Celebrate Great American Outdoors Day with Free Access to National Parks and Wildlife Refuges
Discover the Wild for Free on August 4 — And Help Protect It All Year Long
There’s no better way to celebrate summer—and your love for America’s natural beauty—than by heading into the great outdoors. And thanks to the Great American Outdoors Act, you can do just that for free on Monday, August 4, 2025.
To mark the 5th anniversary of the landmark legislation, the U.S. Department of the Interior is waiving entrance fees across all public lands it manages, including national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management sites.
That means free admission to hundreds of iconic destinations, from Yellowstone to your local wildlife refuge.
What Is Great American Outdoors Day?
Great American Outdoors Day was created by the National Park Service to honor the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), signed into law on August 4, 2020. Widely regarded as the largest investment in public lands in U.S. history, the GAOA established a special Legacy Restoration Fund to address decades of deferred maintenance at national parks, wildlife refuges, and public lands.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this funding helps ensure that trails, roads, visitor centers, and natural habitats remain safe, welcoming, and well-maintained for future generations.
Whether you’re a hiker, angler, birder, photographer, or casual explorer, August 4 is your opportunity to explore the great outdoors—for free!
Don’t Forget the Refuges! 🦆
While national parks often grab the spotlight, America’s National Wildlife Refuges are some of the most stunning and biologically rich places you can visit—and they’re included in this fee-free celebration.
Refuges across the country will be welcoming visitors at no cost on August 4. Some may even offer special programs or events, so be sure to check with your local refuge or use the FWS Event Finder to plan your trip.
Your Duck Stamp Helps Protect These Lands
Public access is just one piece of the conservation puzzle. If you love exploring wildlife refuges and supporting habitat protection, consider purchasing a Federal Duck Stamp—one of the most effective ways to support conservation in America.
Since 1934, the Duck Stamp program has conserved over 6 million acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat, helping ensure that these treasured landscapes remain open, protected, and thriving.
Every Duck Stamp is a conservation tool—and it also serves as your free entry pass into any national wildlife refuge that normally charges a fee.
Ready to Support the Future of America’s Wild Places?
Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, Great American Outdoors Day is a chance to experience the beauty of public lands—and to reflect on how we can all play a part in protecting them.
Enjoy the freedom. Embrace the wild. And remember—the Duck Stamp helps keep it all possible.
🦆 Buy your Digital Duck Stamp now: Available instantly for Apple or Android mobile wallets
🎨 Inspire Young Conservationists: Pick up a Junior Duck Stamp to support youth conservation education
Download the DuckStamp App Now
Get the new digital duck stamp and add it to your wallet, for the ultimate in mobile convenience! Download the free DuckStamp.com app and be ready, wherever your travels take you:
