Parks to Waive Entrance Fees on Veterans Day
National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management sites will be free to enter on Nov. 11, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in National Parks
National Park Service locations that normally charge admission will be free to enter on Nov. 11, 2026, and Bureau of Land Management sites will waive recreation standard amenity and day-use fees the same day. The waiver is offered in honor of Veterans Day and is the last fee-free day of the year.
Why it matters
The fee waiver gives visitors across the United States a no-cost opportunity to visit federal recreation lands on a day tied to military service. It also marks the final fee-free day on the federal calendar for 2026.
The waiver covers National Park Service locations that normally charge admission and Bureau of Land Management recreation standard amenity and day-use fees on Nov. 11, 2026. Yellowstone was established as the world's first national park in 1872, and the U.S. Cavalry served as the first park rangers until the National Park Service was created 44 years later.
The players
National Park Service
The federal agency created in 1916 that manages the nation's national parks and monuments.
Bureau of Land Management
The federal agency that manages public lands, including recreation areas and conservation lands across the western United States.
The details
Visitors do not need to pay entrance or day-use fees at participating National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management sites on Nov. 11. Nearby participating locations include Death Valley, Zion, Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area and Red Cliffs Recreation Area.
Timeline
Nov. 11, 2026: National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management sites waive entrance and recreation fees.
Nov. 11 is the last fee-free day of the year.
Seasonal Patterns
The Nov. 11 waiver follows the pattern of fee-free days set in the federal calendar, which now runs back to the 1872 founding of Yellowstone as the world's first national park. Its placement on Veterans Day ties the park system to the military roles it took on during World War II and in commemorating battles.
Visitors planning a trip for Nov. 11 can enter participating federal sites without paying entrance or day-use fees. Those who want to confirm eligibility or pass details can review the National Park Service entrance pass criteria before arriving.
The takeaway
Nov. 11, 2026 offers a no-cost day to visit federal recreation lands across the country. Check whether your planned site participates before you travel.
Further reading
Explore more about National Parks for planning trips around the fee-free day.
More information
Review the National Park Service entrance pass qualifying criteria before your visit.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pahrump Valley Times.
