2026 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:
February 16: Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday)
May 25: Memorial Day
June 14: Flag Day/President Trump's birthday
July 3–5: Independence Day weekend
August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
September 17: Constitution Day
October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's birthday
November 11: Veterans Day
Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees.
Don't shoot the messenger over the politics!
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm 
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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.go
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.
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.
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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.
As mentioned in the headline by the OP, the daily/weekly/annual parking fee is not waived under this offer.
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.
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