The U.S. National Parks have made some significant changes to their free admission days. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth are no longer included in these days. This shift comes shortly after the Trump administration announced that fees would increase for visitors who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The new list of free days now features June 14, which is both Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday. Historically, many of the free days celebrate patriotic events, including Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day, and Veterans Day. Additionally, August 25, the birthday of the National Park Service, and October 27, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, are also fee-free days.
For non-residents, the changes mean they will still need to pay entry fees on these free days. Currently, about 100 out of the 400 national parks charge an entrance fee, and costs differ by park. Starting in 2026, each non-resident will pay a $100 fee at 11 popular parks. An annual pass that costs U.S. citizens $80 will rise to $250 for non-residents.
This announcement follows a July executive order by Trump aimed at increasing fees for international visitors. The Department of the Interior expects these changes could generate over $90 million a year.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that these adjustments help ensure that U.S. taxpayers maintain access while international visitors contribute to the upkeep of parks for future use.
In recent years, international tourism to national parks has seen fluctuations. The U.S. Travel Association reported over 14 million international visitors in 2018. However, Yellowstone revealed that only about 15% of its visitors in 2024 were from abroad, a drop from 30% in 2018.
These fee increases and changes in free days could impact overall visitor numbers and park revenues, affecting how national parks operate and are maintained moving forward. You can read more about these changes in detail on the Department of the Interior’s website.
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