The Major Changes for National Parks in 2026

At the entrance of Arches National Park

On November 25, 2025,  the U.S. Department of the Interior announced changes to the National Parks. Those changes took effect on January 1, 2026.  Here are big changes.

Increased Fees for Non-U.S. Residents

• The most notable change is the tiered cost of entry. There's a $100 non-U.S. resident fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, unless you have an annual pass.  The enhanced fee for non-U.S. residents apply to these national parks: 

  • Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion

• What to know:  The $100 non-U.S. resident fee is in addition to the standard entrance fee at these parks, unless you have an annual America the Beautiful pass.  And, that fee applies to each non-U.S. resident over 16 years old.  Whoa.

• What’s the cost for an annual America the Beautiful pass for 2026?

  • U.S. Residents: $80

  • Non-U.S. Resident:  $250

  • Note:  Passes purchased before January 1, 2026, regardless of whether you’re a U.S. resident or not, are valid for the terms of the pass.  So, if you bought your pass in October 2025, it’ll be good through October 2026.

  • FYI: 

    • If you want to buy a pass, any pass, don’t forget your ID... and your zip code.   The NPS website lists some of the acceptable forms of ID for U.S. residents including : U.S. Passport, U.S. government (state or territory)-issued driver's license or state ID (unclear whether it needs to be a RealID), or Permanent Resident card (aka, "green card"). 

    • Yeah, the NPS will check your ID, but with the increased fees, if you’re a U.S. resident and forget your ID, you’ll need to pay the non-resident annual pass.  Yikes. 

    • Find out about non-resident fees.

Change in Free Days

OLD FREE DAYS:  These were the free days from last year:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (the third Monday in January)

• The first day of National Park Week (in April)

• Juneteenth (on June 19)

• The anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (Aug. 4)

• National Public Lands Day (fourth Saturday in September)

  
  

NEW FREE DAYS:  These are the new free days, which are only available to U.S. residents, so bring ID.  Non-U.S. residents will need to pay, per above:

• Feb. 16: Presidents Day

• May 25: Memorial Day

• June 14: Flag Day and Trump’s birthday

• July 3-5: Independence Day weekend

• Aug. 25: 110th birthday of the National Park Service

• Sept. 17: Constitution Day

• Oct. 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday

• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

There’s a Digital Pass Available Now

You can now get the following passes in a digital format:  America the Beautiful passes – including Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade and Access.   If you’re like me, you always, have your phone, but you don’t always have your parks pass, so the option to buy a digital pass is great.  You can get the pass on whatever digital device and link it to your physical card.  Yay!  Here's how to get your digital America the Beautiful pass.

If you want a physical, here's where to order a physical America the Beautiful pass by mail.  FYI, there’s a processing fee to get a physical card by mail.

You could also get your physical pass at the following Purchase and pickup locations

Bonus for motorcyclists:

America the Beautiful passes will now cover two motorcycles per pass.