2026 National Park Pass Changes, Digital Passes, New Nonresident Fees, and Fee-Free Days Explained

If you’re planning a 2026 park mission, the rules changed on January 1, 2026, and it can cost you extra if you show up unprepared. The National Park Service moved to a price-tiered annual pass, added a $100 per-person nonresident fee at select mega-parks, and tightened up fee-free days. The upside is that digital America the Beautiful passes are now real, which means fewer "forgot the pass at home" disasters and less line time, if you do it right.

What changed in 2026 (quick hit box)

• New annual pass pricing (effective Jan 1, 2026) The annual pass is $80 for U.S. citizens and residents, and $250 for nonresidents.

• New $100 nonresident fee This fee is charged per non-U.S. resident (age 16 and older) at 11 top-visited parks, on top of standard entrance fees, unless the nonresident has the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass.

• Fee-free days changed In 2026, fee-free days apply to U.S. residents only. Nonresidents still pay standard entrance fees and any applicable nonresident fees.

• Digital passes expanded America the Beautiful passes can be purchased and used digitally through Recreation.gov, with more pass types rolling out digitally.

• If you bought a pass in 2025 It is still honored under the original terms through its valid period, and it can cover nonresident fees for your party during that time.

Avoid surprise fees (read this before you hit the gate)

If you’re a non-U.S. resident and you’re headed for one of the big 11 parks, your cost can spike fast.

Do this instead.

• Know if your park is on the $100 list.

• Decide if you need the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass (often worth it with a group).

• Save your digital pass offline (screenshots plus wallet save) before you drop into dead-zone reception.

2026 pricing breakdown (U.S. resident vs nonresident)

Here’s the plain-English breakdown for the America the Beautiful Pass 2026 rules.

The annual pass price split is now resident vs nonresident, and the new $100 fee makes winging it at the big parks a bad strategy.

The $100 nonresident fee, who pays it and when

This is the change that’s catching people at the gate.

What it is

At 11 of the most visited national parks, each non-U.S. resident age 16 and older is charged a $100 nonresident fee, in addition to the standard entrance fee.

How to avoid it

Carry the $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass. If you have it, the NPS guidance makes clear the pass can cover the applicable fees for the passholder’s party under the pass’s standard coverage rules.

The 11 parks (as listed by NPS)

• Acadia

• Bryce Canyon

• Everglades

• Glacier

• Grand Canyon

• Grand Teton

• Rocky Mountain

• Sequoia and Kings Canyon

• Yellowstone

• Yosemite

• Zion

Commercial tours aren’t an escape hatch

If a nonresident enters these parks as part of a commercial tour (including concessioner tours and CUA groups), the nonresident fee still applies to the nonresident visitors.

Mission-ready tip If you’re doing a winter or spring road-trip loop (Grand Canyon to Zion to Bryce, or Yosemite in shoulder season), the $250 pass can be the cleanest way to keep your budget predictable, especially with multiple adults.

Fee-free days in 2026 (who qualifies now)

In 2026, fee-free days are no longer universal. They’re for U.S. residents only. Non-U.S. residents still pay standard entrance fees and any applicable nonresident fees unless they have the nonresident annual pass.

2026 resident-only fee-free dates (entrance fees waived for eligible U.S. residents)

• President’s Day February 16, 2026

• Memorial Day May 25, 2026

• Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday June 14, 2026

• Independence Day weekend July 3 to 5, 2026

• 110th Birthday of the National Park Service August 25, 2026

• Constitution Day September 17, 2026

• Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday October 27, 2026

• Veteran’s Day November 11, 2026

Fee-free days usually mean crowds. If you’re chasing quiet trails, sunrise tours, or winter road windows, sometimes paying the normal fee is the move.

How to buy and use digital passes (step-by-step)

Digital America the Beautiful passes are now part of the program, meaning you can purchase and use eligible passes through Recreation.gov, save them to your device, and show them at entry.

Step by step to get it done without fumbling at the gate

1. Create an account or log into your Recreation.gov account.

2. Choose the correct pass type (Resident Annual, Non-Resident Annual, Senior, Military, Access, and so on). More pass types are rolling out digitally starting January 2026.

3. Read eligibility language carefully during checkout (resident vs nonresident matters now).

4. Save the pass to your phone (mobile wallet if supported, plus an offline backup).

5. Screenshot the pass and confirmation before you enter dead service (common at winter gates and canyon corridors).

6. Bring photo ID. Passholders must show valid photo identification with the pass.

Cold-weather pro move, offline everything

Winter entry lines are where batteries die and reception disappears. Keep your pass saved to wallet (if available), screenshotted, and backed up on a second phone in the vehicle if you can.

FAQs

1) What are the 2026 national park pass changes?

Three big ones. Tiered annual pass pricing ($80 resident and $250 nonresident), a $100 per-person nonresident fee at 11 parks for nonresidents without the $250 pass, and fee-free days limited to U.S. residents.

2) Is the America the Beautiful pass digital in 2026?

Yes. Digital passes are available through Recreation.gov, and the rollout includes multiple America the Beautiful pass types becoming available digitally.

3) Which 11 parks have the $100 nonresident fee?

Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.

4) Do nonresidents pay the $100 fee if they have the $250 annual pass?

No. The $100 fee is aimed at nonresidents without an annual pass at those parks. The NPS also states that older valid passes and the pass’s coverage rules can apply to nonresident fees for the covered party during the pass validity window.

5) Are fee-free days only for U.S. residents in 2026?

Yes. Beginning in 2026, fee-free days apply only to U.S. residents, while non-U.S. residents pay entrance fees and applicable nonresident fees as normal.

6) What if I already bought an annual pass in 2025?

NPS says a valid annual pass purchased before January 1, 2026 is honored for its full valid period (12 months from purchase) under the original terms, and it can also cover nonresident fees for the covered party during that validity window.

7) How will residency be verified?

To purchase a Resident Annual Pass, you’ll need proof of U.S. citizenship or residency. NPS examples include a U.S. passport, state or territory-issued driver’s license or ID, or a permanent resident card. For digital passes, NPS says purchasers show photo ID at time of use, and ineligible purchasers may be asked to upgrade.
There’s also active public discussion about how ID checks might affect entry lines and how personal info is handled.

8) Can I use a digital pass if there’s no cell service?

Yes, because your goal is to save it to your device ahead of time (wallet plus screenshot). Treat it like a beacon in a storm. You don’t want it dependent on signal.

9) Do kids pay the $100 nonresident fee?

The nonresident fee applies to non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older.

10) Does the pass cover timed-entry reservations?

No. Passes cover entrance and day-use fees, but many parks still require separate timed-entry or reservation systems depending on season and congestion. Plan those early so your pass doesn’t become a useless piece of digital art.

11) Do commercial tour guests pay the nonresident fee?

If a nonresident is entering one of the 11 parks where the fee applies, even on a commercial tour, the nonresident fee is still applicable to the nonresident visitors.

12) Can I share my annual pass?

America the Beautiful passes are non-transferable, and passholders should expect to show photo ID with the pass.

Alpine Extreme mission checklist (winter and spring edition)

You’re not just planning a theme-park stroll. You’re planning a cold start, a long drive, and a short weather window. Here’s the checklist that keeps the mission clean.

Before you roll

• Correct pass type (Resident vs Non-Resident matters now).

• Digital pass saved offline (wallet plus screenshots).

• Photo ID ready in the glovebox, not buried under snacks.

• Know if your park is on the $100 list and budget accordingly.

• Timed-entry and reservations checked (if your park runs them).

Optional, but smart

• A printed backup of pass confirmation (especially for group travel)

• Backup phone battery or power bank

• A gate delay buffer in your schedule (weekends and fee-free days can stack lines fast)

If you want early drops on gear guides and seasonal kits, tap into Highline Club

Wrap-up

2026 park access is more modern, and more price-tiered. If you’re a U.S. resident, the move is simple. Get the $80 pass, go digital, and keep your proof tight. If you’re a nonresident planning big-name parks, decide early whether the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass is the cleanest way to avoid the $100 per-person surprise at the big 11. Save everything offline, bring ID, and treat entry like the first crux of the day. Smooth, fast, controlled.