The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has announced a revised schedule for entrance-free days and an updated pricing structure for international visitors, with changes effective January 1, 2026. These modifications involve adjusting the list of federal holidays designated as fee-free for U.S. residents and introducing higher fees for non-U.S. citizens accessing national parks.
Revised Fee-Free Days for U.S. Residents
The updated calendar for fee-free entrance days for U.S. residents in the 2026 calendar year includes:
- President's Day
- Memorial Day
- Flag Day (June 14), which coincides with President Trump's birthday
- Independence Day weekend
- The 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25)
- Constitution Day (September 17)
- Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (October 27)
- Veteran's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth have been removed from the list of fee-free entrance days. These dates were previously designated as fee-free under the Biden administration.
Pricing Adjustments for International Visitors
Under the new regulations, non-U.S. citizens will be required to pay entrance fees on all designated fee-free dates. The annual park service pass for non-residents will increase to $250. Additionally, non-pass holders from outside the U.S. will incur an extra charge of $100 per person at 11 of the most visited parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee. The annual pass for U.S. residents will remain $80.
Policy Context and Rationale
These changes follow a July executive order from the White House, which mandated increased fees for non-American visitors to national parks and directed that citizens and residents receive "preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules." The policy has been described as part of President Trump's "modernisation" initiative for the park service and has been referred to as "America-first pricing."
The Department of the Interior (DOI), which oversees the NPS, referred to the revised dates as "patriotic fee-free days." Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum stated that these policies "ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations."
The DOI estimated in its May budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year that surcharges for foreign visitors would generate over $90 million annually.
Related Administrative Background
The Trump administration has previously issued executive orders affecting policies related to federal holidays and agency operations. Earlier this year, an executive order was issued banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from federal agencies. This led to multiple agencies restricting celebrations of holidays perceived as DEI-related, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. Both dates, however, remain national holidays.
In June, the Trump administration conducted a military parade in Washington D.C. to commemorate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, which occurred on Flag Day and President Trump's birthday. The administration also previously initiated a directive requesting national park patrons to report any signage at sites perceived to portray past or living Americans negatively.