With 2026 fast approaching, big changes are coming to the way travelers access and pay for America’s national parks. From a reshuffled calendar of fee‑free days and new “America‑first” pricing for foreign visitors to the rollout of fully digital annual passes and new patriotic artwork, the National Park Service (NPS) and Department of the Interior (DOI) are overhauling some of the system’s most familiar policies. Here is what U.S. and international visitors need to know before planning a national park trip in 2026.

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New “patriotic” fee-free days – and who actually qualifies

For years, fee‑free days have offered a welcome break from entrance costs at more than 100 national park sites that normally charge for access. In 2026, those days will look very different. Under a new DOI policy announced on November 25, 2025, fee‑free admission will be reserved for U.S. citizens and residents only, part of what officials are calling a “resident‑focused” and “America‑first” approach.

The 2026 calendar also changes which dates qualify. Instead of the mix of civil rights and conservation milestones used in 2025, the lineup for 2026 centers on major national holidays and explicitly “patriotic” observances. According to the Interior Department and NPS, the resident‑only fee‑free days in 2026 will be:

Presidents Day on February 16; Memorial Day on May 25; Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14; Independence Day weekend from July 3 through July 5; the 110th birthday of the National Park Service on August 25; Constitution Day on September 17; Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday on October 27; and Veterans Day on November 11.

For U.S. travelers, this effectively expands opportunities to visit some of the most in‑demand parks at no charge on at least eight calendar dates. For international travelers, however, the new calendar offers no discount at all; nonresidents will still be required to pay standard and, at some sites, additional entrance fees on those same days.

Controversy over dropped civil rights holidays and Trump’s birthday

The 2026 fee‑free calendar does more than shuffle dates. It also removes fee waivers on two federal holidays that had become important symbols of inclusion and service for many park partners: Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January and Juneteenth in June. Both dates are part of the 2025 fee‑free schedule but will disappear in 2026.

Instead, June 14—already recognized as Flag Day and also President Trump’s birthday—enters the list for the first time. Civil rights groups and some lawmakers have sharply criticized the change, arguing that it sidelines milestones in Black American history while elevating a date closely associated with the current president’s personal image.

Community organizations that have long used MLK Day as a volunteer service day in parks say they expect to continue organizing events in 2026, but without the incentive of waived entry fees that helped draw new visitors. Park officials, for their part, have emphasized the broader mix of holidays and anniversaries in the new lineup and point to the overall increase in resident fee‑free opportunities compared with previous years.

For travelers, the practical takeaway is that fee‑free visits in 2026 will be clustered around traditional patriotic holidays and institutional anniversaries rather than the civil rights commemorations many visitors have grown accustomed to.

“America-first pricing”: higher costs for international visitors

The most significant financial change arriving on January 1, 2026, will fall on international travelers. Under a new “America‑first entry fee” structure, non‑U.S. visitors will face sharply higher costs to access many of the country’s most famous national parks, while prices for U.S. residents remain unchanged.

At the center of the new policy is a $100 per‑person surcharge for foreign visitors aged 16 and older entering 11 of the most visited national parks. This new charge comes on top of existing park entrance fees, which typically range from about $20 to $35 per vehicle for a seven‑day pass at many major parks.

The 11 parks where the extra $100 fee will apply are Acadia in Maine; Bryce Canyon in Utah; Everglades in Florida; Glacier in Montana; Grand Canyon in Arizona; Grand Teton in Wyoming; Rocky Mountain in Colorado; Sequoia and Kings Canyon in California; Yellowstone in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho; Yosemite in California; and Zion in Utah. These destinations collectively receive millions of visitors a year and are particularly popular among international travelers.

International visitors can offset some of these costs by purchasing an annual America the Beautiful pass. However, the price gap between residents and nonresidents is widening. Starting January 1, 2026, the annual pass will continue to cost $80 for U.S. residents but will rise to $250 for nonresidents. The Interior Department says the additional revenue will be reinvested in park maintenance, visitor facilities and staffing at a time of mounting infrastructure needs and crowding pressures.

How new ID checks will affect your arrival at the gates

To enforce the resident‑only fee‑free days and two‑tier pricing, park staff will begin verifying visitor status more consistently at entrance stations in 2026. U.S. residents will be asked to show government‑issued photo identification, such as a state driver’s license, passport, military ID or other accepted documents, to qualify for resident pricing and fee‑free access.

Travelers who cannot present U.S. government‑issued ID will be charged as nonresidents, which means either paying the standard entrance fee plus the $100 surcharge at the 11 designated parks, or paying the higher $250 rate for an annual pass. Families and mixed‑nationality groups should be prepared for each adult’s residency status to be checked separately, which could add a few minutes to the entrance process at peak times.

Tourism‑dependent communities surrounding major parks have expressed concern that the new surcharge and ID checks could discourage some foreign travelers, particularly budget‑conscious visitors who might otherwise plan road trips that include multiple parks. The Interior Department and NPS counter that the policy simply brings the U.S. in line with many other nations that charge visitors more than locals to access marquee attractions and argue that most international travelers will continue to see the parks as worth the cost.

For all travelers, the new ID requirement means planning ahead. U.S. residents should make sure they are carrying valid identification, especially on fee‑free days, while foreign visitors will want to factor the new surcharge into their 2026 itineraries and budgets.

Digital America the Beautiful passes: what’s changing in 2026

Alongside the fee changes, 2026 is also bringing one of the biggest technological upgrades to park access in years. Beginning in January, all America the Beautiful passes—covering the Annual, Senior, Senior Lifetime, Military, Military Lifetime, Every Kid Outdoors (4th Grade) and Access passes—will be available in fully digital form through Recreation.gov and its mobile app.

In practice, that means visitors will be able to purchase a pass online, have it activated almost immediately, and store it on a smartphone or other device rather than waiting for a plastic card to arrive in the mail. Digital passes will generate a scannable code or record that rangers can verify at entrance stations, similar to the way timed‑entry reservations and campsite bookings already work at many parks.

Travelers who prefer a physical pass are not being left behind. The agencies say plastic passes will remain available, either ordered online—with an added shipping and handling charge of around $7.50—or picked up in person at more than 1,000 locations nationwide, including many park entrance stations and visitor centers. Digital and physical passes will be linked, so pass holders can use either form as needed during their 12‑month validity period.

For frequent parkgoers, the digital rollout should streamline trip planning. It eliminates the risk of a pass being lost in the mail before a departure date and lets last‑minute planners buy an annual pass from a phone on the way to the park rather than waiting in potentially long entrance lines to purchase one in person.

New designs, political backlash and what your pass will look like

Beyond technology and pricing, 2026 will also bring a new look to the America the Beautiful passes—one that has already drawn legal challenges and public debate. The Interior Department has unveiled a suite of “bold, patriotic designs” timed to the broader America 250 commemorations leading up to the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

For standard annual passes, the flagship imagery for 2026 features a prominent portrait of President Donald Trump in the foreground, with George Washington depicted behind him, along with symbolic red, white and blue elements. A separate annual pass for military members shows Trump from behind, saluting, in a design meant to honor active‑duty service members and veterans.

These designs mark a sharp departure from the landscapes and wildlife photography that typically grace the front of America the Beautiful passes. Under federal law, the artwork has historically been chosen via an annual competition that highlights scenes from public lands and helps educate visitors about the diversity of protected areas.

An environmental advocacy group, the Center for Biological Diversity, filed suit in federal court on December 11, 2025, arguing that bypassing the contest in order to put Trump’s likeness on the pass violates the 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and improperly turns the pass program into a vehicle for political branding. Park law scholars have also questioned whether using the passes in this way undermines the longstanding nonpartisan status of the National Park System.

While the lawsuit moves through the courts, the administration has also created a separate, more expensive annual pass for foreign visitors that carries different artwork—reportedly including the scenic photograph that won the most recent official contest. U.S. residents who prefer the traditional look have been advised by some advocacy groups to consider purchasing their 2025‑dated passes late in the year, since each pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase and can therefore be used well into 2026.

Motorcycles, parking and how fees vary by park

Not every change in 2026 is about controversy or higher costs. Motorcycle riders, in particular, stand to benefit from updated pass rules that recognize how many visitors now tour the parks on two wheels. Starting January 1, 2026, each America the Beautiful annual pass will cover two motorcycles, rather than being treated in the same category as a single private vehicle.

That means friends riding together or couples traveling on separate bikes will be able to enter participating fee‑charging parks under a single annual pass, provided they both are present and can show the pass at the entrance station. The NPS frames this as part of a broader effort to expand affordability and access for different kinds of travelers.

It’s also important to remember that not all national parks—or park units—charge entrance fees at all, and some that do have separate charges for parking or specific services. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example, has no entrance fee, but now requires visitors to purchase a parking tag or pay for overnight parking in certain areas. Other sites, such as Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, remain free to enter year‑round but may charge for specialized facilities and tours.

For 2026 trips, travelers should check both the entrance fee and any separate parking or day‑use fees at each park they plan to visit. The new America the Beautiful pass structure covers entrance at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites but does not eliminate campground charges, backcountry permits, shuttle reservations or concession‑run services such as boat tours and lodges.

What 2026 changes mean for U.S. travelers versus international visitors

For U.S. citizens and residents, the 2026 changes are a mixed bag but largely tilt toward easier access. The cost of the standard annual pass remains frozen at $80, even as inflation pressures other parts of the travel budget. Digital passes will simplify last‑minute planning, and a larger slate of fee‑free holidays—albeit with a different mix of dates—will lower costs for many families who can time their visits to those windows.

However, some domestic visitors will find that the resident‑only focus has symbolic as well as practical implications. The removal of MLK Day and Juneteenth from the fee‑free calendar has already become a flashpoint in broader debates about how public lands should reflect the full sweep of American history. And the decision to place the sitting president’s face on the standard annual pass may be unwelcome for travelers who see parks as one of the few remaining spaces largely insulated from partisan politics.

For international visitors, the financial calculus is much starker. A single visit to a marquee park like Yellowstone, Yosemite or Grand Canyon will become significantly more expensive for those without an annual pass, particularly for families with several adults. Those planning multi‑park trips may find that purchasing the $250 nonresident annual pass is still the better value, but it represents a sharp increase over the $80 universal price in place through the end of 2025.

Tour operators and destination marketing organizations that rely on international tourism are warning that some potential visitors may redirect trips to other countries with similar landscapes but lower entry costs. The administration argues that the new fees are comparable to what many nations charge foreigners to access their flagship attractions and that the revenue will help reduce maintenance backlogs that could otherwise diminish the visitor experience for everyone.

FAQ

Q1: When do the new national park fees and digital passes take effect?
The new “America‑first” pricing structure, digital America the Beautiful passes and updated fee‑free calendar are all scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. Trips taking place before that date will still be subject to the 2025 rules and pricing.

Q2: How much will a national park annual pass cost in 2026?
In 2026, the standard America the Beautiful annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents. Both versions provide 12 months of access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, but they differ in price and, in some cases, in artwork.

Q3: Which national parks will charge the extra $100 fee to foreign visitors?
Beginning in 2026, non‑U.S. visitors without an annual pass will pay an additional $100 per person, on top of regular entrance fees, at 11 parks: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.

Q4: Can international visitors use fee-free days in 2026?
No. The 2026 fee‑free days are designated as resident‑only, meaning they apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who can show valid government‑issued identification. International visitors will still pay standard and, where applicable, additional entrance fees on those dates.

Q5: What identification will I need to qualify for resident pricing or fee-free days?
To receive resident pricing or access fee‑free days, visitors will be asked to present a U.S. government‑issued photo ID, such as a state driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, passport card or military ID. Without such ID, adults will be charged at nonresident rates where those apply.

Q6: How do the new digital passes work if I still want a plastic card?
Starting in 2026, you can buy a digital pass through Recreation.gov, store it on your mobile device and use it immediately. If you prefer a plastic card, you can either order one—paying a shipping and handling fee—or pick one up at participating park sites. The digital and physical versions are linked and represent the same pass.

Q7: Are all national parks raising fees in 2026?
No. The 2026 changes focus primarily on the new nonresident surcharge at 11 heavily visited parks and on the split annual pass pricing. Many parks will see no change to their base entrance fees, and some park units do not charge entrance fees at all, though some of those may still require separate parking or user fees.

Q8: Will my 2025 annual pass still be valid in 2026?
Yes. America the Beautiful passes are valid for 12 months from the month of purchase through the end of that month the following year. A pass bought in December 2025, for example, will be valid through December 31, 2026, even as new pricing and designs roll out.

Q9: How are motorcycle riders affected by the new rules?
From January 1, 2026, each America the Beautiful annual pass will cover two motorcycles instead of one. This allows two riders traveling together on separate bikes to enter participating fee‑charging sites under a single pass, which can lower overall trip costs for motorcyclists.

Q10: Will the changes to pass artwork affect my ability to use the parks?
No. The imagery on the front of the pass does not affect where or how it can be used. The controversy surrounding the 2026 designs centers on symbolism and legal process, not functionality. Any valid pass—digital or physical, regardless of artwork—will grant access according to the standard terms printed on it.