Happy National Public Lands Day! Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. All national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission today (September 27, 2025) in celebration:
“Join us for National Public Lands Day on September 27, 2025! Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. Last year, over 130 national parks hosted events with 7,600 volunteers donating an impressive 41,500 hours of service. All national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone on September 27, 2025 in celebration of National Public Lands Day.” -National Park Service
If you can we highly recommend coming out to experience a national parks today. Remember while all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone, other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may still apply. Happy National Public Lands Day!
About National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is organized annually and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers 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. 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.
National Public Lands Day is more than a clean-up—it’s a chance to connect with new communities, an event that creates kinship among those working together for a common goal, and an opportunity to use America’s public lands for education, recreation, and overall physical and mental health. The theme for this year’s celebration is National Public Lands Day: Together for Tomorrow. Let’s join forces for a common goal, stewarding America’s natural resources for future generations to enjoy. Be a part of this impactful day and help make a difference in our public lands!
Get Involved
There are many ways to participate in National Public Lands Day. Whatever you choose to do, we encourage you to share Your Park Story.
- Visit a national park for free.
- Take part in a volunteer work project. Certain in-park projects may provide a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date. See the list of National Public Lands Day events below or check out all volunteer events at national parks by using Volunteer.gov, keyword search National Public Lands Day.
- Have fun and enjoy the health benefits of being outdoors.
- Learn how you can protect public lands and Leave No Trace when you visit.
- Share your favorite outdoor activity on social media channels with the hashtag #NPLD and #NPSVolunteer.
