine national parks charge entrance fees ranging from about $15 to $35, The Bee previously reported.
Although admission to those parks is free on select days, you may still have to pay for camping, parking and day-use areas, as well as boat trips and other transportation.
Here’s where U.S. citizens and residents can go in California during fee-free days in 2026:
- Channel Islands National Park near Ventura
- Death Valley National Park in Inyo County
- Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs
- Lassen Volcanic National Park near Redding
- Pinnacles National Park near Soledad
- Redwood National Park near Crescent City
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks near Visalia
- Yosemite National Park northeast of Fresno
Where else can I visit for free in 2026?
In addition to national parks, national monuments, historic trails, recreation areas and other sites that normally charge entry fees will be free to access on these days.
That includes Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, Muir Woods National Monument in Mill Valley and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Shasta.
Several California sites run by the Nation Park Service, including Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, are free to enter year-round.
You can also get in free into recreational lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, including the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation Management Area in Auberry, the federal agency said on its website.
What is the America the Beautiful pass? How much does it cost?
The annual America the Beautiful pass provides access to all national parks and other federal lands, according to the National Park Service.
The pass covers entrance fees and standard day-use fees at lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers.
America the Beautiful passes, which can be purchased via Recreation.gov, cost $80 apiece for U.S. citizens and residents, or $250 for people who aren’t U.S. residents.
Seniors can get an annual America the Beautiful pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80 Passes are free for military service members and their families.
Fourth-grade students in the United States can also get free America the Beautiful passes through the Every Kid Outdoors program.
While you can still get physical America the Beautiful passes, digital passes are available in 2026, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "You can visit 9 national parks in California for free in 2026. Here’s when."
