National Park Week is April 19-27! This nine-day celebration is an opportunity to rejoice in the beauty of America’s national parks, protect the environment and all the public spaces we share, and look towards a climate-forward future together.

National parks — of which there are over 400 — are a uniquely special place for all who visit them. They are also currently threatened by federal budget cuts and proposed legislation that would harm public lands. 

Whether you just love the outdoors, are interested in the shared history of these landmarks, or want to protect them for future generations, National Park Week simply takes the everyday stewardship and appreciation of these places and turns up the volume.

While it’s important to learn more about and protect our national parks every single day, it’s helpful to have somewhere to start. We’ve created a guide on how to celebrate National Park Week this year.

By the way, some of the links in this article (like books!) are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

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Activities and Ideas: How To Recognize National Park Week

Take Action

Urge your elected officials to protect public lands and national parks.

Now more than ever, the federal government needs a reminder from us as constituents that these public lands matter and deserve to be protected.

Contact your representatives to urge them to take action to protect public lands by resisting funding and employment cuts across the country, fighting back against the construction of oil pipelines, holding corporations accountable, establishing robust sustainability and conservation laws, and more. 

You can also simply let your representatives know that you value the National Park Service and want them to work to protect it. Need a script to get you started? We’ve got you covered.

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Sign a petition to protect public lands. 

The National Parks Conservation Association has collected a handful of petitions that would send a message directly to elected officials calling for action to protect the country’s parks.

With a simple input of one’s name, address, and contact information, the nonprofit will do the hard work to tally supporters in the fight for the country’s parks. 

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Take good care of public lands.

What better way to practice your national park stewardship than cleaning up the public lands and waterways closest to you? 

Grab a clean-up kit and pick up litter, help spread the word about the importance of responsible park usage, or even reach out to your local parks department (or NPS) to inquire about improved recycling or waste management options. 

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Donate to organizations that protect national parks and public lands.

When it comes to the specific environmental and conservation needs of our national parks and wildlife, we should leave it to the experts to do their jobs.

And they need our support.

Outside of federal agencies, countless projects, nonprofits, and funds of all kinds exist to maintain and protect our national parks and public lands. Consider contributing to some of them during National Park Week — here are just a few to keep in mind:

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Become a member of the National Parks Foundation.

The National Park Foundation is the leading nonprofit arm of the NPS and works to care for and safeguard these beloved parks. 

With programming in youth education, history and culture, sustainability, wildlife conservation, outdoor exploration, and more, a yearly membership with the National Parks Foundation contributes greatly to the spaces and initiatives we all know and love.

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Visit

Visit a national park.

It might be the most obvious, but this might be the best week to pay a visit to a national park!

Last year, Google unveiled some new updates to Google Maps which will help you identify all of the best “must-visit attractions” at each park, help you explore and navigate entire trails (not just track down the trailhead), and download an entire park area in case there’s no cell service.

Whether you visit a national park in your state or you decide to trek far away, the National Park Service has resources to help ensure you have a great trip.

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Mark your calendar for this year’s Free National Park Days.

Every year, NPS announces a number of “fee-free days” to ensure that our national parks are accessible to everyone. But the good news is also that at least 310 national park destinations are already free! 

Either way, prepare for an adventure and tuck away your wallet for this year’s free national park days. During National Park Week, you can visit any park site for free on April 19!

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Attend a National Park Week event.

Not sure how you want to celebrate? Never fear; the NPS has events planned for you all week long! 

Celebrate Earth Day at a national park, bring your little ones outdoors to celebrate National Junior Ranger Day, champion young conservation leaders, and more.

To find more events near you, visit the NPS website and peruse April’s event calendar.

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Take a hike.

Over 100 free, ranger-led walks are offered during National Park Week. With the guidance of an expert, you can hike to a cloud forest, take a sunset stroll, wander through John F. Kennedy's neighborhood, and more.

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#RecreateResponsibly and Leave No Trace.

The movement behind #RecreateResponsibly invites people to take better care of the natural environment and each other. Whether it’s learning how to camp, off-road, or play in water responsibly, there are guides and resources to make your experiences fun and safe for the world around you.

These ideas also lead into “Leave No Trace” principles, which provide a guide to having a minimal impact when visiting the outdoors. 

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Visit a virtual park.

While there are certainly lots of state and public parks across the country, we also know that a very real nature gap exists in America, keeping access to nature inaccessible to many communities. 

If you live far from a national park — or even nature in general — a great way to still engage with these beautiful spaces is by taking a virtual visit to a national park right from your computer. 

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Download the NPS app.

Before you head out on your adventure, download the NPS Mobile App to help. Explore nearby parks, use the CarPlay feature to listen to guided audio tours at park sites, and more. 

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Learn

Watch documentaries about national parks.

Even if you’ve looked out into the expanse of the Grand Canyon or hiked in the Rocky Mountains, there is still no way to see every inch of our beautiful national parks. 

Documentaries are a great way to learn more about these lands and landmarks, and the wildlife that inhabits them — and boost your appreciation for public lands

• “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” (PBS)
• “Our Great National Parks” (Netflix)
• “America’s National Parks” (Disney+)
• “Into The Grand Canyon” (Disney+)
• “Big Sur: Wild California” (National Geographic)

Looking for more specifically climate-related documentaries? We’ve got a whole list of those, too!

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Read books about national parks.

A great way to celebrate National Park Week is to curate your library with more books about these vast, curious landmarks. 

• “Atlas of the National Parks” by Jon Waterman (Bookshop) (Amazon)
• “Sign My Name to Freedom” by Betty Reid Soskin (Bookshop) (Amazon)
• “Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks” by Dave Kyu & Ilyssa Kyu (Bookshop) (Amazon)
• “Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park” by Conor Knighton (Bookshop) (Amazon)
• “The Power of Scenery: Frederick Law Olmsted and the Origin of National Parks” by Dennis Drabelle (Bookshop) (Amazon) 
• “Engineering Eden: A Violent Death, a Federal Trial, and the Struggle to Restore Nature in Our National Parks” by Jordan Fisher Smith (Bookshop) (Amazon)
• “Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks” by Mark Woods (Bookshop) (Amazon)

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Listen to podcasts about national parks.

There’s nothing like an emotional support podcast that educates us and journeys with us to the gym, grocery store, or daily commute. Bonus points if it never makes you want to take off your headphones!

Here are a few podcasts to tune into during National Park Week:

Learn more about the history of the National Park Service. 

It was 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the NPS. 

The NPS would become the federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsible for the protection and management of the country’s established national parks and monuments. In the century following, a rich history has been built. 

Take some time during National Park Week to learn about the timeline of the establishment of the NPS, explore the collections, maps, and essays of the national parks through the Library of Congress, and learn more about what continues to be done to preserve the history of the parks themselves.  

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Be intersectional in your national park studies.

Of course, we must spotlight and acknowledge the impact of national parks and public lands on our most marginalized communities. Long before our national parks were designated protected areas by the federal government, they were the lands of Indigenous communities. 

National parks and historic sites are also special places to honor Black history and women’s history. They tell the story of the United States — one of harm and colonization — as well as intersectionality and justice. It’s up to us to preserve these stories and uphold the lessons of liberty and justice they teach us all.

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Read and share quotes about national parks.

There’s a quote for everything. Explore our roundup of the best national park quotes from brilliant conservationists, environmentalists, and experts as you celebrate this special week. 

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Play

Take the Find Your Park quiz.

Not sure which national park you should visit next? Kiss the decision fatigue goodbye and let the Find Your Park quiz help you determine your next destination.

The quiz will prompt you to think about your travel buddies, the kinds of activities you want to do, what you like to learn about, and more. 

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Play in the “Parkcade.”

Find coloring pages, listen to guided meditations, play Adventure Travel Bingo, and even compete in national park trivia on the virtual “Parkcade.” 

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Listen to PARKTRACKS to get closer to nature.

Each national park has a unique soundscape. The natural and cultural sounds in parks awaken a sense of wonder that connects us to the qualities that define these special places.

Tune into PARKTRACKS to listen to natural sounds from parks across the country, or explore NPS’s Sound Gallery for specific soundscapes.

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Pay a virtual visit to Camp NPCA.

This year, the National Park Conservation Association’s Camp NPCA will offer park lovers of all ages digital “camp activities” to celebrate National Park Week.

Share a social media post for show-and-tell. Take part in a relay race by starting your own park fundraiser. Participate in the scavenger hunt to find treasures of NPCA’s annual silent auction. 

NPCA will also share park stories and tips throughout the week in the form of “campfire stories” on social media.

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Shop from brands that support the preservation of National Parks. 

Whether you’re shopping for a commemorative National Park Week treasure, or you’re in the market for some new gear for your next adventure, there are plenty of different brands and companies that donate proceeds to national park and public land preservation. 

Check out our full gift guide for national park lovers to get started! 

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Read good news about national parks.

Part of the fun of celebrating national parks also means celebrating good news about national parks. 

We’re all about good news at Good Good Good — and we even create an Environment Edition of our Goodnewspaper every year! 

Plus, we have a whole library of good national park news stories to inspire you, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is National Park Week?

National Park Week is an annual nine-day celebration of national parks, what they mean to us, and how we can protect them. This week of celebration gives us all an opportunity to explore, connect, and discover these public lands together.

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When is National Park Week?

In 2025, National Park Week takes place April 19-27. National Park Week is held in mid-April every year to coincide with Earth Day.

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When did National Park Week start?

National Park Week was started by George H. W. Bush in 1991 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Park Service. Since then, the celebration has continued to include annual events, fee-free days, and expanded advocacy and conservation efforts.  

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What is the 2025 theme of National Park Week?

In 2025, the theme for National Park Week is National Park Playlist. This year’s theme of National Park Playlist celebrates musical connections to national parks and the American story. 

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Which president made the first National Park?

President Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone National Park as the first national park in 1872. However, it wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service, and subsequently paved the way for the development of all other national parks. 

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Who owns the U.S. national parks?

All national parks are owned by the federal government, and the National Park Service is an agency of the federal government (within the Department of the Interior) that manages all 400+ national parks.

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When is National Public Lands Day?

National Public Lands Day is celebrated on September 23 in the U.S. This holiday is dedicated to reveling in the splendor of nature, safeguarding our cherished natural parks, and championing a greener tomorrow. Through volunteer work, special events, or ongoing learning, this awareness day celebrates and cares for our public lands.

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