National Park Service Turns 110: Free Indiana Outdoor Adventures for Hoosiers
The National Park Service is turning 110 on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and Hoosiers have a chance to celebrate with free entrance at participating federal recreation sites.
For Indianapolis residents looking to mark the anniversary outdoors, two destinations stand out: Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge near Madison.
The National Park Service was created on Aug. 25, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation establishing the agency. Today, the system includes more than 400 parks and other protected sites across the country.
The anniversary also comes as questions about federal funding, staffing and the future management of some public lands are putting renewed attention on how these places will be maintained and kept accessible.
Indiana Dunes offers a free birthday-day getaway
For people starting from Indianapolis, Indiana Dunes National Park is the closest national park option, roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive away.
The park stretches along 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and protects more than 15,000 acres of dunes, wetlands, forests and prairie. Its landscape includes dozens of trails and a remarkable variety of native plant life.
Indiana Dunes became a national park in February 2019 after Congress authorized changing its designation from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
The park normally charges an entrance fee, but Aug. 25 is one of the National Park Service’s designated fee-free days for 2026. The NPS says U.S. citizens and residents can enter national parks without paying entrance fees on the anniversary.
Indiana Dunes specifically lists Aug. 25 as its 110th Birthday fee-free day. The park also cautions that the waiver applies to the national park, not Indiana Dunes State Park.
That makes Tuesday a particularly good opportunity for a spontaneous hiking, beach or wildlife-viewing trip without the normal national-park entrance charge.
Big Oaks gives Hoosiers another outdoor option
About an hour and 45 minutes southeast of Indianapolis is Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge near Madison.
The roughly 50,000-acre refuge occupies the former Jefferson Proving Ground and contains forests, wetlands, grasslands and other wildlife habitat. Visitors can take part in activities including hiking, wildlife viewing, birding, fishing and hunting, although access is more tightly controlled than at a typical national park because of the property’s military history.
The refuge has also become part of a broader debate over federal staffing and funding.
Big Oaks faces an uncertain future
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the military are negotiating over the agreement governing management of Big Oaks.
Recent reports have raised concerns that reduced staffing and resources could affect public access. Conservation advocates have warned that abandoning the management arrangement could ultimately threaten public access to the refuge.
The situation remains unresolved, however.
Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., has said that Big Oaks is not closing, while acknowledging that ongoing negotiations could change how the refuge operates. Other possible outcomes being discussed include changes to agency responsibilities or reduced public access.
That uncertainty gives Tuesday’s anniversary an added significance for Indiana outdoor enthusiasts. The celebration is not only an opportunity to visit public lands but also a reminder that maintaining access to them depends on long-term management and resources.
What does “free” actually mean?
Visitors should not assume every cost disappears on the fee-free day.
The National Park Service says its Aug. 25 waiver covers entrance fees. Other charges, including reservations, timed-entry fees, camping, permits, tours and certain concession services, may still apply.
At Indiana Dunes, for example, the normal vehicle entrance fee is separate from campground and other potential charges.
Anyone planning a trip should therefore check the individual site’s rules before leaving Indianapolis.
Why the 110th anniversary matters
The National Park Service was created more than a century ago with a mission centered on protecting America’s natural and cultural resources for future generations.
The agency has since grown into a nationwide network encompassing hundreds of parks and other sites, ranging from major national parks to historic locations and recreation areas.
For Hoosiers, the anniversary offers an especially accessible way to experience that legacy. A day at Indiana Dunes can mean hiking along Lake Michigan, exploring dunes and wetlands or joining a ranger program, while Big Oaks provides a different look at Indiana’s public lands and wildlife habitat.
What happens next
For visitors, the immediate opportunity is simple: Aug. 25 is a National Park Service fee-free day.
For Big Oaks, the bigger question is what federal officials ultimately decide about its management arrangement and how that decision could affect public access.
For now, officials and local leaders say the goal remains keeping the refuge available to the public. The coming months will determine whether that access remains unchanged or whether new management arrangements are needed.
For Indianapolis residents, Tuesday offers a chance to enjoy these public lands while also recognizing why their continued protection and access matter.
Note: This article was independently checked against current National Park Service information and recent reporting on Big Oaks. The free-entry policy applies to U.S. citizens and residents on Aug. 25, 2026; nonresidents are subject to the applicable regular fees.