National Park Service Turns 110 This Week — With a Fee-Free Day and Events Through August 30

National Park Week runs through August 30 at more than 400 sites, with ranger programs and a closing Junior Ranger Day still ahead.

By THRYV Travel Desk·Published August 27, 2026·Updated August 27, 2026·3 min read

National Park Service Turns 110 This Week — With a Fee-Free Day and Events Through August 30

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The takeaway

National Park Week continues through August 30, capping the National Park Service's 110th anniversary with ranger programs and Junior Ranger activities at more than 400 sites nationwide. The week's fee-free entry day fell on August 25; remaining days include Junior Ranger Day on August 30, when children can complete badge programs at participating parks.

The National Park Service is capping its 110th anniversary with National Park Week, running August 22 through August 30, 2026, at more than 400 sites nationwide. The week's fee-free entry day — when parks that normally charge admission waive it for U.S. citizens and residents — fell on August 25, timed to the agency's actual birthday.

This year's theme

The 2026 theme, 'Celebrate America's Story,' ties into the broader 250th anniversary of the United States. The NPS is running a different theme each day of the week, from safety-focused programming to wildlife-watching events to a closing Junior Ranger Day.

What's still ahead

Watch Wildlife Wednesday (August 26) — ranger-led wildlife programs at participating parks
Junior Ranger Day (August 30) — kids can complete badge activities and earn official Junior Ranger status

Worth knowing if you missed the fee-free day

Missing the August 25 fee-free day doesn't mean a trip this week is pointless. Many of the more than 400 units in the National Park System don't charge an entrance fee at all, and the NPS app or nps.gov/findapark can help travelers check specific site fees, hours, and remaining National Park Week programming before they go.

Where to check details

The National Park Service maintains a full schedule of National Park Week theme days and participating parks at nps.gov — a good first stop for anyone planning a last-minute visit before the week wraps up on August 30.

Sources

This article is original writing by THRYV. We link to primary reporting and official documents rather than reproducing them.

National Park Week — National Park Service (NPS.gov)

Why you can trust this article

Written and edited in-house by the THRYV Travel Desk. We do not republish or reword agency copy, and we do not invent quotes, statistics, testimonials or ratings. Where figures move frequently, we point you to the primary release rather than printing a number that will be out of date. Advertising and affiliate partnerships have no influence on our reporting — see our editorial standards, fact-checking policy and affiliate disclosure. Spotted an error? Write to newsroom@thryv-news.com.

General information only. Not personalised financial, medical or legal advice.

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