Canada Strong Pass 2025: Free Admission and Discounts to Explore the Country This Summer
If you are planning a summer getaway within Canada, there is good news. The Canada Strong Pass is back and offering free or discounted admission to iconic attractions across the country from June 20 to September 2, 2025.
Launched as a national initiative to encourage domestic travel and cultural exploration, the Canada Strong Pass gives everyone—locals and visitors alike—a chance to discover the country’s natural and cultural treasures without the need to register, download, or purchase any physical pass.
What Is the Canada Strong Pass?
The Canada Strong Pass is a limited-time offer that allows anyone to enjoy free or reduced admission to participating Parks Canada sites, museums, galleries, and VIA Rail services. The initiative is part of a larger effort to promote tourism, support families and youth, and make Canada’s top attractions more accessible.
There is no physical or digital pass involved. Simply show up at a participating site during the eligibility period to benefit from the free or discounted rates. Some locations may require advance reservations due to capacity limits, so it’s recommended to check their websites before visiting.
What Does the Canada Strong Pass Include?
Parks Canada: Free Admission and 25% Off Stays
- Free entry to all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas managed by Parks Canada.
- 25% off camping fees and roofed accommodations, including historic stays.
- Note: This offer does not apply to provincial, municipal, or private parks, and some Parks Canada locations operated by third parties may still charge fees.
If you already purchased a Parks Canada Discovery Pass for the summer, it will be automatically extended by three months.
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Museums and Galleries Across Canada
- Free admission for children and teens 17 and under at participating national, provincial, and territorial museums and galleries.
- 50% off general admission for young adults aged 18 to 24.
- Discounts typically apply to general admission only. Fees for timed exhibits, summer programs, or guided tours may still apply.
- Museums may request proof of age.
VIA Rail: Free Rides for Kids, Discounts for Youth
- Children aged 17 and under travel free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
- Young adults aged 18 to 24 receive 25% off fares across VIA Rail’s network.
- Offers apply throughout Canada. Contact VIA Rail directly for questions about travel plans, prior ticket reimbursements, or booking availability.
Who Can Use the Pass?
The Canada Strong Pass is available to everyone—Canadian residents, newcomers, and international visitors. You can use it as many times as you like from June 20 to September 2, 2025.
Special Access Programs
In addition to the general offers, Parks Canada has made special access available to the following groups:
- Youth aged 17 and under: Free admission to all Parks Canada locations.
- Newcomers and new Canadian citizens: One year of free access via the Canoo mobile app.
- Support persons: Free entry when accompanying a visitor with a disability who depends on assistance.
- Veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their immediate families: Free daily admission by showing a CF One Platinum card or Veteran’s Service Card.
What Is Not Included?
Although admission may be free, several services still carry standard fees. These include:
- Camping and roofed accommodations
- Mooring and lockage
- Reservation and program fees
- Guided hikes and tours not included with admission
- Firewood, fishing licenses, and parking
- Special event access
These fees support ongoing conservation efforts and visitor programs across the country.
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How to Plan Your Visit
There’s no pass to show at the gate. Just visit the participating locations during the promotion period. To avoid disappointment, it is important to:
- Check each site’s website before you go
- Make reservations if required
- Confirm whether discounts apply to specific activities or general admission only
Participating locations may limit capacity during peak times. Contact sites directly for the most up-to-date details.
Whether you want to hike through Banff, visit the Canadian Museum of History, or take your child on their first VIA Rail ride, the Canada Strong Pass makes it easier—and cheaper—to enjoy the country.
Are you planning to take advantage of the Canada Strong Pass this summer? Let us know where you’re headed in the comments.
More…
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/carneys-canada-strong-pass-to-come-into-effect-on-june-20
- https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carneys-canada-strong-pass-to-come-into-effect-on-june-20/article_62ff3927-07e2-520d-9080-5dfa4cf6eed8.html
- https://www.timescolonist.com/travel-news/carneys-canada-strong-pass-to-come-into-effect-on-june-20-10795884
- https://www.overheretoronto.com/best-birthday-freebies-in-toronto
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This has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen. For the most part, kids under the age of 18 are free to begin with. At a time when the gap between it rich NON TAX PAYING RICH @££% and THE FAMILY WHOM MAKE LESS THAN $50,000 a year, is huge. You start talking about, making trai and museums cheaper ……THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL HELP IS THE WEALTHY TRAVELLERS..Because 989% of Canada population has to work 6/7 days a week just ti make RENT and GROCERIES… do you know what the word groceries means? I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t…..
Totally agree with you Ross,
Groceries and rent is the issue that is first to be taken care of.
What about seniors? Such a large demographic being ignored
Hey! Its not that stupid considering I’m part of the low end middle class and need stuff like this to use for my family for low cost weekend activities. Ghod knows everything is getting out of control with inflationary fees. Some people poo poo stuff like this and I’ll take the offer Thank You Very Much for my famy to get the. out of our small apartment if only for half a day.
Thats a great start, a step in the right direction…an excellent idea… but please, mr carney, make travelling by train across canada cheaper…I am a senior and would love to travel across canada and within my province
of British Columbia (vancouver-montreal, vancouver’kelowna etc,)…by train but I simply CANNOT AFFORD IT () …travellong across europe by train is extremely affordable…how do they do it?
Read Carney’s book “Values” and then realize that your values will need to convert to only travelling within 15 mins of your house…so he definitely won’t make it cheaper for you to travel all around Canada.
I think it is a great idea, however, please don’t leave the seniors out of the program. Many worked their whole life and only now have the time to travel but don’t have large budgets.
I think you may be a bit confused about who Carney actually is and what his belief system is. I would encourage you to read his book “values” to learn about how it is bad for the environment that you want to travel as a senior as that privilege will soon be reserved for only the elite.
I am so thrilled. I remember when we used to take our kids to Ontario place years ago. It was free. We would go so often, take our picnic and had a great time. Provincial Parks were also cheaper.
Nowadays is impossible. Going out is so expensive, not only the admission, but the food. To be able to take the kids to museums, that will be a treat.
In Europe they are always doing these promos and it sure helps.
Please consider special privileges for seniors.
Has this actually started? I tried to see what via rail tickets would cost in August and the kids tickets were the same as adult. (Last year the kids were $20 each one way during high season). Is there any new info on this anywhere???
PERHAPS we should remind mr carney that MORE SENIORS CAST VOTES THAN KIDS
Totally agree with everyone that would like to see Seniors included in this program. They are a large demographic that have paid taxes all there work life and continue to pay tax on retirement income which I totally disagree with! We need more support for Seniors Mr Carney!