Free admission and discounted overnight stays at Parks Canada
The Government of Canada announced that the Canada Strong Pass will be available again for these dates: More details to come. The information below is about the free admission and discounted overnight stays that ended in September 2025.
As part of the Canada Strong Pass, the Government of Canada offered free admission to places operated by Parks Canada from June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive.
Free admission with Parks Canada from June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive
As part of the Canada Strong Pass, the Government of Canada offered free admission to places operated by Parks Canada from June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive.
What was included in free admission
From June 20 to September 2, 2025, no fees applied for:
- admission for all visitors to all national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada
- lockage at canals administered by Parks Canada on historic waterways
What was not included in free admission
From June 20 to September 2, 2025, fees still applied for:
- camping and other accommodations (learn more about 25% off camping and overnight stays with Parks Canada)
- reservations
- Canadian Rockies Hot Springs
- mooring
- guided tours, hikes and programs not usually included with admission
- services provided by third parties
- fishing licenses
- firewood
- parking
- permits (e.g. research, drone use)
This is not an exhaustive list. Please check with the location you visited for more details on fees.
Where free admission applied
Free admission only applied to places operated by and for Parks Canada.
Full list of locations that offered free admission
Where free admission didn’t apply
Parks Canada free admission did not apply to:
- provincial or territorial parks
- Sépaq parks in Québec
- municipal and private parks
- parks or historic sites not operated by Parks Canada
- locations operated by third parties
When admission was free
June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive, during regular operating hours.
Who could get free admission
Admission was free for all visitors from June 20 to September 2, 2025.
How visitors could get free admission
No entry pass or ticket was required to visit during the free admission period.
Parks Canada annual/seasonal passes
As of September 3, 2025, all new annual passes purchased are valid for 1 year, as normal.
Parks Canada Discovery Pass and annual single-location pass
Discovery Passes and annual single-location passes are normally valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
If you have a Parks Canada Discovery Pass or annual single-location pass valid for June, July, and/or August 2025, Parks Canada is automatically extending the pass for an additional 3 months. For example, a pass that has an original expiry date of July 2025 will now expire in October 2025. No action is required to get the extension.
If you have questions about your 2025 annual single-location pass, contact the location.
Pass expiration calculator
Select the expiry date listed on your Parks Canada Discovery Pass or annual single location pass:
Your pass will now be valid until: September 2025
If the expiry date on your Parks Canada Discovery Pass or annual single-location pass says September 2026 or later, it will be valid for 12 months, as normal.
Seasonal single-location pass
Seasonal single-location passes are for 1 specific location and are valid for less than a year, so they cannot be extended like annual passes. Prices for 2025 single-location passes have been adjusted.
Purchases prior to September 3, 2025 through Parks Canada
- Online purchases were partially refunded
- In-person purchases: contact the specific location for more information on partial refund, if you haven’t received it yet
Purchases after September 3, 2025
New seasonal passes and permits sold for the remainder of 2025 are being sold at the prorated price. Contact the specific location for more information on seasonal single-location passes.
25% off camping and overnight stays with Parks Canada
From June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive, a discount of 25% was applied to fees for camping and roofed accommodations.
The 25% discount was part of the Canada Strong Pass, and could not be combined with other promotions. If more than 1 discount applied to your reservation, you would have received the greater of the 2.
What was included in the 25% discount
- Tent and RV camping / frontcountry camping
- Equipped camping
- oTENTiks
- MicrOcubes
- Cabins
- Yurts
- Tipis
- Ôasis
- Historic stays
- Backcountry overnight stays
Learn more about types of camping and overnight accommodations.
What was not included in the 25% discount
From June 20 to September 2, 2025, fees still applied for:
- mooring
- programs not usually included with admission
- services provided by third parties
- firewood
- permits
- parking
Reservation system administrative fees still applied. This is not an exhaustive list. Please check with the location you visited for more details on fees.
Where the 25% off applied
The discount was offered on camping and accommodations operated by Parks Canada.
Where the 25% off didn’t apply
The 25% discount on camping and roofed accommodation did not apply at:
- provincial or territorial parks
- Sépaq parks in Québec
- municipal and private parks
- parks or historic sites not operated by Parks Canada
- camping and accommodations operated by third parties
How visitors could get the 25% discount
The reduced camping rate was open to all visitors.
First-come first-serve camping and overnight accommodations
Everyone that registered in person upon arrival for camping or roofed accommodation at a Parks Canada operated location should have paid the reduced rates for the nights of June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive.
Regular fees apply for dates including September 3 and after.
Reservations and refunds
If you booked a campsite or accommodation directly with Parks Canada for the period of June 20 to September 2, 2025, inclusive, you would have received a discount.
- Reservations booked before June 20 with dates between June 20 and September 2, 2025, inclusive as your reservation date approached, you should have received a follow-up email from Parks Canada explaining how to receive your refund
- Reservations booked between June 20 and September 2 inclusive the discount was automatically applied to your reservation
- If your reservation included the nights of September 2 and 3 and any dates before and/or after, Parks Canada will ensure the appropriate refunds were applied
As of September 3, 2025, regular fees apply.
When did the discount apply
June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive.
Lockage permits
Free admission was in effect for half of the boating season; because of this, the price of lockage permits was reduced.
- If you purchased your 2025 permit online through Parks Canada, it was partially refunded
- If you purchased your lockage permit in person, contact us at pc.navigationuvnq.pc@pc.gc.ca for more information on the partial refund
Parks Canada locations in northern Canada
Parks Canada sites in northern Canada don’t normally charge admission fees. However, they do provide many services for backcountry users.
At the following select locations, from June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive, Parks Canada:
- waived backcountry day-use fee for visitors
- offered 25% discount on overnight backcountry fees
Nunavut Territory
Northwest Territories
Tourism operators
Learn how free admission and discounted camping applied to products purchased for your clients with dates between June 20 and September 2, 2025 inclusive. Contact Parks Canada’s tourism industry relations team at tourisme.tourism@pc.gc.ca.
Visitors who purchased travel packages
If you purchased a travel package from a tourism operator that included Parks Canada admission or overnight stays, with dates between June 20 and September 2, 2025 inclusive, please contact the tourism operator with any questions.
As of September 3, 2025, regular Parks Canada fees apply.
Contact us
If you have a question not answered above, contact Parks Canada.
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