NPS and other federal agencies will waive entrance fees at many public lands on Memorial Day

The National Park Service said U.S. residents will not be charged entrance fees at national parks on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026. The waiver is part of the agency’s 2026 fee-free calendar and applies at parks that normally charge an entrance fee, according to the agency’s Memorial Day page. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also list Memorial Day as a fee-free day at sites that usually collect entrance or amenity fees. Florida officials separately said state parks across Florida will offer free admission over Memorial Day weekend. ### Which federal lands are actually included on May 25? The National Park Service said the May 25 waiver covers national park sites that normally charge entrance fees. Many NPS sites never charge an entrance fee, but parks such as Grand Canyon, Zion and Death Valley are among the better-known parks where the holiday waiver can matter for visitors. The Bureau of Land Management said Memorial Day is one of its 2026 fee-free days. On BLM-managed lands, the waiver covers standard amenity recreation fees and day-use fees at many sites, including visitor centers, picnic and day-use areas, and National Conservation Lands units where fees are normally charged. Beginning in 2026, BLM said free access on those days is for U.S. citizens and residents only, while nonresidents pay regular standard amenity and any applicable nonresident fees. (nps.gov) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said all national wildlife refuges and other agency lands that normally charge an entrance fee will offer free admission for Memorial Day. The agency also notes that only a small number of refuges charge entrance fees in the first place, with most sites already free year-round. ### Does “free” mean every charge disappears? The National Park Service said the Memorial Day waiver applies to entrance fees, not every possible charge tied to a visit. (blm.gov) Reservation charges, timed-entry fees, camping fees, tour fees and concession-operated charges can still apply depending on the site. The Bureau of Land Management used similar language, limiting the waiver to standard amenity and day-use fees. (fws.gov) That means specialized permits or other fees outside those categories may still remain in place at some locations. ### Why are agencies emphasizing U.S. residents? The Bureau of Land Management said its 2026 fee-free policy changed this year so that free access on designated days is for U.S. citizens and residents only. (nps.gov) The National Park Service Memorial Day page also specifies that U.S. residents will not be charged entrance fees on May 25. The Interior Department said in a December announcement that 2026 fee-free dates were part of a broader access policy tied to America’s 250th anniversary period. (blm.gov) That notice also said the National Park Service would continue multiple fee-free dates through the year. ### What is Florida doing over the same weekend? (blm.gov) Florida State Parks said it will offer free admission from May 23 through May 25. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the promotion covers Memorial Day weekend and applies across the state park system, which includes 175 state parks and trails. (nps.gov) Florida’s waiver is separate from the federal holiday fee-free programs. Visitors still need to check individual park pages for hours, capacity limits, reservations and activity-specific charges before traveling. That is also true at federal sites, where local conditions and booking rules can vary by park or refuge. ### Where should visitors check before they go? (floridadep.gov) May 25 is the next Memorial Day fee-free date listed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agencies’ official pages spell out which fees are waived and direct visitors to individual park, refuge or site pages for reservations, operating conditions and any charges that still apply. (nps.gov)