The United States is not only big cities and skyline recognizable. A central part of the image of the country – and its environmental welfare system – is built on the national parks network: over 400 protected areas that attract hundreds of millions of visitors every year. For decades access to these spaces has been encouraged through free entrance days, designed to broaden public use and strengthen the link between citizens and natural heritage. In 2026 this mechanism will change significantly.
The National Park Service has published the new fee-free days calendar, introducing a significant novelty: free access will be reserved exclusively for US citizens and permanent residents. A choice that restricts the audience compared to previous years and which obviously affects international tourists.
The free entry days scheduled for 2026 are in all eight. On February 16th, on the occasion of President’s Day, and on May 25th (Memorial Day), on June 14th (Flag Day), from July 3rd to 5th for the Independence Day weekend, on August 25th for the 110° anniversary of the National Park Service, on September 17th (Constitution Day), on October 27th for the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt and on November 11th, Veterans Day. In all these dates the cost of the standard entry ticket is reset, but additional services such as parking, camping, guided tours or reservation systems are excluded.
Compared to the past, some events that had been included in the free calendar – such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Juneteenth – no longer appear. The limitation to US residents and citizens only came into effect from 1 January 2026 and is also accompanied by a review of annual fees. The pass “America the Beautiful”, which allows access to all national parks for a year, will cost 80 dollars for residents in the United States, while for non-residents the price will rise to 250 dollars, with a supplement of 100 dollars per person for the 11 most visited parks of the country. In addition, the pass “America the Beautiful” will be completely digital and manageable through the federal platform Recreation.gov, which allows the purchase, storage and immediate validation via smartphone.
For those living in New York, free days are an opportunity to visit relatively close national parks. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, is located about five hours drive and is mainly known for Skyline Drive, a panoramic road over 160 kilometers along the Blue Ridge. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, between Cleveland and Akron, revolves around the Cuyahoga River and the historic Ohio & Erie Canal route. Acadia National Park in Maine attracts more than 3.9 million visitors every year, thanks to breathtaking views of the Cadillac Mountain and the historic carriage roads network.
The National Park Service remembers that, during free days, turnout tends to increase significantly, especially in the most popular parks. For this reason it is recommended to arrive in the early hours of the morning and check in advance any restrictions on parking or access. All updated calendar information, annual passes and access modes remain available on Recreation.gov.
Article Since 2026 the fee-free days in American national parks are no longer valid for tourists from IlNewyorkese.
