On November 25, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced several dramatic changes to the National Park System (NPS) . Many of the changes have proven controversial, including the legally questionable decision to feature President Trump's face on the America the Beautiful annual pass .

A majority of changes involved entrance fees to national parks. The press release outlined new fees for international visitors (fees for U.S. citizens will remain the same). It also announced new fee-free entry days for U.S. tourists .

On paper, the additional days may seem exciting to U.S. residents preparing to visit national parks in 2026, but the decision to make Independence Day weekend fee-free could come with a $20 million price tag for NPS.

A Fee-Free Independence Day Weekend May Be C

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