Visit these parks in Texas for free this weekend

Take out your hiking boots – National Park Week starts this weekend.

For a week, national parks across the country, including Texas nationals, will be celebrating themed days, special events and a much-anticipated free admission day.

Here’s what you need to know.

When is National Park Week?

National Park weeks always coincide with Earth Day, usually starting on the Saturday before Earth Day and ending on Saturday. If Earth Day falls on a Saturday, the day will start instead.

This year, the program is growing from April 19th to April 26th. The first day is National Junior Ranger Day!

What is the theme of 2025 National Park Week?

The theme for National Park Week in 2025 is “National Park Playlist,” which celebrates the deep and diverse musical connections between national parks and the wider American story.

As part of this year’s festival, the National Park Service is encouraging the public to take part in the playlist challenge by creating personalized “National Park Playlists.” This includes reflections inspired by your favorite songs, memorable park visits, or spending time in nature. Participants are invited to share their playlists with friends and family, including social media using the hashtags #NationalParkWeek and #NationalParkPlayList.

Each day of the week has a unique musical theme:

Saturday, April 19th: The Biggest Hits – April 20th, celebrating the iconic park experience and memory day – Explore lesser-known parks, or New Mon Day, April 21st: Pop – interact with popular parks, April 22nd, April 22nd: Nature Songs – Focus on natural sounds and ecosystems. We appreciate the strength of our Metal-park infrastructure and conservation efforts, reflecting the cultural and historical narratives of April 25th, Rhythm and Blues-Park Satter Day, April 26th. Dance Music – Outdoor Olds Sunday, April 27: Walk-Up Songs – Emphasizing personal empowerment and park exploration

When is the free entry date?

Entry is always free on the first day of the week at the National Park. This year, it’s Saturday, April 19th.

Which national parks in Texas are free to enter?

All 400+ national parks and landmarks are free to enter on Saturdays. Texas includes Big Bend National Park, Mount Guadalupe National Park and the Fort Davis National Historical Site.

Texas’ next national recreation area, monuments and historic landmarks are paid year-round.

Arribeites Flint Quarries National Monument, Fricha Mistad National Recreation Area, Del Riobig Bush National Reserve, Beaumont Blackwell School National Preserve, Beaumont Blackwell School National Preserve, Marfa Batterfield Overland National Historic Site, Malf State Cha Misal National Memorial, Multicamino Real Detiera Adentro Adentro National Historic Trail, LeClick LeClick Region City Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park, Palo Alto Battlefield Antonio Mission National Historic Park, San Antonio

Where are Texas state parks?

Texas has 89 state parks, with several state natural areas and historic sites, all managed by the Texas Parks and the Wildlife Department.

These parks span a wide range of landscapes, including deserts, mountains, forests, beaches, and rivers. Zoom in and find the one that’s closest to you.