NPS drops MLK Day, Juneteenth from fee‑free calendar, adds June 14; confirms nonresident surcharges
The National Park Service will revamp its fee‑free calendar effective Jan. 1, 2026, removing MLK Day and Juneteenth and adding June 14 (Trump’s birthday/Flag Day) along with other fee‑free dates such as Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day and the three‑day Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day (Sept. 17), the NPS 110th anniversary (Aug. 25) and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27), with Veterans Day the lone carryover. The Interior Department framed the changes as “patriotic fee‑free days” and tied them to a White House executive order favoring citizens/residents, while confirming resident annual passes remain $80, nonresident annual passes rise to $250, a $100 surcharge will apply to non‑U.S. visitors at 11 popular parks, and the America the Beautiful pass will move fully digital via Recreation.gov.
📌 Key Facts
- The National Park Service released a new fee‑free calendar effective Jan. 1, 2026 that removes Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth and adds June 14 (listed as Trump’s birthday/Flag Day).
- The full set of 2026 fee‑free dates includes Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, a three‑day Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day (Sept. 17), the NPS 110th anniversary (Aug. 25), Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27), and Veterans Day.
- The Department of the Interior framed the changes as “patriotic fee‑free days,” issued a statement from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and tied the revisions to a July White House executive order directing higher fees for non‑U.S. visitors and preferential access for citizens/residents.
- America the Beautiful pass pricing: the resident annual pass remains $80, the nonresident annual pass rises to $250, and there will be a $100 surcharge for non‑U.S. visitors at 11 popular parks.
- Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, America the Beautiful passes will be fully digital through Recreation.gov with instant activation, updated validation tools, and staff training for implementation.
- Advocacy and political figures, including NPCA’s Kristen Brengel and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, criticized the removal of MLK Day and Juneteenth from the fee‑free calendar.
📰 Sources (3)
- Lists additional 2026 fee‑free dates: Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and a three‑day Independence Day weekend, plus Constitution Day, the NPS 110th anniversary, and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
- Specifies that Veterans Day is the lone carryover from both years.
- Includes reaction from NPCA’s Kristen Brengel and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto criticizing the removal of MLK Day and Juneteenth.
- Details a Jan. 1, 2026 rollout of fully digital America the Beautiful passes via Recreation.gov with instant activation, updated validation tools, and staff training.
- Lists the full new fee‑free dates: NPS 110th anniversary (Aug. 25), Constitution Day (Sept. 17), Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27), and Trump’s birthday/Flag Day (June 14).
- Effective date is Jan. 1, 2026.
- DOI frames them as 'patriotic fee‑free days' and provided a statement from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
- Confirms resident annual pass remains $80; nonresident annual pass rises to $250; reiterates $100 surcharge for non‑U.S. visitors at 11 popular parks.
- Links the changes to a July White House executive order directing higher fees for non‑U.S. visitors and preferential access for citizens/residents.