National Park Service fee-free Memorial Day

The National Park Service said on May 21 that U.S. residents will not be charged entrance fees on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at all park sites that normally collect an entrance fee. The agency announced the waiver in a Memorial Day news release and on its holiday information page. Other charges, including timed-entry and reservation fees, may still apply. Memorial Day is one of eight “patriotic fee-free days” the agency has scheduled for 2026. ### Which parks are actually included in the fee-free day? The National Park Service said the waiver applies at all sites that normally charge an entrance fee, not at every one of the more than 400 places in the system. Many NPS sites are already free year-round, so the change mainly affects the parks, monuments and recreation areas that usually require paid entry. The agency’s fee pages say the free-admission offer is for U.S. citizens and residents in 2026. (home.nps.gov) The Memorial Day holiday page states that U.S. residents “will not be charged entrance fees” on May 25, 2026. The same page directs visitors to fee and pass information and notes that parks remain places to reflect on military service and sacrifice as well as visit historic and natural sites. ### What costs can still show up even if admission is free? (home.nps.gov) The May 21 release said timed-entry fees or reservation fees may still be charged even when the entrance fee is waived. That means visitors heading to parks that use advance-entry systems, vehicle reservations or separate amenity bookings may still need to pay those charges or secure a booking before arrival. (nps.gov) The National Park Service has used the same caveat on multiple fee pages for 2026 free-entry days. Park-specific costs such as parking, transportation or concession-run services can also remain separate from the basic entrance fee, depending on the site. ### Why is the agency tying the waiver to Memorial Day? Jessica Bowron, comptroller exercising the delegated authority of the NPS director, said in the release that “freedom has always carried a cost” and invited visitors to use the day to honor Americans who died in military service. (home.nps.gov) The agency said national parks preserve battlefields, military forts, cemeteries, memorials and other places connected to the country’s military history. (nps.gov) The NPS Memorial Day page says the holiday is a time of remembrance for those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. It also points visitors to monuments, memorials, battlefields and events across the park system. ### What kinds of Memorial Day events are parks planning? Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia is scheduled to hold a Memorial Day ceremony and flag placement on May 23, followed by Taps Across America in the national cemetery on Memorial Day, according to the NPS release. (home.nps.gov) Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi is planning flag placements and commemorative programs through Memorial Day weekend. (nps.gov) Washington memorials including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial are also highlighted by the agency as places for Memorial Day visits. The NPS holiday page says visitors can search for ceremonies, parades, concerts, service projects and other events by date and park. ### Where should visitors check before they go? (home.nps.gov) NPS.gov is carrying both the national Memorial Day announcement and park-by-park fee information for 2026. The agency’s pages say visitors should check individual park details for entrance rules, reservation requirements and any remaining charges before traveling. May 25 is the next Memorial Day fee-free date, and the National Park Service has already posted the rest of its 2026 patriotic fee-free calendar, including June 14, July 3-5, August 25, September 17, October 27 and November 11. (home.nps.gov) (nps.gov)