Throughout the year, the National Park Service (NPS) offers fee-free days, allowing visitors to access national parks, monuments, and other public lands at no charge. However, next year, the calendar will look a little different from what it has in recent years.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, NPS will no longer observe Juneteenth (June 19) or Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January) as fee-free days.
The list of NPS fee-free days has evolved over the years. These days encourage people to get outside and explore public lands while also honoring holidays, events, and historical figures. MLK Day has been one of the longest-recognized fee-free days NPS has offered. Juneteenth, a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, was added to the list in 2024.
Neither the Department of the Interior (DOI) nor NPS commented on why these holidays were removed as fee-free days.
The addition of Flag Day recognizes the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777. The DOI’s press release also lists the holiday as President Trump’s birthday.
Also new to the calendar this year is the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service (August 25) and the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt (October 27).
Here is the full list of NPS fee-free days for 2026:
- Feb. 16: President’s Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- May 25: Memorial Day
- June 14: Flag Day (President Trump’s birthday)
- July 3-5: Independence Day weekend
- Aug. 25: 110th birthday of the National Park Service
- Sept. 17: Constitution Day
- Oct. 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day
More Changes for NPS in 2026
Alongside the announcement that NPS would be dropping MLK Day and Juneteenth from its list of fee-free days, the DOI announced several other changes coming in 2026.
First, all America the Beautiful passes, including Annual, Military, Senior, Fourth Grade, and Access, will now be digitally available. Visitors will be able to purchase park passes online at Recreation.gov and store them on mobile devices.
In 2026, DOI is unveiling new NPS graphics and logos featuring “bold, patriotic designs that honor America’s landscapes, heritage, and outdoor legacy.” America the Beautiful passes will now also cover two motorcycles per pass, instead of requiring one per individual.
Separately from these announced changes, a DOI memo obtained by a nonprofit advocacy group revealed that all U.S. national parks have been ordered to review their gift shop inventories. Items that support programs like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) must be removed from sale by Jan. 1, 2026.
Other NPS Fees Changes Under Trump
In July, President Trump signed an executive order calling for non-Americans to be charged higher entrance fees to NPS lands. Under that order, foreign visitors will not receive the fee exemption on any free-entrance days.
Furthermore, at 11 of the most popular U.S. national parks, Trump’s executive order added a $100 fee for non-resident visitors, in addition to the standard entrance fee. It also raised the price of an annual National Parks pass to $250 for non-residents. For resident Americans, the pass costs $80.
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement. “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.”
According to the DOI, the revenue generated from these additional fees will be reinvested in NPS public lands. They will support “upgrades to visitor facilities, essential maintenance, and improved services nationwide.”
