Free National Parks Admission for Independence Day Weekend (July 3-5, 2026)

NPS

Sometimes you’ve just got to get away from it all and clear your head with the peace and serenity of a national park.

On certain “fee-free” days throughout the year, enjoy free entry to all national parks and monuments, including Muir Woods and Yosemite National Park, and free admission aboard all of the historic vessels at the Hyde Street Pier of SF’s Maritime National Historical Park.

In 2026, the National Park Service (NPS) free days have changed significantly: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth were removed, while President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day (Trump’s birthday), a 4-day Independence Day weekend, the NPS’s 110th birthday (Aug 25), Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Veterans Day have been added or remain, with free entry now only for U.S. citizens and residents, not international visitors, and new fees for nonresidents at some parks.

Key Changes for 2026:

New Fee-Free Days Added:

• Flag Day (June 14)
• Independence Day Weekend (July 3-5)
• NPS 110th Birthday (August 25)
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday (Oct 27)

Removed Fee-Free Days:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19)
• Juneteenth (June 19)

Eligibility Restriction: Free days now apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, a major change from past years.

Nonresident Fees: International visitors face new or increased fees, especially at popular parks, starting in 2026. 

Please always check with each National Park before heading out to confirm that the park and its facilities are open and admission is free. 

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks | 2026

The National Park Service is hosting 10 free days in 2026. All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission; however, beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees.

• February 16: Presidents’ Day
• May 25: Memorial Day
• June 14: Flag Day
• July 3-5: 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

Parks listed on this page typically waive their entrance fees on nationally designated fee-free dates. Please check with each park below for operating hours and event schedules. New for 2026, fee-free days are only applicable for US residents. See the latest updates.

Participating California National Parks*

See the full National Parks list
*Last Updated 12/12/25

• Cabrillo National Monument – San Diego – (lighthouse and tidepools) – $20 vehicle, $15 motorcycle, $10 foot/bike fees waived – fee details
• Death Valley National Park– Mostly in Inyo County (near the border of CA & NV) – $30 vehicle, $25 motorcycle, $15 per person fee waived – fee details
• Joshua Tree National Park – Riverside/San Bernardo Counties – $30 vehicle, $25 motorcycle, $15 foot/bike fees waived – fee details
  
• Lassen Volcanic National Park – Near Redding – $30 vehicle ($10 in winter), $25 motorcycle ($10 in winter), $15 per person fee ($10 in winter) waived – fee details
  
• Lava Beds National Monument – Northeast California near Oregon border – $25 vehicle, $20 motorcycle, $15 foot/bike fees waived – fee details
  
• Muir Woods National Monument – Marin County – While the $15 entrance fee is waived, parking ($10) or shuttle ($4); reservations are required, even on “free” days. Get shuttle info – fee details
  
• Pinnacles National Park – 80 miles southeast of San Jose – $30 vehicle, $25 motorcycle, $15 foot/bike fees waived – fee details
  
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park – Fisherman’s Wharf/Hyde St. Pier – $15 per person fee waived, includes access to historic ships. Since November 4, 2024, the $15 fee has been temporarily suspended due to the Hyde Street Pier closure for renovation work – fee details
  
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks– East of Fresno/Visalia – $35 vehicle, $30 motorcycle, $20 individual pass waived – fee details
  
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – Shasta County – $25 vehicle, $20 motorcycle, $15 foot/bike fees waived – fee details
  
• Yosemite National Park – $35 car, $30 motorcycle, $20 foot/bike/horse fee waived – fee details. Please note, you no longer need a reservation to drive into Yosemite. 

Check out all the fee-free national parks in the nation.

National parks are America’s best idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all the time.

The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

In addition, there are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Learn more about the variety of passes offered by the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series.