National Park Service Adds More Fee Free Days for 2026

The National Park Service offers a handful of “fee free” days each year where visitors are not charged entrance fees when visiting national parks, national lakeshores, and scenic sites. For the past few years there have been five or six of these days offered, but in 2026 there will be TEN fee free days. In addition to there being more fee free days, many of the days have also changed. Today we will take a look at when you can make a free visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore or Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 2026. We will also take a look at some new fees that will affect visitors from outside of the U.S.

Last year the fee free days included Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the first day of National Parks Week, Juneteenth, the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, National Public Lands Day, and Veteran’s Day. As you can see below, most of those days do not carry over to 2026 – but there are some exciting additions that include two busy summer holidays.

The 2026 fee free days are:

President’s Day (February 20th)

Memorial Day (May 25th)

Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday (June 14th)

Independence Day weekend (July 3rd – 6th)

110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25th)

Constitution Day (September 17th)

Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday (October 27th)

Veteran’s Day (November 11th)

In addition to the fee free days, the Department of the Interior announced that the cost for a yearly pass would remain at $80 for U.S. residents. That same pass now will cost $250 for those visiting from outside the country, “ensuring that American taxpayers who already support the National Park System receive the greatest benefit.” 2026 passes will also be available digitally where they can be stored on mobile devices for extra convenience. We also expect there to be many events planned at national parks for next year as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday.