Planning guide
US national park fees & permits in 2026
By The US Hikers editorial team · Last verified July 5, 2026
Two different costs catch hikers out: the fee to enter the park, and the separate permit or reservation some trails and busy parks now require. Here’s how both work in 2026, with the official pages to confirm current numbers before you go.
Entrance fees & passes
| Pass / fee | 2026 cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| America the Beautiful — Annual Pass | $80 | Covers entrance to all national parks and federal recreation sites for a year, for the pass holder plus passengers in one vehicle. |
| Per-vehicle entrance (typical major park) | $20–$35 | Most large parks charge a 7-day per-vehicle fee. A few sites are free; check the specific park. |
| Senior (Lifetime) | $80 | US citizens/residents 62+ — lifetime access; a $20 annual senior option also exists. |
| Military, 4th-grade & access passes | Free | Free passes exist for current military, veterans, Gold Star families, US 4th-graders and citizens with permanent disabilities. |
Timed-entry reservations
Several high-demand parks — including Arches, Rocky Mountain, Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road and others — require a timed-entry reservation to drive in during the busy season, booked on recreation.gov. This is separate from the entrance fee and from any trail permit. Dates and hours change each year, so confirm on the park’s official page.
Permit-only trails
A handful of iconic hikes are permit-controlled by lottery, independent of park entry:
- Angels Landing (Zion) — summit permit via recreation.gov lottery.
- Half Dome (Yosemite) — cables permit via preseason and daily lottery.
- The Wave (Coyote Buttes North, Arizona/Utah) — highly competitive daily and advance lottery.
How to budget
If you’ll visit three or more parks in a year, the $80 America the Beautiful pass usually pays for itself. Then budget separately for any timed-entry reservation (a few dollars) and factor lottery odds for permit-only trails into your dates — those can’t be bought on demand.
Official sources
Primary sources only for facts that change (fees, permits, closures): nps.gov, fs.usda.gov and official recreation.gov permit pages. We stamp every guide with a "last verified" date and re-check seasonal figures each year.