The National Park Service (NPS) has overhauled its entrance fee calendar for 2026, granting free admission on President Donald Trump’s birthday while reinstating standard fees for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
- NPS waives fees for Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and President Trump’s birthday (Flag Day) in 2026.
- Free admission removed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, and National Public Lands Day.
- New “America-first” system charges international tourists up to $250 for annual passes alongside entry surcharges.
Admission fees had been waived on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for years, a practice maintained throughout Trump’s first administration. Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, was added as a fee-free day in 2024.
Shift in Patriotic Fee-Free Days
The schedule adjustments align with the administration’s focus on eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Earlier this year, President Trump criticized the number of “non-working holidays” in the U.S., claiming the observance of Juneteenth costs the country billions of dollars.
The updated 2026 calendar designates June 14—Flag Day and the president’s birthday—as a free admission day. Additional fee-free dates for 2026 include Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Independence Day weekend, the 110th birthday of the NPS on August 25, Constitution Day on September 17, and former President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday on October 27.
Roosevelt is widely regarded as the “conservationist president” for his role in doubling the number of sites within the National Park System during his tenure, according to the NPS website.
While expansive in new additions, the calendar removes several previously established free days. Visitors will now pay for entry on the first day of National Park Week, the Bureau of Land Management’s birthday, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and the first Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Veterans Day remains a free admission day.
New Fee Structure for International Visitors
The Department of the Interior has also introduced an “America-first” fee system effective January 1, 2026. Under the new policy, free admission days will apply exclusively to U.S. residents.
International tourists will be required to pay standard entrance fees, plus an additional $100 surcharge per person at 11 of the most visited national parks. The cost of an annual pass for non-U.S. residents will rise to $250, more than triple the $80 rate designated for U.S. citizens and residents.
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