Washington state parks will offer free parking Monday and a week from Thursday, in celebration of a couple of birthdays.
The free parking on Monday commemorates the birth of Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal activist who fought to protect forests and salmon streams from excessive timber harvest and development.
Free parking on Thursday, March 19, marks Washington State Parks’ 113th birthday.
State land management agencies designated 12 free parking days in 2026 in an effort to welcome more visitors and celebrate important days of the year.
On these days, visitors don’t need a Discover Pass at Washington state parks or lands managed by the state Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife. Permits are still required for visiting Sno-Parks.
A one-day Discover Pass costs $10, while an annual pass costs $45.
New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day were also Discover Pass free days this year. The remaining free parking days in 2026 are:
* Wednesday, April 22, for Earth Day
* Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, for Free Fishing Weekend
* Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth
* Sunday, Aug 9, for Smokey Bear’s birthday
* Saturday, Sept. 26, for National Public Lands Day
* Saturday, Oct. 10, for World Mental Health Day
* Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day
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