Memorial Day 2026: Free national parks entry, rain in weather forecast
Entry to national parks is free today, but you should plan to bring your rain gear for any Memorial Day excursions.
The National Weather Service in Seattle predicts a rainy day, along with breezy winds and a slight chance of thunderstorms in some areas.
Seattle and areas south are expected to receive up to a quarter-inch of rain, while Island County and north will see a lesser sprinkling. Winds will be strongest along the coast, with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour. Temperatures will top out in the low 60s.
The chance for thunderstorms will be highest on the Olympic Peninsula and down through the Chehalis Valley, the weather service said.
Admission to all national parks - including Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park - is free for Memorial Day.
The usual $30-per-vehicle fees are waived for all U.S. residents for the national holiday commemorating military service members who died in the line of duty.
It's one of eight patriotic fee-free days offered in the national parks for 2026.
The next one is June 14, President Donald Trump's birthday and Flag Day, which the Parks Service added to its free-day list while dropping Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
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