It’s a new year and if you’re looking to explore the great outdoors, why not plan a trip to one of our country’s beautiful national parks? The National Park Service has officially dropped its lineup of fee-free days for this year, and while there are plenty of chances to get free admission and marvel at stunning landscapes, your next trip might look a little different.
Here’s a full breakdown of what you need to know and any major changes before you pack your car:
🗓️ 2026 Free National Park Days
If you’re a U.S. resident, you can visit more than 400 national park sites during the following days without paying an entry fee:
- February 16: President’s Day
- May 25: Memorial Day
- June 14: Flag Day
- July 3–5: Independence Day Weekend
- August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
- September 17: Constitution Day
- October 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday
- November 11: Veterans Day
Note: “Free entry” only covers your standard entrance fee. Extra costs like camping, special tours, parking or timed-entry reservations may still apply.
🚨 What’s Changing for 2026
As of January 1st, the rules for national park passes and fees have several updates:
Some dates are no longer on the list
You may have noticed some familiar dates are missing. Traditional free days like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth have been removed from the 2026 schedule.
Resident-only free days
Free entrance days are now limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International visitors will now be required to pay standard entrance fees — and potentially extra surcharges.
New pricing for annual passes
If you’re looking to do multiple trips to parks throughout the year, the cost has also seen a change for international visitors. While the “America the Beautiful” annual pass for U.S. residents is $80, a new annual pass for non-residents now costs $250.
Additionally, non-residents without an annual pass will also face a $100 per person surcharge at 11 of the most popular national parks, added on top of the regular entrance fee. These include:
- Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (California)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Zion National Park (Utah)
Expanded motorcycle access
All “America the Beautiful” passes will now cover two motorcycles (previously one). All these changes come alongside the National Park Service’s fully digital passes, which can be purchased and validated instantly through Recreation.gov.