Most national parks to remain open during shutdown, but with limited staffing

By Maydeen Merino

Published October 1, 2025 11:45am ET

The National Park Service said it plans to keep most national parks open amid the government shutdown, which began Tuesday at midnight, but restrictions will be in place due to limited staffing.

The NPS released its contingency plans on Tuesday evening before the shutdown, saying, “Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors.”