US national park entrance fees, passes & free parks
Most US national parks are free. Of the 400-plus sites the National Park Service runs, only around 100 charge to get in, and where there is a fee it's usually $20–$35 per vehicle for seven days — or a smaller per-person charge at walk-in sites. If you're visiting more than a couple of fee parks in a year, one America the Beautiful pass almost always works out cheaper than paying at each gate. Here's the whole picture for 2026.
The America the Beautiful pass
The America the Beautiful pass is the single pass that covers entrance at every national park and federal recreation site. As of January 1, 2026 the annual pass is $80 for US residents and $250 for non-residents, and it's now fully digital — you buy it on Recreation.gov and show it on your phone. It covers the driver and everyone in the vehicle at per-vehicle parks, and the holder plus up to three other adults where entry is charged per person. Break even after roughly three $30 park visits.
Discounts: seniors, access, military and kids
Several versions of the pass cost less — or nothing:
- Senior Pass — $20 a year, or $80 for a lifetime pass, for US citizens and permanent residents age 62 and older. It also gives about 50% off some amenity fees such as camping, boat launches and swimming.
- Access Pass — free, and lifetime, for US citizens and residents with a permanent disability. Same 50%-off amenity benefit.
- Military Pass — free for current US service members and their dependents, and for veterans and Gold Star Families.
- 4th Grade Pass — free for US fourth-graders and their families for the school year, through the Every Kid Outdoors program.
So the "for seniors" answer is simple: a $20 annual or $80 lifetime Senior Pass replaces the per-visit fee at every park below.
Per-vehicle or per-person?
Two parks can both charge "$10" and mean very different things, so it's worth knowing which model a park uses:
- Per private vehicle — one fee covers everyone in the car for seven days. This is the norm at drive-through parks like Vicksburg, Pinnacles and Craters of the Moon.
- Per person — charged for each visitor age 16 and up (under-16s are free). Common at compact or walk-in sites like Guadalupe Mountains and Wright Brothers National Memorial.
For a family, a $20 per-vehicle park is often cheaper than a $10 per-person one.
Fee-free days in 2026
The Park Service waives entrance fees on a handful of days each year. In 2026 these fee-free days are for US citizens and residents only — a change from prior years — and include patriotic dates such as Constitution Day (September 17) and Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (October 27), alongside the usual openers like the first day of National Park Week. Everything else about your visit (camping, tours) is still charged on those days.
Entrance fees at a glance
Fees for the parks we're most often asked about. Amounts are per entry, valid seven days unless noted, and are current for 2026 — always confirm on the park's official NPS page before you go, since fees change.
Park | Entrance fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Wright Brothers National Memorial (NC) | $10 / person | Ages 16+; 15 & under free. |
Vicksburg National Military Park (MS) | $20 / vehicle | Cashless; per private vehicle. |
Guadalupe Mountains National Park (TX) | $10 / person | Per person, not per car. |
Pinnacles National Park (CA) | $30 / vehicle | $25 motorcycle · $15 per person. |
Craters of the Moon (ID) | $20 / vehicle | Free when the Loop Road is closed (≈Nov–Apr). |
Little River Canyon National Preserve (AL) | Free | $15/vehicle only at Canyon Mouth Park. |
Piscataway Park (MD) | Free | No entrance fee or pass needed. |
Each park page above lists its current fees, opening hours, things to do, and the other national parks within a day's drive.
How RoadRange fits in
Fees decide the budget; distance decides the itinerary. RoadRange shades how far you can realistically reach by car from your start city for the days you have, then suggests parks that fit inside that range. Pair a fee park with a free one that's within a day's drive, and check the drive time between two cities before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
- Do seniors get a discount on national park entrance fees?
- Yes. US citizens and permanent residents age 62 and older can buy the America the Beautiful Senior Pass for $20 a year or $80 for life. It covers entry for the pass holder and everyone in their vehicle at per-vehicle parks (or the holder plus up to three adults where the fee is per person), and gives roughly 50% off some amenity fees like camping.
- Which national parks are free to enter?
- Most of them. Only about 100 of the 400-plus National Park Service sites charge an entrance fee at all. Among the parks people ask us about, Piscataway Park in Maryland and the main preserve at Little River Canyon in Alabama are free — no fee and no pass needed.
- Is the national park entrance fee per person or per car?
- It depends on the park. Most drive-in parks charge per private vehicle, which covers everyone in the car for seven days. Some smaller or walk-in sites charge per person age 16 and up instead — Guadalupe Mountains and Wright Brothers are per person, while Vicksburg and Pinnacles are per vehicle.
- Are there free-entrance days at national parks in 2026?
- Yes, the National Park Service waives entrance fees on a handful of days each year. For 2026 these fee-free days are for US citizens and residents only, and include dates such as Constitution Day (September 17) and Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (October 27).