National Park Fee-Free Days 2026: Dates and Rules

The 2026 dates

The National Park Service lists these entrance fee-free dates for 2026:

On these days, the NPS says all of its sites that charge an entrance fee offer free admission.

Who gets in free

Starting in 2026, free entrance on these days is for US citizens and residents only. The NPS says nonresidents pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fee, unless they hold the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass. See the nonresident fee guide.

What's still charged

Free entrance doesn't mean everything is free. The NPS notes other fees may apply, including:

• Timed entry or reservation fees, at parks that use them.
• Camping, tours and concessions.
• Parking tags at Great Smoky Mountains, which has no entrance fee in the first place.

Is a fee-free day worth planning around?

It saves one standard entrance fee: up to $35 per vehicle at the busiest parks. Two things to weigh:

• Crowds. Several of the 2026 dates fall on holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Independence Day) when many parks are near their busiest. Our crowd calendar shows that July is the peak month at Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain.
• The annual pass. If you'll visit three or more $30–$35 parks in a year, the $80 America the Beautiful pass likely saves more than chasing free days. Check with the pass calculator.

The quieter-season dates, like Presidents Day in February or Veterans Day in November, line up with lower visitor numbers at many parks, though some park roads and facilities have seasonal closures then.

Passes and fee-free days

If you already have an annual or America the Beautiful pass, fee-free days don't change anything for you. If you don't, a free day is a good chance to try a park nearby before deciding whether a pass makes sense.

About the 2026 list

Two things stand out, according to the NPS. First, the nonresident rule, new in 2026: free entrance is now only for US citizens and residents. Second, the dates: the list includes Flag Day (June 14), the National Park Service's 110th birthday (August 25), Constitution Day (September 17) and Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (October 27), alongside holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Which parks this affects

Fee-free days only matter at parks that charge entrance fees. The NPS notes most of its sites are free to visit every day. Among the 24 parks in our tools, Great Smoky Mountains charges no entrance fee at all, while the others charge $20 to $35 per vehicle for a standard pass. On a fee-free day, a family in one car saves that one vehicle fee; nonresident visitors save nothing.

2027 dates

As of November 11, 2026, the Entrance Passes page lists only 2026 dates. We'll add 2027 dates once the NPS publishes them; until then, don't rely on any unofficial list.

Quick tips for a fee-free day

• Arrive early; entrance lines can be long.
• Check whether the park requires a timed entry or other reservation that day.
• Have a backup plan if parking fills.

Common questions

Is today a fee-free day?

November 11, 2026 (Veterans Day) is the last fee-free day on the NPS's 2026 list. The NPS had not published 2027 dates on its Entrance Passes page when we checked on November 11, 2026.

Do I still need a timed entry reservation on a fee-free day?

Yes, where one is required. The NPS says other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply.

Are fee-free days free for international visitors?

No. From 2026, the NPS says they apply only to US citizens and permanent residents; nonresidents pay the entrance fee and any nonresident fee.

Is parking free in the Smokies on fee-free days?

Great Smoky Mountains has no entrance fee to waive. Its parking tags are a separate requirement, so check the park's page rather than assuming they're waived.