Everything you need to know to plan a national park road trip

About the National Park Service

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, which established the National Park Service (NPS). Its goal is to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and … leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” 

The NPS now manages 63 national parks and hundreds of monuments, historic sites, seashores, scenic trails, riverways, and more across the U.S. and its territories. According to the NPS, there are more than 20,000 NPS employees who care for both the protected land and its visitors. 

Many of these employees are park rangers, who support programming at national parks, staff visitor centers, and offer guided tours. While programming varies by park, the Junior Ranger program and Every Kid Outdoors are nationwide programs. Local programs can be found on each park’s individual website by navigating to “Things To Do” in the “Plan Your Visit” menu.

All 63 U.S. National Parks

Cost for visiting National Parks

Each national park charges its own vehicle entry—usually around $30—or per-person fee, while a few parks offer free admission year-round. Entrance for children ages 16 and under is free.

National Parks with no entrance fees include:

• Biscayne National Park *(Parking or shuttle fees may apply.)
• Channel Islands National Park
• Congaree National Park
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve
• Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
• Great Basin National Park
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park *(Parking or shuttle fees may apply.)
• Hot Springs National Park
• Katmai National Park & Preserve
• Kenai Fjords National Park
• Kobuk Valley National Park
• Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
• Mammoth Cave National Park
• New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
• North Cascades National Park *(Parking or shuttle fees may apply.)
• Voyageurs National Park
• Wind Cave National Park
• Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve *(Parking or shuttle fees may apply.)

2026 Free Entrance Days:

• Presidents Day (February 16)
• Memorial Day (May 25)
• Flag Day (June 14)
• Independence Day Weekend (July 3-5)
• National Park Service 110th Birthday (August 25)
• Constitution Day (September 17)
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday (October 27)
• Veterans Day (November 11)

Starting in 2026, free admission on these days will be available to U.S. citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay the standard entrance fee, plus any applicable nonresident fees.

>>RELATED: Everything you need to know about your 2026 National Park visit

Planning to visit multiple National Parks?

Consider the America the Beautiful Pass to save money on entrance fees to National Parks, National Forests, and other Federal Lands. The pass costs just $80 for U.S. citizens and residents.

Tickets and Reservations at National Parks

In recent years, national parks have experienced a record number of visitors. This has led some parks to require advance reservations for timed entry or certain activities, including shuttles and hikes. To avoid any disappointment, do your research ahead of your visit. Each individual park’s website will have information on whether tickets are required, and many reservations can be made on Recreation.gov. Popular parks with advance ticketing for some or all areas include Acadia, Arches, Glacier, Yosemite, and Zion.

Discounts and passes at national parks

Frequent national park visitors can save big on entrance fees by purchasing an annual America the Beautiful Pass, which is valid at areas managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

The pass costs $80 and covers entrance for up to four adults traveling in the same vehicle. Passes expire 12 months from the month of purchase on the last day of the month. The pass can be ordered online or purchased in person at these federal recreation sites.

All current U.S. military members and dependents as well as veterans and Gold Star Family members receive free entrance to all parks through a special military pass. Seniors are able to purchase a discounted lifetime or annual senior pass. Those with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; volunteers with a certain number of service hours are eligible for free annual passes. Children who are in fourth grade receive free access for their families for a full year (September through August) through the Every Kid Outdoors program. More information on all these passes can be found here.