U.S. National Park Holidays 2019

If you’re planning a trip to the closest national park, you may want to check the hours and national park service holiday schedule first. To the surprise of many, there are days the National Park Service is closed or even has altered hours. Below you’ll find all of the information you need to make a successful planned visit to an NPS park.

National parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (weather permitting). However, the National Park Service (NPS) is not open every day of the year as many people would believe. In fact, there are quite a few days during the year that the NPS closes its services. The 2019 National Park Service holiday schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 1: The NPS is closed on New Year’s Day.
Monday, January 21: The NPS is open on MLK Day
Thursday, February 14: The NPS is open on Valentine’s Day
Monday, February 18: The NPS is open on Presidents’ Day
Friday, March 17: The NPS is open on St. Patrick’s Day
Sunday, April 19: The NPS is open on Good Friday
Saturday, April 20: The NPS is open on Easter Saturday
Sunday, April 21: The NPS is closed on Easter Sunday
Monday, April 22: The NPS is open on Easter Monday
Sunday, May 12: The NPS is open on Mother’s Day
Monday, May 27: The NPS is closed on Memorial Day
Sunday, June 16: The NPS is open on Father’s Day
Thursday, July 4: The NPS is closed on Independence Day
Monday, September 2: The NPS is closed on Labor Day
Tuesday, October 8: The NPS is open on Columbus Day
Thursday, October 31: The NPS is open on Halloween
Monday, November 11: The NPS is on Veteran’s Day
Thursday, November 28: The NPS is closed on Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 29: The NPS is open on Black Friday
Tuesday, December 24: The NPS is closed on Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 25: The NPS is closed on Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 31: The NPS is closed on New Year’s Eve
Wednesday, January 1: The NPS is closed on New Year’s Day 2018

National Park Service Operating Hours

It’s also important to be aware of the National Park’s operating hours. Of course, you don’t need to contact the National Park Service to plan a visit to one of its locations, but they can provide you with some valuable information.

If you want to check the NPS before heading out, you can go to the website or call (559) 565-3341 for recorded information 24 hours a day. If you’d like to speak to an NPS worker you’ll have to call between 8:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Inclement weather can shut the parks down, especially if there are issues with the road. Weather conditions can vary from park to park depending on what the elevation may be.

National Park Service Seasonal Information

Spring: Springtime in the national parks lasts from about mid-April until June. Some parks may still have snow from the winter months though so to be prepared you should equip your car with snow chains or tires.

Summer: July and August are the busiest months for the National Park Service. If you’re looking to get a campsite through the NPS during these months, you should book them well ahead of time. Obtaining a campsite during these peak months can be extremely difficult.

Fall: By September the temperature begins to cool off in most national parks. The weather can change rather quickly, with storms rolling in unexpectedly. Nighttime can get very cold as well. Many NPS facilities begin to reduce their hours during the fall.

Winter: Keep in mind that if you plan to visit a national park in the winter that tire chains or snow tires may be required to drive on the park’s roads. For the most part, however, you’ll have the park to yourself during the winter.

If you’re planning a trip to a national park, you’ll want to keep the National Park Service holiday schedule, operating hours and seasonal information in mind when making your plans. If you’ve any further questions, visit the NPS website or give them a call. Happy exploring!

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Photo: Joshua Tree National Park