Key policy changes take effect for national park visitors in 2026. Below is a concise summary of what to expect for fee‑free days, entrance charges, annual passes, identification requirements, and design changes.
Fee‑free days
– There will be 10 fee‑free days in 2026 (up from six in recent years). Most dates differ from 2025; Veterans Day (Nov. 11) is the only repeat.
– 2026 fee‑free days: Presidents Day (Feb. 16); Memorial Day (May 25); Flag Day/Donald Trump’s birthday (June 14); Independence Day weekend (July 3–5); National Park Service 110th birthday (Aug. 25); Constitution Day (Sept. 17); Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27); Veterans Day (Nov. 11).
– The National Park Service will not waive fees on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, the first day of National Park Week, the Great American Outdoors Act anniversary, or National Public Lands Day as it did in 2025.
– Fee‑free days are limited to U.S. residents; international visitors will not be eligible on those dates.
Entrance fees and international visitors
– Effective Jan. 1, 2026, non‑U.S. residents aged 16 and older will pay an additional $100 fee at 11 of the most visited parks: Acadia; Bryce Canyon; Everglades; Glacier; Grand Canyon; Grand Teton; Rocky Mountain; Sequoia and Kings Canyon; Yellowstone; Yosemite; and Zion.
– Multi‑park annual passes will be priced at $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for non‑residents.
– Parks will request a U.S. government‑issued photo ID at entrances; visitors without such ID may be charged the higher international fees.
Passes and delivery
– The America the Beautiful annual pass remains $80 for U.S. citizens and residents in 2026. It will be available as a digital download via Recreation.gov and can be stored in mobile apps or digital wallets.
– Physical passes will still be offered but will incur a $7.50 shipping and handling fee; passes can also be picked up at more than 1,000 locations nationwide.
– Each annual pass now explicitly covers motorcycles, with access for up to two motorcycles per pass.
– Pass validity is 12 months from the date of purchase through the end of the same month the following year.
Design and controversy
– The Department of the Interior plans new ‘‘bold, patriotic’’ annual pass designs reportedly featuring an image of Donald Trump alongside George Washington; Trump will also appear on the 2026 military pass.
– Legal experts have raised questions about whether those images comply with the National Park Recreation Pass law, which requires a public competition to select the annual pass image to promote education about parks and to help keep imagery nonpartisan.
Other notes and tips
– Not all parks charge daily entrance fees. For example, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no entrance fee (but may charge for parking or services), and Hot Springs National Park is free year‑round.
– If you prefer current or older pass artwork, consider purchasing earlier in the year; each pass’s 12‑month validity begins at purchase.
These are the principal changes to access, fees, passes, and pass imagery to expect in 2026. Check the National Park Service and Recreation.gov for the latest details and park‑specific rules before you travel.