One of the most popular sayings in the United States is “You get what you pay for.” However, in the case of Los Angeles County museums, cultural venues and parks, that saying often doesn’t apply.
City Parks
Most city and county parks are always free to visit. The exceptions include Castaic Lake Regional Park which charges a vehicle entry fee that recently increased to $15. However, you can visit Castaic Lake on dates when vehicle fees are waived:
Jan. 19 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
June 19 Juneteenth National Independence Day
July 16 Bureau of Land Management Birthday
Aug. 4 Great American Outdoors Act Anniversary
Sept. 26 National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 Veterans Day
To see a list of Santa Clarita’s free parks visit santaclarita.gov/parks-division/parks.
To view a list of free Los Angeles County Parks, including the Placerita Canyon Nature Center and Natural Area and the Vasquez Rocks Nature Center and Natural Area visit parks.lacounty.gov.
William S. Hart Park
24151 N. Newhall Ave., Newhall 91321
The city of Santa Clarita’s 40th park is always free to visit and the historic Hart Mansion and Museum, the home of silent Western movie star William S. Hart, is gearing up to reopen soon. Closed since 2020, the Hart Mansion is a rarity in the museum world. It is a historic house museum with most of the original contents intact.
The Hart Ranch House is open Mondays 1- 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Hart Barnyard is open Tuesday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
State Parks Fee-Free Days
www.parks.ca.gov
California has the second-largest park system in the world with 280 units and the largest state park system in the United States.
Fee-free days usually include many National Parks dates. California parks free-fee days also include Jan. 19 MLK Jr. Day and June 19, Juneteenth. Sign up for email alerts to be notified of upcoming fee-free days at bit.ly/4pW8CYn.
National Parks Fee-Free Days
www.nps.gov/index.htm
There are more than 400 National Park sites offering fee-free days in 2026, including the nine designated National, plus 28 other National Park Service sites including monuments, historic sites and recreation areas.
The 2026 National Park Fee-Free Days, which are centered around holidays, include Feb. 16, May 25, June 14, July 3-5, Aug. 25, Sept. 17, Oct. 27 and Nov. 11.
L.A. County Fee-Free Days
Many of the world-class cultural venues in Los Angeles charge no admission, but parking fees may be charged. Bank of America customers can use the Museums on Us program which offers cardholders free entry to participating L.A. County museums on the first full weekend of every month. For info visit bit.ly/4pVPzNM.
Griffith Observatory
griffithobservatory.org
Griffith Observatory is free for general admission, grounds, exhibits and public telescopes. Fees charged for parking (paid near the top, free further down), planetarium shows ($7-$10) and special guided tours ($25-$50). Closed Mondays.
The Getty Center
www.getty.edu/visit/center
Admission is free but requires a timed-entry reservation. Parking is $25 per vehicle. World-class exhibitions featuring art from international museums and the Getty’s own collections.
The Getty Villa
www.getty.edu/visit/villa
Admission is free, and requires a timed-entry reservation. Parking is $25 per vehicle. Spared from the Palisades Fire of January 2025, the Getty Villa reopened to the public June 27. Greek and Roman antiquities are housed in a re-created Roman country home.
Museums
Here are some of the museums where admission is free.
The Broad www.thebroad.org
Admission is free and requires a timed-entry reservation. Special exhibits require a fee.
California Science Center california
sciencecenter.org
The core exhibit galleries are free and do not require a reservation. IMAX films require tickets.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County nhm.org
Free general admission for L.A. County residents on weekday afternoons 3-5 p.m. The NHM has more than 35 million specimens and artifacts, the largest natural and cultural history collection in the western United States. The La Brea Tar Pits is part of the NHM.
Los Angeles County Arboretum, Botanic Garden arboretum.org/
Founded in 1947, the 127-acre garden is home to plant collections from throughout the world, including rare and endangered species. Free admission on the third Tuesday of the month.
