National Parks Free Entry September 17, 2026: Reservations and Extra Fees to Check
Photo: Elijah Cobb / Pexels
See which September 17 park costs may remain after eligible visitors receive free entrance, from timed entry to trail tickets.
September 17, 2026, is a National Park Service fee-free day for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, but it does not make every part of a park visit free. Non-U.S.
residents generally still pay normal entrance and applicable nonresident fees unless they have the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass. The entrance-fee waiver applies for Constitution Day. It does not erase timed-entry reservations, parking or shuttle charges, campground bookings, permits, or other activity-specific costs.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on September 13, 2026.
Who receives free entrance?
The National Park Service says the September 17 entrance-fee waiver is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Bring the identification a park may need to confirm eligibility before relying on the waiver.
National Park Service's fee-free-day and pass guidance Non-U.S. residents should budget for standard entrance charges that day. At Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia–Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion, visitors age 16 and older may also owe a $100 nonresident fee unless covered by an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass.
Free entrance is not a reservation
An entrance fee is what you pay to enter a park. Timed entry is a separate reservation system that controls when vehicles may arrive, and its processing charge can remain in place even on a fee-free date. Before leaving, check the park's own visitor-planning page for: The National Park Service specifically warns that timed-entry and reservation charges may still apply on fee-free days.
National Park Service's visitor-pass guidance
- Timed-entry requirements and arrival windows
- Parking, shuttle, or road-access reservations
- Trail, wilderness, or climbing permits
- Campground reservations and their separate charges
- Whether each traveler or only the vehicle needs a reservation
Rocky Mountain has two timed-entry options
Rocky Mountain National Park requires timed-entry reservations for most vehicle arrivals on September 17. The standard timed-entry reservation covers arrivals from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A Bear Lake Road reservation is required for arrivals from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each reservation carries a nonrefundable $2 processing fee, separate from entrance admission.
Rocky Mountain National Park's timed-entry details Choose the reservation based on where you plan to drive. A free entrance day does not replace either reservation.
Trail, shuttle, and parking costs can remain
At Shenandoah, every Old Rag hiker needs a $2 advance day-use ticket for September 17. The ticket is separate from entrance admission, does not guarantee parking, and the main trailhead lot is closed during a 2026 construction project. Shenandoah National Park's Old Rag FAQ Muir Woods requires a parking or shuttle reservation for every vehicle visitor or shuttle rider.
That reservation fee remains due even on national entrance-fee-free days. Glacier has no vehicle-reservation requirement in 2026, but the Logan Pass shuttle requires an advance $1 ticket. Riders also need park admission or a park pass; eligible visitors may have the entrance portion waived on September 17.
Glacier National Park's Logan Pass shuttle FAQ
Zion visitors should separate entry from activities
Eligible Zion visitors can receive the September 17 entrance-fee waiver. That does not cover paid permits for Angels Landing or certain wilderness activities, and campgrounds still require reservations. Plan the trip in layers: confirm entrance eligibility first, then reserve the specific road, shuttle, trail, permit, or campsite your itinerary needs.
This avoids treating "free entry" as a full-day cost estimate.