The National Park Service (NPS) has released its updated calendar of entrance fee-free days for national parks, with changes effective January 1. The revised schedule includes the removal of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, while adding President Trump's birthday.
Key Calendar Changes
The new fee-free dates are:
- President Trump's birthday (June 14), which coincides with Flag Day.
- The 110th anniversary of the NPS (August 25).
- Constitution Day (September 17).
- President Teddy Roosevelt's birthday (October 27).
Fee Adjustments for Non-U.S. Residents
Under a new "America-first pricing" policy, non-U.S. residents will be required to pay entrance fees on these designated fee-free days. Additionally, international visitors to 11 of the country's most frequented national parks will incur an extra charge of $100, supplementary to the standard entrance fee. The annual pass for non-residents will be increased to $250, while the annual pass for U.S. residents will remain $80.
These policy adjustments 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, including permitting or lottery rules."
Department of the Interior Statement
The Department of the Interior, which oversees the NPS, announced the revised dates as "patriotic fee-free days." Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum stated, "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."
This action is consistent with previous directives from the Trump administration concerning federal lands, including a prior initiative that requested national park patrons to report any signage at sites perceived to portray past or living Americans negatively.