Offer ended: Free admission and discounted camping with Parks Canada
Status: This offer has ended.
Regular fees apply for all camping and admission with Parks Canada as of September 8, 2026. The Canada Strong Pass ended September 7, 2026. We hope you enjoyed your visit!
Free admission with Parks Canada - ended September 7, 2026
As part of the Canada Strong Pass, the Government of Canada offered free admission to places operated by Parks Canada, during three different periods, from:
- June 20 to September 2, 2025
- December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026
- June 19 to September 7, 2026
What was included in free admission
During the Canada Strong Pass periods, 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
During the Canada Strong Pass periods, fees still applied for:
- camping and other accommodations
- reservations
- Radium, Miette, and Banff Upper 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, during regular operating hours.
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
Admission was free, during regular operating hours, during three different periods, from:
- June 20 to September 2, 2025
- December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026
- June 19 to September 7, 2026
How visitors got free admission
No entry pass or ticket was required to visit locations that were open during the free admission period.
Parks Canada annual/seasonal passes
During the Canada Strong Pass periods, you did not need to show your annual or seasonal pass to receive admission to places that accept these passes.
Where to buy passes now
Refer to Passes, permits and fees to find out where to purchase Parks Canada passes.
Pass extensions
Discovery Passes and annual single-location passes are normally valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Annual passes valid during free admission periods are automatically extended. For any questions regarding your annual pass or its extension, please contact the site you plan to visit directly.
No action is required to get these extensions.
Pass expiry date 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
25% off camping and overnight stays with Parks Canada – ended September 7, 2026
A discount of 25% was applied to fees for camping and roofed accommodations during three different periods from:
- June 20 to September 2, 2025
- December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026
- June 19 to September 7, 2026
The 25% discount was part of the Canada Strong Pass, and could not be combined with other promotions. If more than one discount applied, you would have received whichever discount is greater.
What was included in the 25% discount
- Tent and RV camping / frontcountry camping
- Backcountry overnight stays
- Equipped camping
- oTENTiks
- MicrOcubes
- Cabins
- Yurts
- Tipis
- Ôasis
- Historic stays
Learn more about types of camping and overnight accommodations.
What was not included in the 25% discount
During the Canada Strong Pass period, 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, during regular operating hours.
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 got the 25% discount
The reduced camping rate was open to all visitors.
When the discount applied
- June 20 to September 2, 2025
- December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026
- June 19 to September 7, 2026
Lockage and mooring
During the Canada Strong Pass periods, no fees applied for lockage at canals administered by Parks Canada on historic waterways.
Fees still applied for mooring, boat launching, and other activities and services.
Learn more about lockage and mooring permits
What was not included in free lockage:
- mooring
- shore power
- services provided by third parties
- nautical charts
- parking (where applicable)
Outside of the Canada Strong Pass period, when you arrive, staff will help you find the best value and choose the permits you need.
Parks Canada locations in northern Canada
Parks Canada locations in northern Canada don’t normally charge admission fees. However, they do provide many services for backcountry users.
At select northern locations, during the Canada Strong Pass periods, Parks Canada:
- waived backcountry day-use fee for visitors
- offered 25% discount on overnight backcountry fees
Tourism operators
Learn how free admission and discounted camping applied to products purchased for your clients. 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 during the Canada Strong Pass periods, please contact the tourism operator with any questions.
Contact us
If you have a question not answered above, contact Parks Canada.
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