National parks will be free to enter Tuesday, Oct. 27. What to know
National parks across the United States will be free to enter on Oct. 27, marking one of the last fee-free dates this year.
Free entry isn't limited to popular parks like Acadia and Yosemite , as every site in the National Park System that typically requires entrance passes will be open without an entrance fee, including the country's newest park, Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona. But camping, reservations, and special-use permits still apply during fee-free days, according to the park service .
Here is what park lovers should know.
Why are parks free on Oct. 27?
The date marks President Theodore Roosevelt 's birthday. Roosevelt, or "Teddy," was the 26th U.S. president and was popularly known as the "conservationist president," according to the National Park Service .
During his first administration, Roosevelt made "notable contributions to conservation," including establishing the U.S. Forest Service , adding more than 125 million acres to national forests, and establishing 51 bird sanctuaries. He is also credited with establishing 18 national monuments.
Which days can you get into national parks for free?
After Oct. 27, only one fee-free date remains this year: Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
The Trump administration in 2026 amended the fee-free dates, removing Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and adding President Donald Trump 's birthday, June 14, USA TODAY previously reported . The move was one of several NPS changes under an executive order, announced in July 2025, designed to " allow more Americans to visit national parks " and also cut back on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
At the time, NPS also announced an "America-first" initiative that, starting Jan. 1, would charge foreign tourists without an annual pass an additional $100 per person to enter the 11 most-visited national parks. Additionally, the free days will only apply to U.S. citizens and residents, according to the park service.
" These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System , continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release.
12 are free national parks: Not all parks charge for entry
Why aren't all national parks free year-round?
Some parks are free to enter year-round. Only a fraction of the 433 sites in the NPS System charge entrance fees, which helps pay for the parks' upkeep.
"At least 80 percent of funding from recreation fees stays in the park where it is collected, and the other 20 percent is used to benefit parks that do not collect fees or parks which generate only a small amount of revenue," according to the National Park Service's website.
Travelers can search the park service site for entry fees by park, though they are typically no more than $35 per vehicle.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National parks will be free to enter Tuesday, Oct. 27. What to know
