Canada Strong Pass: Your frequently asked questions answered
Canadians and visitors will enjoy free access to certain Canadian natural and cultural sites and discounts at others thanks to the Canada Strong Pass. This initiative, first announced on June 16 and renewed on October 10, 2025, offers free entry to Canada’s national parks and national historic sites. It’s designed to encourage Canadians to spend their vacations right here at home.
The Canada Strong Pass first operated from June 20 to September 2, 2025. It will come back into effect between December 12, 2025, and January 15, 2026, and again for the summer of 2026 with exact dates yet to be announced.
Read on for the answers to your frequently asked questions about the Canada Strong Pass such as what it includes, who can use it, and how to make the most of its benefits. Have questions about planning your trip to Canada’s natural spaces and historic sites? Join the Road Trips in Canada Facebook community!
What is the Canada Strong Pass?
The Canada Strong Pass is a federal government initiative that encourages Canadians and visitors to spend their vacations in Canada. It subsidizes certain admission and travel costs to make many of Canada’s natural and cultural spaces more affordable.
What’s included in the Canada Strong Pass?
The Canada Strong Pass includes:
– Free admission for all visitors to Parks Canada managed national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national historic sites
– A 25% discount on camping fees at Parks Canada managed locations
– Free admission for children aged 17 and under and a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24 for all national museums and the Plains of Abraham Museum
– Free travel for children aged 17 and under when accompanied by an adult and a 25% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24 on VIA Rail
– Free admission for children aged 17 and under and a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24 at participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries
When is the Canada Strong Pass valid?
Canada Strong Pass pricing will be valid from December 12, 2025, and January 15, 2026, and again during the summer of 2026 (exact dates have not yet been announced).
Who can use the Canada Strong Pass?
The discounts offered with the Canada Strong Pass automatically apply for anyone who visits qualifying Canadian natural and cultural spaces. This includes Canadian residents and anyone visiting Canada from abroad.
How can I get a Canada Strong Pass?
You don’t need a physical pass to access Canada Strong Pass pricing. Simply visit any qualifying site, and the discount will be applied upon entry.
I bought a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Will I get my money back?
When the Canada Strong Pass was initially announced, Parks Canada Discovery Passes became valid for an additional three months past their published expiry date. While this has not yet been announced for the 2026 renewals, we expect the same extension will again apply. Watch this space for official updates.
Do I still need to make a reservation for Parks Canada locations?
If a Parks Canada location requires a reservation (e.g. the shuttle buses to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, or parking for the Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park), you’ll still need to make a reservation to access it. This is to manage traffic flow as visits increase to the most popular places covered by the Canada Strong Pass. Where it’s included in the price, each park’s day use fee will be waived.
Do I still need to pay for a backcountry permit in a national park?
You’ll need to book and pay for a permit before entering backcountry areas in Canada’s national parks, even with the Canada Strong Pass. Backcountry fees are considered experience fees, not admission or camping fees. This also ensures Parks Canada staff are aware of your location in case of an emergency.
Are there lockage fees at Parks Canada canals under the Canada Strong Pass?
While the Canada Strong Pass is in effect, lockage fees at Parks Canada historic canals and waterways are waived. This means boaters can travel through the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario, the Rideau Canal between Kingston and Ottawa, the Lachine Canal in Montreal, and other Parks Canada historic canals and waterways at no charge.
Where should I go to use the Canada Strong Pass?
If you’ve never explored Canada before, now is the time! Here are just a few of the places we recommend visiting to make the most of the Canada Strong Pass.
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Tour Western Newfoundland’s Viking Trail to visit Gros Morne National Park, Port au Choix National Historic Site, Red Bay National Historic Site, and L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
- Head to the Eastport Peninsula and explore Terra Nova National Park
- Visit the provincial capital of St. John’s to see the harbour from Signal Hill National Historic Site and watch Canada’s first sunrise at Cape Spear National Historic Site, the easternmost point of Canada
Nova Scotia
- Take a bucket-list driving tour on the Cabot Trail through Cape Breton Highlands National Park (but be aware this destination will be extremely busy this summer)
- Visit Louisbourg and explore Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
- Head to Halifax to see Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- Take a road trip to the national historic sites of the Annapolis Valley and continue to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
New Brunswick
- Tour New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy coast and visit Fundy National Park, our favourite national park for families with young kids
- Head north from Moncton to visit Kouchibouguac National Park’s scenic beaches
Prince Edward Island
- Take a Prince Edward Island road trip to Green Gables Heritage Place and explore the expansive beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park
Quebec
- Tour the Gaspé Peninsula and explore Forillon National Park
- Head north from Quebec City into Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park to see belugas swim up Saguenay Fjord and larger whales feeding off-shore in Tadoussac
- Take a spectacular kayaking excursion in La Mauricie National Park
Ontario
- Kayak to an island and camp overnight in Thousand Islands National Park
- Explore War of 1812 history in Niagara-on-the-Lake and on a Kingston to Montreal road trip
- Stand on the southernmost point of mainland Canada at Point Pelee National Park
- Take a road trip to Ottawa and dive into the region’s many national museums
- Drive from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior’s northern shore and explore the spectacular Pukaskwa National Park
Manitoba
- Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and The Forks National Historic Site in the heart of Winnipeg
- See Canada’s only remaining 1930s-style Parks Canada entry gate and witness bison on the great plains at Riding Mountain National Park
Saskatchewan
- Rough it in the Prairies to see evidence of the great extinction event that took out the dinosaurs and meet colonies of prairie dogs at Grasslands National Park
- Engage in reconciliation at Batoche National Historic Site and Fort Battleford National Historic Site
Alberta
- Banff National Park is a given, but expect it to be exceptionally busy
- Head to Jasper National Park to support the Jasper community as it recovers from last summer’s wildfires
- Visit the picturesque Waterton Lakes National Park on the Canada-U.S. border
- See how bison are being repopulated in the plains at Elk Island National Park
British Columbia
- Drive the Mountain Park Loop to see Kootenay National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park, Glacier National Park, and Yoho National Park
- Visit the postcard-perfect Fort Langley village near Vancouver and tour Fort Langley National Historic Site
- Visit Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site in Richmond to learn about Chinese-Canadian immigrants and the fishing trade
- Head to Vancouver Island to see wonderful sights like Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site, and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Yukon and Northwest Territories
- Road trip well off the beaten path to visit northern site like Wood Buffalo National Park, Kluane National Park and Reserve, and Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site
Looking for more inspiration for exploring with your family? Check out the locations participating in the Parks Canada Xplorers program. These sites have engaging educational programs for kids. When a young Xplorer completes a site’s activity booklet, they’ll receive a collectible souvenir to take home!
Explore more road trips in Canada >
Where and how do I actually apply for pass
Hi Liz — there’s no need to apply for the pass. The discounts are automatically applied with Canada Strong Pass partners at the point of purchase. Enjoy!