When Are the Next Free Days at Zion? Quick Answer
There are two fee-free days left at Zion National Park in 2026: Tuesday, October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday, and Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day. On those days the entrance fee is waived at every National Park Service site that charges one, including Zion and Bryce Canyon.
There's a catch that's new this year. Beginning in 2026, the Park Service says free entrance days apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Visitors who live outside the U.S. pay the regular entrance fee on those days, plus a new $100 per-person nonresident fee that Zion and 10 other national parks have charged since January 1, 2026. And a free day only covers the entrance fee. Permits, such as the one for Angels Landing, and campsite reservations still cost money.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Next fee-free days | Tue, Oct 27 (Theodore Roosevelt's birthday); Wed, Nov 11 (Veterans Day) |
| Who gets in free | U.S. citizens and permanent residents only |
| Regular Zion entrance | $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or bike (7 days) |
| Nonresident fee | $100 per person age 16+, on top of the entrance fee, unless covered by an annual pass |
| Zion annual pass | $70 (U.S. citizens and residents) |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | $80 for residents; $250 for nonresidents |
| Free passes | Military (current), Military Lifetime (veterans, Gold Star Families), Access, 4th Grade, Volunteer |
Which Days Are Fee-Free in 2026?
The same eight dates appear on the Park Service's fee-free page and on Zion's fee page. Six have already passed.
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| Feb 16 | Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday) |
| May 25 | Memorial Day |
| June 14 | Flag Day/President Trump's birthday |
| July 3–5 | Independence Day weekend |
| Aug 25 | 110th birthday of the National Park Service |
| Sept 17 | Constitution Day |
| Oct 27 | Theodore Roosevelt's birthday |
| Nov 11 | Veterans Day |
What Does Zion Cost on a Regular Day?
Zion's standard entrance passes are good for seven days. The park prefers card payment but also takes cash.
| Pass | Price | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $35 | One vehicle (15 passengers or fewer) and everyone in it |
| Motorcycle | $30 | Up to 2 motorcycles and 4 total passengers |
| Per person | $20 | Visitors on foot or bicycle, or without a vehicle; youth 15 and under free |
| Zion annual pass | $70 | Zion only, 12 months from the month of purchase; U.S. citizens and residents |
Which Passes Make Sense for Southern Utah Residents?
If you live in St. George and drive into Zion two or more times a year, the $70 Zion annual pass costs the same as or less than paying $35 at the gate each time. If you also visit Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon or other federal sites, the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers all of them. These are the current America the Beautiful prices listed by the Park Service:
| Pass | Price | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual | $80 | U.S. citizens and residents |
| Non-Resident Annual | $250 | People who live outside the U.S. |
| Senior Annual | $20 | U.S. citizens and residents 62 and older |
| Senior Lifetime | $80 | U.S. citizens and residents 62 and older |
| Military Annual | Free | Current U.S. military members and their dependents |
| Military Lifetime | Free | Veterans and Gold Star Family members |
| Access | Free | U.S. citizens and residents with a permanent disability |
| 4th Grade | Free | U.S. fourth graders |
| Volunteer | Free | Volunteers with 250 service hours at federal recreation sites |
Zion's fee page notes that passes are non-refundable and non-transferable and that pass holders must show photo ID. For veterans, the free lifetime pass means every day is a free day, not just November 11. Our Southern Utah veterans guide lists other local resources.
What Is the $100 Nonresident Fee?
The Interior Department announced it on November 25, 2025, along with the new pass prices, effective January 1, 2026. Secretary Doug Burgum said the change means U.S. taxpayers "continue to enjoy affordable access." The Park Service lists 11 parks where nonresidents 16 and older pay $100 each on top of the standard entrance fee: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
- Who pays it: non-U.S. residents age 16 and older, including people on commercial tours.
- How to avoid it: the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass covers the entrance fee and nonresident fees for the pass holder and passengers in one private vehicle (up to 15), or two motorcycles, or the pass holder plus three adults where fees are charged per person.
- Proof of residency: for resident passes, the Park Service accepts a U.S. passport, a U.S. government-issued driver's license or state ID, or a Permanent Resident card.
For a family of four adults visiting from Europe in one car, a single day at Zion now costs $435 at the gate ($35 plus four $100 fees), or $250 for the Non-Resident Annual Pass, which also covers Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon. Our Zion fees and passes page has more on buying passes.
Does Bryce Canyon Work the Same Way?
Yes. Bryce Canyon's fee page lists the same prices as Zion: $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person and a $70 park annual pass. It also lists the $100 nonresident fee and the same eight fee-free days for U.S. citizens and residents. Bryce Canyon is about two hours from St. George.
Cedar Breaks National Monument also lists October 27 and November 11 as fee-free days. Its regular fees are lower, $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle and $15 per person, and the monument doesn't take cash. It is not on the nonresident-fee list.
Tips for a Free Day at Zion
- The shuttle is running on both days. From October 25 through November 28, the first Zion Canyon shuttle leaves the visitor center at 7 a.m. and the last one leaves at 5 p.m. Private cars aren't allowed on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive while shuttles run. See our Zion shuttle schedule guide.
- Arrive early. The park says parking fills early year-round. When it's full, park in Springdale and ride the Springdale Line to the pedestrian entrance.
- Permits still apply. Hiking Angels Landing still requires a permit on fee-free days.
Planning more park trips? Our national parks guide covers the other parks within a drive of St. George.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next free day at Zion National Park?
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. The last fee-free day of 2026 is Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day. Both apply only to U.S. citizens and residents.
Do international visitors get in free on fee-free days?
No. Starting in 2026, the National Park Service says free entrance days apply only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Nonresidents pay the regular entrance fee and, at Zion and 10 other parks, the $100 nonresident fee.
How much does it cost to get into Zion in 2026?
$35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorcycle and $20 per person on foot or bicycle, each good for 7 days. Youth 15 and under get in free. Non-U.S. residents 16 and older also pay $100 each unless they have an annual pass.
Do veterans get into Zion free?
Yes, with a pass. The America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass is free for veterans and Gold Star Family members, and the Military Annual Pass is free for current U.S. military members and their dependents. Veterans Day, November 11, is also a fee-free day for all U.S. citizens and residents.
Does a fee-free day cover Angels Landing permits or camping?
No. The Park Service says other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may still apply. Only the entrance fee is waived.
Sources: Zion National Park: Fees & Passes; National Park Service: Fee Free Days; National Park Service: Entrance Passes; National Park Service: Nonresident Fees; U.S. Department of the Interior, November 25, 2025 news release; Bryce Canyon National Park: Fees; Cedar Breaks National Monument: Fees; Zion National Park shuttle schedule release, February 6, 2026.
Last updated October 12, 2026. Fees can change; check the park's fee page before you go.
