National Park Pass Calculator 2026: Annual Pass or Pay at the Gate?

How the calculation works

For each park you choose, the calculator looks up the 2026 standard entrance fee from that park's Fees & Passes page on nps.gov:

• Private vehicle: one fee covers everyone in a private, non-commercial vehicle.
• Motorcycle: a lower fee per motorcycle.
• On foot or bicycle: a per-person fee for each person 16 and over.

A standard pass is valid for up to 7 days at most parks, so the calculator counts one standard pass per visit. Rocky Mountain also sells 1-day passes; we use its 7-day price.

It then compares the total with:

• America the Beautiful annual pass: $80 for US citizens and residents, $250 for nonresidents, per the NPS Entrance Passes page.
• A park's own annual pass, when all your visits are to one park or one park group (for example Arches and Canyonlands share the Southeast Utah Parks pass). Shown for US residents only, since some park passes are limited to them.

2026 fees at the parks in the calculator

All 24 parks are in the calculator. Glacier charges lower winter rates from November 1 to April 30 ($25 per vehicle), Crater Lake from November 1 to May 21 ($20) and Lassen Volcanic from December 1 to April 15 ($10).

The nonresident fee

Since January 1, 2026, nonresidents aged 16 and over pay a $100 fee per person, on top of the entrance fee, at 11 parks: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. An annual or America the Beautiful pass covers it for the pass holder and passengers in a private vehicle. Details in our nonresident fee guide.

Discounted and free passes

If you're a US citizen or resident, check whether you qualify for one of these before buying a full-price pass (all from the NPS):

• Senior Annual Pass ($20) or Senior Lifetime Pass ($80) for ages 62 and older.
• Military Annual Pass (free) for current US military and dependents; Military Lifetime Pass (free) for veterans and Gold Star families.
• Access Pass (free) for US residents with a permanent disability.
• 4th Grade Pass (free) for US 4th graders.

What passes don't cover

• Parking tags at Great Smoky Mountains. The park has no entrance fee, but a tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) is required to park more than 15 minutes. The NPS says America the Beautiful passes aren't accepted in place of it.
• Timed entry and reservations, which the NPS notes may carry their own fees.
• Camping, tours and concession services. The Senior Pass may give a 50% discount on some amenity fees such as camping.

Before you buy

Fees can change. Check the park's own Fees & Passes page, linked from Entrance Fees by Park, and read our America the Beautiful pass guide for how to buy in person, by mail or as a digital pass.

Common questions

How many parks do I need to visit for the annual pass to pay off?

For US residents in a car, three visits to parks charging $30 to $35 already cost $90 to $105, more than the $80 pass. Two $35 visits ($70) don't. For nonresidents visiting any of the 11 parks with the $100 fee, the $250 pass often pays off on the first or second park.

Does the annual pass cover everyone in my car?

Yes. At parks that charge per vehicle, an America the Beautiful pass covers the pass holder and passengers in a private vehicle. Where fees are per person, it covers the pass holder plus three other adults; children under 16 are free.

Does the pass cover timed entry or reservations?

No. The NPS notes that other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may still apply.

Can nonresidents buy the $80 pass?

The NPS lists the $80 Resident Annual Pass for US citizens and residents and the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass for non-US residents. The USGS Store notes anyone can buy the nonresident pass.