If you’ve ever planned a national park trip around one of the “free entrance days,” you’ll want to take note: the National Park Service is changing how those days work starting in 2026.
The headline change is simple (and significant): beginning January 1, 2026, entrance-fee-free days will apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Nonresidents will still pay the standard entrance fee, and at some parks, they’ll also pay an additional per-person nonresident fee.
First, a quick reminder: what “free” actually means
On fee-free days, the NPS waives entrance fees at sites that normally charge them. But that doesn’t automatically make the day “no-cost”:
- Timed entry/reservations may still be required at some parks.
- Amenity fees like camping, tours, and concession-run activities aren’t necessarily waived.
The parks aren’t just scenery — they’re where a lot of our travel memories get made.
What’s changing in 2026
1) Fee-free days become “U.S. residents only.”
The NPS says that starting in 2026, free entrance on fee-free days will be limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees.
2) The 2026 fee-free calendar is different
In recent years, the fee-free list has included days like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. Reporting indicates those days are removed for 2026, while June 14 (Flag Day / President Trump’s birthday) is added.
2026 free entrance days (National Park Service)
According to the NPS, these are the 2026 entrance-fee-free dates:
- February 16, 2026: Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- May 25, 2026: Memorial Day
- June 14, 2026: Flag Day / President Trump’s birthday
- July 3–5, 2026: Independence Day weekend
- August 25, 2026: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
- September 17, 2026: Constitution Day
- October 27, 2026: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
- November 11, 2026: Veterans Day
Important: NPS also notes that, beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be available only to U.S. citizens and residents.
Also new: higher costs for some international visitors
Separate from the fee-free days calendar, the NPS outlines additional changes beginning January 1, 2026, including:
- A new $250 America the Beautiful pass for nonresidents.
- A $100 nonresident per-person fee (age 16+) at 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee.
The list of parks includes: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.
Places like the Grand Canyon are why demand (and crowding) doesn’t magically go away when prices change.
What this means if you’re planning a trip
- If you’re a U.S. visitor: fee-free days still exist in 2026, but expect bigger crowds (as always) and remember reservations may still be required.
- If you’re an international visitor: don’t count on fee-free days to reduce your costs in 2026—those days won’t waive entrance fees for nonresidents.
- If you hate crowds: the “free day” can be the worst day to visit. Consider going the day before or after, or arriving early.
Final thought
Fee-free days used to be a simple, feel-good concept. In 2026, they become more targeted — and the new calendar choices make it hard to pretend this is just a routine update.
Helpful official reference: National Park Service – Entrance Passes (includes 2026 changes and fee-free days)
