Free National Park Days Dates in the United States in 2026
I’m a huge fan of the U.S. national parks and have been to almost 2-dozen thus far with a growing wishlist of more to visit. This past year, we were able to visit Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Our national parks are truly a gift from previous generations, and our greatest national treasure. Thankfully, for the budget-conscious among us, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) is once again offering fee free national park days throughout the year.
There are 10 free national park days dates in 2026 (up from 6 in 2025). They are:
- February 16, 2026: Presidents’ Day/Washington’s Birthday (a Monday)
- May 25, 2026: Memorial Day (a Monday)
- June 14, 2026: Flag Day (a Sunday)
- July 3–5, 2026: Independence Day weekend (Friday – Sunday)
- August 25, 2026: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (a Tuesday)
- September 17, 2026: Constitution Day (a Thursday)
- October 27, 2026: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (a Tuesday)
- November 11, 2026: Veterans Day (a Wednesday)
Only 1 of those days is a repeat of last year’s free days: Veterans Day. Five other notable dates were dropped: MLK Jr. Day, National Park Week’s First Day, Juneteenth, Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, and National Public Lands Day. There will also not be free admission throughout “National Park Week” (April 18 – April 26, 2026) as there had been in many previous years.
What Parks Participate in Free National Park Days?
The NPS oversees 433 national park sites. A large majority of them do not charge entrance, admission, commercial tour, or transportation fees. 126 of them – often the highest traffic parks – do. Here’s a list of the 106 parks that typically charge entrance fees that will not on fee-free days.
Tours, camping, concessions, or third-party fees are not covered, unless the individual park states otherwise. With some national parks, it might be really hard to get camping permits for these days, unless you plan ahead and reserve now.
Among the fee-free National Park Days participants are the 10 most visited national parks, where you would otherwise have to pay to get in:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee)
- Zion National Park (Utah)
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Glacier National Park (Montana)
If you’re looking for other parks, you can see a full national park map here.
Remember to be careful with parks that are at a high altitude, suffer from spring-time flash floods, or are in northern locations in the spring and winter. This is the untamed land, after all. Check with the park that you’re interested in visiting to identify which roads and campsites may still be closed.
If you plan on living a life of recreation this year, the NPS’s annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass is a bargain. It allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. The pass lasts 12 full months after the month you buy it in.
Changes to Free National Park Days in 2026 & New Fees for Non-Residents
There are some new rules that begin January 1, 2026 that apply to non-U.S. citizens and residents. Nonresidents must pay entrance and any nonresident fees unless they have the Non-Resident Annual Pass (which comes with a $250 fee) – even on the free national park day dates.
Also new – at the 11 following national parks, non-residents age 16 and older must pay a $100 non-resident fee in addition to the regular entrance fee, unless they have the Nonresident Annual Pass:
- Acadia National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Zion National Park
If you are a citizen or resident, bring your U.S. government-issued photo ID. To enforce the new fee, visitors will be asked to present a U.S. government-issued photo ID at national park entrances, reportedly.
Other Ways to Access National Parks for Free:
Gold Star Families and U.S. Military Veterans Have Free Access to National Parks Indefinitely
Starting on Veteran’s Day in 2020, Gold Star families and U.S. Armed Forces veterans (including National Guard and Reserve) indefinitely have fee-free access (entrance and standard amenity fees) to national parks, wildlife refuges and other sites managed by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and Army Corps of Engineers. This was a great idea that I am surprised wasn’t implemented before. Identification required and more information can be found here.
Active U.S. Military Pass
Active U.S. Military and their dependents are eligible for a Military Pass annually. The pass costs $10 if processed online, but can be picked up for free in person with proper documentation.
National Parks Volunteer Pass
Volunteers with 250 service hours (over 1 or several years) with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program are eligible for a Volunteer Pass which will get them access to an annual National Parks pass each year. You will need to work with your local Federal recreation site supervisor or Volunteer Coordinator/Manager to track your hours and get access to the pass.
The Lands Access Pass for Individuals with Disabilities
The NPS Interagency Access Pass is part of the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series and is available free for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. The pass may be issued to individuals of any age that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities.
National Parks 4th Grade Pass
To obtain the free pass, fourth grade students visit the Every Kid Outdoors website, participate in a short educational activity, and download a voucher.
Free Entrance to National Parks from your Library
National park passes are often times one of the free perks libraries offer. Check with your local library to see if they have a pass and for restrictions on how long you can reserve the pass. Warning: you may have to book it far in advance.
National Parks Senior Pass (Not Free, but Great Value)
While technically not “free”, one of the best deals EVER is the National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass. The National Park Senior Pass is available to citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older. The Annual Senior Pass is $20, but the Lifetime Senior Pass is only $80.
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