Are National Parks Free Today? Oct. 27, 2026 Fee-Free Day Explained

Yes. On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, every National Park Service site that normally charges an entrance fee is free to enter for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The date honors Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and after today only one free entrance day is left this year: Veterans Day, November 11. Camping, reservations, timed-entry fees and permits still cost the usual amount.

Here’s what the free day covers, who qualifies under the new 2026 rules, and how to keep saving on park visits once the free dates run out.

Why National Parks Are Free on October 27

October 27 is the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, whom the park service calls the “conservationist president.” As USA Today reports, Roosevelt established the U.S. Forest Service, added more than 125 million acres to national forests, set up 51 bird sanctuaries and is credited with creating 18 national monuments.

The National Park Service added his birthday to its fee-free calendar for 2026, alongside a handful of other patriotic dates tied to the run-up to America’s 250th anniversary.

What “Free” Actually Covers

The waiver applies to entrance fees only. According to the National Park Service’s entrance pass page, other charges, including timed-entry or reservation fees, may still apply. The park service’s 2026 fee-free announcement adds that camping, reservations and special use permits are not waived.

In practice, that means:

You can drive or walk into a fee-charging park without paying the entrance fee.
If a park requires a timed-entry reservation, you still need one, and the reservation fee still applies.
Campsites, tours, boat launches and concessions are charged as usual.

It’s also worth knowing that most park service sites never charge an entrance fee at all. USA Today notes that only a fraction of the 433 sites in the system charge one, and where fees exist they are typically no more than $35 per vehicle.

Who Qualifies: The 2026 Rule Change

This is the part that catches people out this year. Beginning in 2026, fee-free days apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Nonresidents pay the regular entrance fee plus any nonresident fees, unless they hold the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass, the NPS says.

International visitors also face a new $100 per-person nonresident fee (for ages 16 and up, on top of the regular entrance fee) at 11 of the most-visited parks, unless they enter with an annual or America the Beautiful pass:

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

If you’re hosting friends or family from abroad, they won’t get in free today, so plan for the fees or the $250 non-resident pass before you go.

2026 National Park Fee-Free Days: Full List

Here is the complete 2026 calendar from the National Park Service:

February 16: Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
May 25: Memorial Day
June 14: Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday
July 3 to 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 (the last one of 2026)

Compared with past years, the 2026 list dropped Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth and added June 14, USA Today reports.

Other federal agencies, such as the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, run their own fee-free calendars. Recreation.gov keeps a roundup of each agency’s dates, and it’s worth checking the specific site’s page to see which day-use fees are waived.

How to Make the Most of a Fee-Free Day

Expect crowds and go early

Free days draw more visitors, especially at parks near big cities. Arriving early gives you better parking and quieter trails. If you’re planning a longer outing, our guide to discovering new hiking trails has tips for picking a route that suits your group.

Check park conditions before you leave

The park service encourages visitors to plan ahead and check conditions. Late October can bring early snow, seasonal road closures and shorter daylight hours at higher elevations, so look at the park’s own alerts page the morning you go. Clocks also fall back on November 1, so sunset comes an hour earlier after that; here’s what to know about daylight saving time ending.

Bring the kids

A free day is an easy, low-cost family outing. If you need ideas, see our piece on the benefits of outdoor activities for families.

Missed It? Passes That Save Money Year-Round

If you visit more than a couple of fee-charging parks a year, an America the Beautiful pass usually beats paying at the gate. It covers entrance fees and standard day-use fees at sites run by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers. Current prices from the NPS:

Pass	Who it’s for	Price
Resident Annual Pass	U.S. citizens and residents	$80
Non-Resident Annual Pass	Non-U.S. residents	$250
Senior Annual Pass	U.S. citizens and residents 62+	$20
Senior Lifetime Pass	U.S. citizens and residents 62+	$80
Military Annual Pass	Current U.S. military and dependents	Free
Military Lifetime Pass	Gold Star Family members and veterans	Free
Access Pass	U.S. citizens and residents with a permanent disability	Free
4th Grade Pass	U.S. fourth graders	Free
Volunteer Pass	Volunteers with 250 service hours	Free

You can buy a pass in person at more than 1,000 federal recreation sites, get a digital pass through Recreation.gov that works right away, or order a physical pass from the USGS online store. Mail orders can take up to three weeks, so the NPS suggests ordering well ahead or picking one up on arrival. Passholders must show a valid photo ID.

Since entrance fees fund the parks themselves (the NPS says at least 80 percent stays in the park where it was collected), paying on regular days goes straight back into trails, facilities and upkeep.

Planning a bigger trip for the holidays instead? Flights are pricey this season; see why holiday airfares are so high and how to save.

FAQ

Are all national parks free today, October 27, 2026?

Every NPS site that normally charges an entrance fee waives it today for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Many sites are free every day anyway.

Do I need a reservation on a fee-free day?

If the park normally requires a timed-entry or other reservation, yes. Reservation fees still apply.

Is camping free on fee-free days?

No. Camping, special use permits and other non-entrance fees are charged as usual.

Can international tourists get in free?

Not in 2026. Free entrance days apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Nonresidents pay regular entrance fees, plus a $100 fee at 11 popular parks, unless they hold a qualifying pass.