New library perk lets card holders visit state parks for free

Day trips to Louisiana’s lush, vibrant state parks just got a lot easier thanks to a free program created by the State Library of Louisiana. Operating through a network of public libraries across the state, Check Out Louisiana State Parks allows library card holders to use free, one-day passes to the state’s many swamps, trails, waterways and other public lands.

The initiative started as a pilot project and was made official in April.

“The success of the pilot told us the demand was real and very high,” deputy state librarian Giovanni Tairov says.

Check Out Louisiana State Parks is a companion program to Check Out Louisiana Museums, which provides free access to participating museums around the state. Both were modeled after similar programs nationwide and are intended to make Louisiana’s outdoor and cultural activities more available to a wider swath of state residents, Tairov says.

“We wanted to eliminate the accessibility barrier to our many amenities and destinations,” he says.

Check Out Louisiana State Parks and Check Out Louisiana Museums work through 68 library systems across all 64 parishes. A current library card is all that’s required to use them.

The two programs function slightly differently. For Check Out Louisiana State Parks, library card holders check out a physical park pass at participating libraries. The passes are good for one car, no matter how many people are on board, and open doors to 21 state parks and 14 historic sites. Families can also borrow a Geaux Explore children’s backpack filled with binoculars, a magnifying glass, a compass and other hands-on items that enhance the outdoor fun.

“We wanted to make the experience exciting for kids,” Tairov says. “It’s a great way for them to be able to step away from screens and see our beautiful parks.”

To use the Check Out Louisiana Museums program, card holders use their library card number to access an e-pass through a digital portal. The program provides free one-day access to 19 museums, including the National World War II Museum and the Cabildo in New Orleans and the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. The number of family members covered depends on the institution, Tairov says.

With the summer upon us, Check Out Louisiana is a great way to enjoy all sorts of enrichment activities without breaking the bank.

“Our libraries have always been a hub for information,” Tairov says. “And now you can also use them to see some amazing sites.”

This article was originally published in the June 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.