State And National Parks Are Free On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn't just a federal holiday and day of service — it's also a chance to get outside and visit our state and national parks free of charge. Of course, with our recent round of snowy weather, getting to some of them could be a challenge.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day provides one of the few opportunities each year to visit national parks for free after fee increases took effect Jan. 1 at various locations. The additional revenue will be used to fund deferred maintenance across the system of 419 parks, historic and cultural sites, and monuments.

The National Park Service lists online all parks requiring entrance fees and the amount of the fees.

Charges will be waived at the following Washington parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

• Mount Rainier National Park
• Olympic National Park
• North Cascades National Park
• Ross Lake Recreation Area
• Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
• Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
• Whitman Mission National Historic Site
• Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
• Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
• San Juan Island National Historical Park

The next free days for national parks in 2020 are:

• April 18 — First Day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
• Aug. 25 — National Park Service Birthday
• Sept. 26 — National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11 — Veterans Day

The next free days for Washington State Parks in 2020 are:

• March 19 — State Park’s 107th birthday
• April 11— Spring day
• April 22 — Earth Day
• June 6 — National Trails Day
• June 7 — Fishing Day
• June 13 — National Get Outdoors Day
• Aug. 25 — National Park Service
• Sept. 26 — National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
• Nov. 27 — Autumn day

See the full list of national parks and state parks in Washington.