Your National Park Pass Guide for 2026 and What You Need to Know Before You Go

Planning a national park road trip this year? New rules just changed how you’ll pay to get in. From digital passes that load right to your phone to pricing tiers that split residents from international visitors, 2026 brings the biggest shift in park access we’ve seen in decades. Whether you’re plotting a multi-state adventure or just want to know if that annual pass makes sense, here’s how to save money and skip confusion at the gate.

  • America the Beautiful Annual Pass now costs $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents starting January 1, 2026.
  • Nonresidents without an annual pass will pay a $100 per person fee at 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to standard entrance fees.
  • All America the Beautiful passes are now available in fully digital format through Recreation.gov.

Breaking Down the New National Park Pass Prices

U.S. residents can purchase an annual pass for $80, while nonresidents will pay $250 for the same pass. For most people traveling from cities like Indianapolis or anywhere across America, pricing stays manageable. Your pass covers entrance at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for a full 12 months from your purchase date.

Do the math before you buy. If you’re planning to visit three or more parks that charge entrance fees within a year, an annual pass pays for itself. At high-traffic parks like Zion and Yellowstone, entrance station lines can stretch for an hour during peak season, so having that pass ready speeds things up.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents ages 62 and older can purchase an annual pass for $20, or a lifetime version for $80. That lifetime senior pass might be one of the best deals left in outdoor recreation.

What Changed for International Visitors

Nonresidents aged 16 and older visiting 11 of the most visited national parks will pay the standard entrance fee plus a $100 fee per person. These parks include Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.

For Yosemite, that $100 per-person fee applies for seven days of entry to the park, just like the $35 vehicle fee. A family of four international visitors could face $435 just to enter Grand Canyon for a week, unless they buy that $250 annual pass.

Rangers will check every passenger aged sixteen and older in each vehicle, since the surcharge applies per person. Have your documentation ready at the gate.

Digital Passes and How They Work

Visitors can buy and use passes instantly, store them on their cellphones and link them to physical cards. Buy it the morning of your trip and have it ready at the entrance gate.

To purchase an America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass, visitors will need to show proof of U.S. citizenship or residency, such as a U.S. Passport, U.S. government-issued driver’s license or state ID, or Permanent Resident card. When buying online, you’ll enter your ZIP code and upload your ID before completing the purchase.

All America the Beautiful passes now cover two motorcycles per pass. Great news for riders who typically had to choose which bike got the pass.

Your National Park Pass Guide for 2026 and What You Need to Know Before You Go - Half Dome at Yosemite Park

Free Days and What Actually Gets You In

Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay regular entrance fees and any applicable nonresident fees.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth have been removed from the list of days on which visitors can enter for free, while Flag Day on June 16 and Constitution Day on Sept. 17 have been added. Veterans Day on November 11 remains free, as does Presidents Day.

All the money from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service, and at least 80 percent stays in the park where it was collected.

Making Your National Park Pass Work Harder

Check if you need a reservation. Some national parks use a timed entry system to manage vehicle traffic. Having a pass doesn’t always mean you can just show up.

Buy your pass early if you’re ordering physical cards. While digital passes work instantly, physical passes ordered online can take up to three weeks to arrive.

Know what passes don’t cover. Resident Annual Pass excludes camping, boat launching, parking, special tours, special permits or ferries. You’ll still pay for campsites and permits separately.

Solo travelers hitting just one or two parks might skip the annual pass and pay per entry. But families, couples planning multiple stops, or anyone doing a big loop through Utah or the Pacific Northwest will save hundreds with that $80 pass.

If you bought a pass in 2025, you’re golden. Annual passes are valid for 12 months on a rolling basis, and any pass purchased before the new year will be exempt from the new fee structure.

Some parks offer their own annual passes that cover multiple nearby sites. Regional passes might cost less if you’re sticking to one area.