In 2026 the National Park Service will waive their entrance fees on Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday), Memorial Day, Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday, Independence Day weekend, 110th Birthday of the National Park Service, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, Veterans Day.
Free is good… National Parks are good… therefore free National Parks must be great! And it is!
The number of free days has been expanded from six in 2025 to ten in 2026.
Also new for 2026… Free entrance only applies to U.S. citizens and residents. Nonresidents will still pay regular entrance fees.
There are over 400 sites available for public use managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service in the Department of the Interior, as well as the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture. 109 of these sites charge entrance fees.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) of 2004 enables these agencies to waive fees on “days of celebration and commemoration”.
For these ten days in 2026 you can get into the National Parks for free.
- February 16: Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- May 25: Memorial Day
- June 14: Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday
- July 3-5: Independence Day weekend
- August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
- September 17: Constitution Day
- October 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
- November 11: Veterans Day
The free days changed from these 6 days in 2025.
- January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 19: First Day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: Great American Outdoors Day
- September 27: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Tips and Important Things to Know…
- Less famous parks will be less crowded especially on free days.
- Some parks require reservations to enter.
- And don’t worry if you can’t make one of these six days, the National Park Service has over 300 sites that are always free to visit.