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5 National Parks to Visit This Year With Your Pet (for Free)

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

What's the perfect excuse to head to a national park with your best furry friend? Why, a fee-free day! Every year, the National Park Service (NPS) designates Free Entrance Days for free admission into national parks nationwide. Monday, January 9th, kicked off the first of seven Free Entrance Days for 2025, with National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter Jr.

But not every national park is pet-friendly. With hundreds of national parks in the United States, knowing where to go, what you can and can't do, and what to pack for your getaway is essential. Read on to discover five pet-friendly national parks worth exploring.

Why Head to a National Park, Anyway?

Visiting national parks is a centuries-old American tradition that dates back to 1872 when Congress established the first national park. When you visit a national park, you'll get to walk the trails that many presidents traveled and generations of visitors and their pets. 

National parks are also a great way to enjoy scenic views, exercise, and fresh air in one location. You can also spend extra time bonding with your pet and providing her a new place to explore. 

Visiting a national park is a relaxing getaway if you want to escape technology or noisy cities. National parks can also double as adventure spots, allowing you to explore panoramic trails and viewpoints with your furry friend. Whether you have an adventure cat or a curious canine who enjoys sniffing around new places, national parks offer much to do and see.

When Are the National Park Service's Free Entrance Days for 2025?

Most national parks, like Nez Perce National Historical Park, are free year-round. However, the Free Entrance Days allow you to enjoy the national parks that typically charge an entrance fee at no cost. In 2025, there will be seven fee-free days to enter national parks. These days include:

  • Monday, January 9th: (National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter, Jr.)

  • Monday, January 20th: (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

  • Saturday, April 19th: (The first day of National Park Week)

  • Thursday, June 19th: (Juneteenth National Independence Day)

  • Monday, August 4th: (The Great American Outdoors Act's Anniversary)

  • Saturday, September 27th: (National Public Lands Day)

  • Tuesday, November 11th: (Veterans Day)

What to Pack

Before heading out to a national park, ensure you pack the essentials. First, think about how long you plan to spend at the park and pack based on the activities you plan to do. For instance, if you plan to head to the beach, pack some extra towels to dry your fluffy friend. You'll also want to pack essentials like water, food, and pet waste bags.

Here is a quick checklist of what to bring:

Check Out These 5 National Parks

While over 400 national parks exist in the United States, only some parks are pet-friendly. So, knowing which national parks to visit with your pet is essential. Here are five pet-friendly national parks worth exploring:

Acadia National Park (Maine)

Enjoy hiking along adventurous rocky trails when visiting Acadia National Park in Maine. This historic park became a national park in the early 20th century and offers spectacular lake and cliffside views. 

Bond with your pet as you travel along the rocky coastline of the Wonderland Trail, catching scenic views of the evergreen forest. If you're up for a challenge, consider capturing mountaintop views of the Bubbles Mountains along the Jordan Pond Path. Just avoid the section between The Featherbed Pond and the carriage road.

Looking for a shorter, more straightforward route? Consider heading down natural trails like Ship Harbor Trail or Beech Valley Trail. Whatever path you choose, remember that Acadia National Park's pet policy requires you to keep your pet on a leash and pick up its waste.

Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

The Grand Canyon offers picturesque views rivaling most paintings, and you must see it for yourself. So why not bring Fido along? Adventure cats are also welcome at the Grand Canyon. 

But there are a few rules you'll need to follow. Like most national parks, you must always have your pet on a leash when visiting the Grand Canyon. Your pets are also only allowed in specifically designated areas. For example, you can take your leashed cat or dog on the greenway or bridle trail that connects the North Kaibab Trail. On the South Rim, you can walk with your pet on trails above the rim and Trailer Village, among other developed areas. You can also use the Grand Canyon Kennel near the Maswik Lodge on the South Rim to board your dog or cat. Just make sure you have your pet's shot records on hand.

Photo by Lionello DelPicclolo on Unsplash

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (Colorado)

Try a different terrain and head for the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. While pets aren't allowed on the dune field's backcountry or inside the visitor center, you can explore the Preserve and the park's main use areas with your favorite feline or pup. Travel the scenic forestry trail of evergreens and aspen that early settlers and Native Americans once traveled when you walk the 3.2-mile Mosca Pass Trail. Hang out with your pet on the Pinon Flats Campground, or take your dog to explore the dunes. Just remember to keep your pet on a leash, pick up your pet's waste, and watch out for the spines of any prickly pear cactus you may encounter as you approach the dunes.

Photo by Taylor Wright on Unsplash

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

If you're looking for broader, open spaces for your pet to travel, consider Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Only 20 of the 500 miles of trails in the park, including the Story of the Forest Trail and the Fox Hollow Trail, prohibit pets. The park has pet-friendly lodging, making camping with your cats easy in its pet-friendly campgrounds. 

Start with a simple, picturesque route like the Loft Mountain Loop or Ivy Creek trail via the Appalachian Trail. Along the way, you'll catch panoramic views of stony vistas and lush, forest-filled landscapes. Catch cascading waterfalls and serene streams as you walk on the four-mile Rose River Loop. Consider traveling along the Little Stony Man trail if you're looking for a short hike with cliff views. Just remember to keep your pet on a leash no longer than six feet and follow the park rules to keep you and your pet safe.

Photo by Lisa Riabinina on Unsplash

Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)

Want to frolic through a historic orchard or enjoy a serene view along a river trail amongst unique rock formations? Then, add  Capitol Reef National Park as one of your next pet-friendly road trip stops. Leashed pets can walk down the Fremont River Trail from the Fruita campground to the south end, where you will enjoy the sounds of the river and views of intricate rock formations billions of years old. Remember that you can't bring Rover beyond the gate at Hattie's Field. 

You can also travel with your furry friend between the Fruita campground and the visitor center, which comes out to about 1.4 miles or about a thirty-minute walk one way. Between dawn and dusk, you can also enjoy apple and apricot picking or frolicking through one of the park's unlocked and unfenced orchards, such as the Cass Mulford and Gifford orchards. Harvest season runs from the middle of June to the middle of October for various fruits and nuts, including apricots, peaches, apples, pears, and walnuts. During harvest season, you can enjoy sampling fruit for free or pay about $2 per pound to take some home. Remember to carry cash and check the Capitol Reef National Park's Facebook page for updates on current harvests and prices.

If you want an overnight stay, consider reserving one of the 71 spots on the Fruita campground for $25 per night and enjoy the night stars with your pup at this International Dark Sky Park.  

Spend a Day in a National Park With Your Pet

Looking for more pet-friendly national parks in the States? The National Park Service also has a map of pet-friendly national parks you can visit with your favorite furry friends. The map also gives you the inside scoop on whether you can take your pets inside the park and which trails they can or cannot travel. Whether you're looking to enjoy a holiday or some vacation time at a national park, you can do it with your furry friend throughout the year. Look at the map we mentioned here and plan your pet-friendly adventure at a national park.

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