Free entry to national parks
America's Best Idea - our national parks - is even better when admission is free! Mark your calendar for free days at U.S. National Parks throughout Florida and beyond.
On select dates, FREE entrance is available to 133 National Parks across the country (including five in Florida) that normally charge a fee. A few of Florida's national treasures are just a short drive away from Orlando.
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FREE DAYS AT U.S. NATIONAL PARKS 2026
- August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
- September 17: Constitution Day
- October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's birthday
- November 11: Veterans Day
During the fee-free days, the parks waive entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. This promotion does not include other fees such as reservations, camping, tours, concessions, and fees collected by third parties.
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Florida National Parks that participate in free entry days
- Canaveral National Seashore (one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida)
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, in St. Augustine
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Titusville
- Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles west of Key West
- Gulf Islands National Seashore, at the Mississippi-Florida border
- Everglades National Park, south of Miami
Florida wildlife refuges that charge a free may also participate in national park fee-free days. You can find a list of Florida's wildlife refuges here.
Florida National Parks that are always free
- Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee
- Biscayne National Park, Miami (free for day use)
- De Soto National Memorial, Bradenton
- Fort Caroline National Memorial and the Timucuan Preserve, Jacksonville
- Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Augustine (stop at Fort Matanzas Visitor Center for a free ferry pass)
- Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, stretching from North Carolina to Jacksonville
- Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, Jacksonville
Find a Park by going to the National Park Service website and using the search tool or interactive map. You can search for parks in your state or parks that feature activities you like, such as camping, fishing, or hiking, as well as educational programs and historic sites.
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Kids' programs at National Parks
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- Free admission for 4th graders. All 4th graders are entitled to a FREE pass to explore all of the National Parks. They can also bring along family members and friends on their adventures for free.
- Junior Ranger program. Participating parks provide a FREE booklet you can download that describes all sorts of age-appropriate activities in the park. When they've completed the tasks, they are awarded an official Junior Ranger badge.
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