The National Parks’ Last Free Day of 2026 Is Wednesday

National parks will waive entrance fees on Wednesday, November 11, for Veterans Day, and it is the last fee-free day on the 2026 calendar. Both Sunset and the Pahrump Valley Times report that the National Park Service is dropping entrance charges at every site that normally collects them. The waiver also reaches standard amenity and day-use fees on Bureau of Land Management sites.

Sunset adds a significant caveat. It reports that fee-free days now apply only to US citizens and residents, with nonresidents paying the regular fee, and that visitors 16 and older should carry ID. The Pahrump Valley Times article does not mention that restriction, so visitors who are not US residents should check nps.gov before planning a trip around the date.

A free day does not make everything free. Timed-entry permits, vehicle reservations, camping and guided tours can still cost money, and popular parks may fill early on a holiday. Sunset also notes that US military veterans and Gold Star families get free admission to national parks and other federal recreation areas all year long, and that the America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 for access to more than 2,000 federal sites.

With no more fee-free days left this year, the date is worth marking for anyone who lives near a fee-charging park. Each park’s own page lists closures, reservation rules and seasonal hours, and November weather can close roads and trails at higher elevations, so it pays to check before you drive out on the holiday.

Sources: Sunset, Pahrump Valley Times