Particle.news
Download on the App Store

National Park Service Drops MLK Day and Juneteenth From 2026 Free Days, Adds Trump’s Birthday

Interior officials frame the move as prioritizing U.S. taxpayers, with higher costs for international visitors in 2026.

Overview

  • The 2026 fee-free list adds June 14, which is Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday, while removing long-standing free days on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
  • Free-entry days next year will apply only to U.S. citizens and residents under a new resident-first policy announced by the Department of the Interior.
  • International visitors will face a $100 per-person surcharge at 11 top parks and a $250 nonresident annual pass, with the standard $80 annual pass unchanged for Americans.
  • The agency will roll out fully digital America the Beautiful passes through Recreation.gov, refresh pass artwork with patriotic designs, and allow passes to cover two motorcycles.
  • Civil-rights groups and Democratic lawmakers criticized the removals, noting MLK Day’s role as a park day of service, while Interior says added nonresident revenue will support maintenance and visitor services.