The National Park Service has announced significant changes to its list of days when entrance fees are waived at parks that normally charge for admission, removing two holidays tied to African American history and adding others, including a date that coincides with President Donald Trump’s birthday.
Under the new schedule set to take effect in 2026, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth will no longer be designated as fee-free days at National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee. Both had previously been included on the fee-free calendar — MLK Day for several years and Juneteenth more recently, after it became a federal holiday. WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm+1
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In their place, the agency has added a number of other dates aimed at celebrating patriotic occasions and historical milestones. Among the newly designated fee-free days is June 14, which is Flag Day and also falls on President Trump’s birthday. Other days on the list include Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Veterans Day. National Park Service+1
The revised calendar applies only to U.S. citizens and residents; visitors who are not American citizens or permanent residents will still be required to pay entrance fees on those dates under the updated fee structure. CBS News
National parks across the country — from Yosemite to the Lincoln Memorial — have historically offered free access on certain federal holidays and commemorations as a way to encourage public enjoyment of public lands. The removal of MLK Day and Juneteenth from that roster has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and lawmakers who view those holidays as meaningful markers of African American history and contributions to the nation. The Washington Informer
Supporters of the changes say the new lineup of “patriotic” fee-free days reflects a broader effort to modernize park access and prioritize celebrations of national heritage. Critics argue that eliminating fee-free entry on holidays honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the end of slavery sends the wrong message about whose history is valued at America’s parks.
