Dec 5, 2025 - Politics & Policy
National Parks are now free on Trump's birthday, but not on MLK Jr. Day or Juneteenth
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Free entry to National Parks will now be granted on President Trump's birthday but not on Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Juneteenth.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has almost entirely overhauled the list of free National Park days, favoring days that celebrate U.S. patriotism instead of traditional federal holidays.
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service and White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
State of play: The June 14 free day falls on both Trump's birthday and Flag Day.
- Veterans Day is the only free day that was carried into the list for 2026.
Context: Calendar changes were announced on Nov. 25 along with international tourist price hikes, which the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum called "America-first pricing."
- Beginning next year, free entrance on these days is only for U.S. citizens and residents. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and applicable nonresident fees.
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