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frontpagepikappaphiEE252 posted Dec 01, 2025 03:19 PM
frontpagepikappaphiEE252 posted Dec 01, 2025 03:19 PM

2026 National Park Free Entrance Days: All U.S Citizen/Residents

(2/16 Presidents Day)

Free

$80

119 Comments 67,871 Views
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National Park Service (NPS.gov) is offering their 2026 National Park Free Entrance Days for all U.S Citizen/Residents only listed below (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply)

Thanks to community member pikappaphiEE252 for finding this deal

Note, free entrance on these days will be for U.S. citizens/residents only; non-residents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees

Available Date(s)

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • About the Deal
    • Come experience the national parks! Location/sites may vary
    • Free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only
    • All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone
    • Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates
    • Offer valid on the listed dates only
  • Additional Details
    • Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees
    • Additional conditions may apply

Original Post

Written by pikappaphiEE252
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
National Park Service (NPS.gov) is offering their 2026 National Park Free Entrance Days for all U.S Citizen/Residents only listed below (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply)

Thanks to community member pikappaphiEE252 for finding this deal

Note, free entrance on these days will be for U.S. citizens/residents only; non-residents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees

Available Date(s)

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • About the Deal
    • Come experience the national parks! Location/sites may vary
    • Free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only
    • All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone
    • Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates
    • Offer valid on the listed dates only
  • Additional Details
    • Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees
    • Additional conditions may apply

Original Post

Written by pikappaphiEE252

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Top Comments

pikappaphiEE252
21 Posts
278 Reputation
It is not normal.
ptraugot
14 Posts
22 Reputation
Not ever
cricrazy
48 Posts
13 Reputation
Just for the Point of Reference:

The Taj Mahal—one of the seven wonders—charges INR 50 for locals and INR 1100 for foreigners. That's 22x more for tourists! (Source: https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/ticketing.aspx)
Now, apply that logic to U.S. National Parks:
Annual pass = $80.
If foreigners paid 22x more, that'd be $1,760!
A little perspective helps. Not everything is racist or xenophobic—sometimes it's just how pricing works. My Two Cents.

119 Comments

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Dec 01, 2025 06:22 PM
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pdinc
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Dec 01, 2025 06:22 PM
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Quote from cricrazy :
Just for the Point of Reference:

The Taj Mahal—one of the seven wonders—charges INR 50 for locals and INR 1100 for foreigners. That's 22x more for tourists! (Source: https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/ticketing.aspx)
Now, apply that logic to U.S. National Parks:
Annual pass = $80.
If foreigners paid 22x more, that'd be $1,760!
A little perspective helps. Not everything is racist or xenophobic—sometimes it's just how pricing works. My Two Cents.
The difference is that the minimum wage in India is around $1 compared to $7 in the US. Both those prices for the Taj Mahal, are eminently affordable to their respective audiences. The US is already an expensive tourist destination and increasing prices just as a FU to foreigners is going to have an impact - and let's face it, that's what this action is doing. The pricing that existed generated lots of visitors and made the NPS lots of money as it was.Pricing isn't made in a vacuum, it's defined by elasticity and most countries optimize tourist fees to maximize the impact to the overall economy such as resort taxes, sales taxes etc. not this short sighted attitude.I did consumer pricing optimization for close to a decade.
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Dec 01, 2025 06:30 PM
48 Posts
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cricrazyDec 01, 2025 06:30 PM
48 Posts

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Quote from pdinc :
The difference is that the minimum wage in India is around $1 compared to $7 in the US. Both those prices for the Taj Mahal, are eminently affordable to their respective audiences. The US is already an expensive tourist destination and increasing prices just as a FU to foreigners is going to have an impact - and let's face it, that's what this action is doing. The pricing that existed generated lots of visitors and made the NPS lots of money as it was.Pricing isn't made in a vacuum, it's defined by elasticity and most countries optimize tourist fees to maximize the impact to the overall economy such as resort taxes, sales taxes etc. not this short sighted attitude.I did consumer pricing optimization for close to a decade.
I am not advocating for an increase to $1,760. My point is that similar measures are common in many countries; however, when the U.S. implements them, it often becomes headline news and is perceived as xenophobic. Anyways. Thanks for your insight.
1
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Dec 01, 2025 06:44 PM
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apexdealDec 01, 2025 06:44 PM
346 Posts
Quote from pdinc :
The difference is that the minimum wage in India is around $1 compared to $7 in the US. Both those prices for the Taj Mahal, are eminently affordable to their respective audiences. The US is already an expensive tourist destination and increasing prices just as a FU to foreigners is going to have an impact - and let's face it, that's what this action is doing. The pricing that existed generated lots of visitors and made the NPS lots of money as it was.Pricing isn't made in a vacuum, it's defined by elasticity and most countries optimize tourist fees to maximize the impact to the overall economy such as resort taxes, sales taxes etc. not this short sighted attitude.I did consumer pricing optimization for close to a decade.

I wonder if anyone making these comments has ever traveled.

1. Many countries have different prices for foreigners for tourist attractions. Several countries in Europe did this in 2023 when we went and Paris museums are going to start in 2026.

2. Who the heck wants to go (who has an option) during free days when the parks will be overwhelmed? That's not elitist, that's sane. That's why cheaper pricing for US residents all the time is better for the parks (less strain on limited resources) and those that can afford. The free days is obviously more inclusive.

3. I don't think you understood price dynamics very well. People that are coming to the major parks will still come (like Disney). The smaller parks might be impacted but they can find that sweet spot for pricing.
1
1
Dec 01, 2025 07:28 PM
179 Posts
Joined Feb 2013
yatesdDec 01, 2025 07:28 PM
179 Posts
Thanks, nice to get a discount
Dec 01, 2025 07:56 PM
7,651 Posts
Joined Sep 2008
DogAndPonyDec 01, 2025 07:56 PM
7,651 Posts
Nice! I got in free to three National Parks during the shutdown. It was great. More free days please!
Pro
Dec 01, 2025 09:04 PM
2,357 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
pdinc
Pro
Dec 01, 2025 09:04 PM
2,357 Posts
Quote from apexdeal :


I wonder if anyone making these comments has ever traveled.

1. Many countries have different prices for foreigners for tourist attractions. Several countries in Europe did this in 2023 when we went and Paris museums are going to start in 2026.

2. Who the heck wants to go (who has an option) during free days when the parks will be overwhelmed? That's not elitist, that's sane. That's why cheaper pricing for US residents all the time is better for the parks (less strain on limited resources) and those that can afford. The free days is obviously more inclusive.

3. I don't think you understood price dynamics very well. People that are coming to the major parks will still come (like Disney). The smaller parks might be impacted but they can find that sweet spot for pricing.
If you're a Disney fan there's only a Disney park to go to. If you are a tourist looking for natural beauty, the US doesn't have a monopoly on that.
3
Dec 01, 2025 09:45 PM
767 Posts
Joined Jan 2014
hellspiceDec 01, 2025 09:45 PM
767 Posts
Just know that this does not work in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While admission to the park and all it has to offer is free, there is a "parking fee" at all attractions and trailheads.

As mentioned in the headline by the OP, the daily/weekly/annual parking fee is not waived under this offer.
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Dec 02, 2025 12:21 AM
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Dec 02, 2025 12:33 AM
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BeigeRose513Dec 02, 2025 12:33 AM
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Quote from jk_black :
"Trump's birthday".. really?Edit: I am not attempting to get political. I am genuinely curious if it is normal to see current sitting president's bday to be notes/used for free admission days.
Nice to have an additional free day for people who don't have passes.
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Dec 02, 2025 12:36 AM
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BeigeRose513Dec 02, 2025 12:36 AM
92 Posts
Quote from Billyteddy :
Name the literally every country? Have you ever travelled overseas
I have traveled to over 50 different countries & lived in more than 5 different countries. Many do have different rates & in many countries in Africa they don't price the groceries & you will notice different prices for different customers.
3
Dec 02, 2025 02:46 AM
70 Posts
Joined Jan 2015
AmitK2641Dec 02, 2025 02:46 AM
70 Posts
How is residency defined? Hope people here realize not everyone on visa is tourist.
1
Dec 02, 2025 02:52 AM
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adtruckDec 02, 2025 02:52 AM
806 Posts
How to prove a citizen? So we need to bring a passport to national parks?
2
2
Dec 02, 2025 03:21 AM
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simskDec 02, 2025 03:21 AM
642 Posts
Thanks for the post.
1
Dec 02, 2025 03:35 AM
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karrdiDec 02, 2025 03:35 AM
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Quote from abstraxion :
I always ask why it's bad to offer discounts to US citizens when literally every other country discounts admission to their cultural resources in a similar manner. I never get a response.
Your world view is narrow. Visit England. All of their major museums are free regardless of where you were born.
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Dec 02, 2025 04:47 AM
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Lancero2.0Dec 02, 2025 04:47 AM
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Quote from abstraxion :
I always ask why it's bad to offer discounts to US citizens when literally every other country discounts admission to their cultural resources in a similar manner. I never get a response.
Probably because these are federal parks and those federal taxes are paid by everyone regardless of immi status.
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