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6h ago

California Waives Vehicle Entry at 200+ State Parks for MLK Day

The nonprofit California State Parks Foundation is funding the waivers as a pointed counter to new federal policy.

A waterfall in the heart of California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
TOPANGA, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Hikers take in a view from Eagle Rock along the Backbone Trail in Topanga State Park on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021 in Topanga, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
A family makes sandcastles at China Camp Beach in China Camp State Park in San Rafael in 2021. Over 200 California state parks, including China Camp, will be free on Martin Luther King Day this year.
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Overview

  • Gov. Gavin Newsom directed free day-use vehicle entry on Monday, Jan. 19, at more than 200 participating California State Parks.
  • Free access applies to one vehicle with up to nine passengers or a highway-licensed motorcycle, with the official list of parks posted by State Parks.
  • Exceptions remain for off‑highway vehicle areas, partner-operated sites, and attractions with per‑person or tour fees such as Hearst Castle.
  • Newsom framed the move as a rebuttal to the National Park Service’s 2026 changes that dropped MLK Day and Juneteenth from federal fee‑free days and added Flag Day.
  • California is also promoting ongoing access programs including the Library Parks Pass, the Adventure Pass for fourth‑graders and families, the Golden Bear Pass for income‑eligible residents, and MLK Day of Service events.