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1h ago

Newsom Makes MLK Day Free at 200+ California State Parks in Response to Federal Shift

Newsom cast the one-day waiver as a reply to federal policy removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day from national park fee waivers.

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

  • More than 200 California State Parks will offer free vehicle day-use entry on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Standard fees still apply at off-highway vehicle areas, sites with per-person or tour charges such as Hearst Castle, and parks managed by partner organizations.
  • National parks will charge normal entrance fees on MLK Day after the U.S. National Park Service dropped both MLK Day and Juneteenth from its fee-free calendar.
  • The Trump administration also added Flag Day as a free-entry date and raised some charges for international visitors, citing a taxpayer and fair-share rationale.
  • The announcement coincides with the approach of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, with Newsom framing the move as a stand for inclusive access.