US national parks

The national parks are the reason most visitors from abroad rent a car. Since January 2026 eleven of the busiest charge non-residents a $100 surcharge per person on top of the entrance fee, so each park below states what you pay, which months the roads and shuttles run, and which town to sleep in.

Prefer to see where they are? Our map of the US national parks shows all 64, state by state.

The Northeast

Acadia National Park

National park in Maine

Acadia National Park in 2026: the Cadillac Summit Road reservation, the sunrise claim, what visitors from abroad pay, the Loop Road, the free bus and the hikes.

The South

Big Bend National Park

National park in Texas

Big Bend National Park in 2026: the Chisos Basin open after the rebuild was cancelled, closed roads, the Boquillas crossing, heat, hikes, camping and fees.

Biscayne National Park

National park in Florida

Biscayne National Park in 2026: no entrance fee, islands reached only by boat, the Boca Chita lighthouse, tours from Convoy Point, dock fees, reefs and wrecks.

Congaree National Park

National park in South Carolina

Congaree National Park in 2026: free entry, the boardwalk rebuild, flood gauges, the firefly lottery, paddling Cedar Creek, campgrounds and the mosquito meter.

Dry Tortugas National Park

National park in Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park in 2026: ferry and seaplane fares from Key West, the $15 entrance fee, camping on Garden Key, the moat wall closure, snorkelling.

Everglades National Park

National park in Florida

Everglades National Park in 2026: three entrances that do not connect, the road to Flamingo, the Shark Valley tram, airboats, the $100 fee and the wet season.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National park in Tennessee, also in North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2026: no entrance fee but a parking tag, Newfound Gap Road and Kuwohi, Cades Cove, hikes, bears and autumn colour.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

National park in Texas

Guadalupe Mountains National Park in autumn 2026: the climb to the top of Texas, the $10 fee, McKittrick Canyon's hours, camping and the time-zone quirk.

Hot Springs National Park

National park in Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park in 2026: no entrance fee, the two bathhouses that sell a soak, Buckstaff's 2027 change, free 143°F jug water, the tower, camping.

Mammoth Cave National Park

National park in Kentucky

Mammoth Cave National Park in 2026: free entry but tours by ticket only, $12 to $79, 426 miles of cave, the winter schedule, Central Time and the ferry closure.

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

National park in West Virginia

New River Gorge National Park in 2026: free entry, Bridge Day 2027, the $79 Bridge Walk, Fayette Station Road, Endless Wall, rafting and the Cardinal train.

Shenandoah National Park

National park in Virginia

Shenandoah National Park in 2026: Skyline Drive's 105 miles, the $30 cashless car pass, the $2 Old Rag ticket, autumn colour and lodges closing in November.

The Midwest

Badlands National Park

National park in South Dakota

Badlands National Park in 2026: the $30 card-only fee, the Loop Road and Sage Creek, the Notch Trail closure, bison distances and where to sleep after October.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

National park in Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in late 2026: free entry, the scenic railroad after October, Brandywine Falls parking, the Towpath closure and the one inn.

Gateway Arch National Park

National park in Missouri

Gateway Arch National Park in 2026: no entrance fee, the $15 to $19 tram, hours, security, the Old Courthouse, riverboats and the airport MetroLink closures.

Indiana Dunes National Park

National park in Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Park in 2026: the $25 car fee with no gates, Mount Baldy's closed summit, beach car parks, the South Shore Line, Dunewood's last nights.

Isle Royale National Park

National park in Michigan

Isle Royale National Park after its 1 November closure: the 2027 ferry dates, the $7 daily fee, seaplane fares, camping permits, wolves and moose.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

National park in North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in late 2026: the 36-mile loop reopened, Painted Canyon shut for winter, $30 cards-only entry, two clocks, camping, routes.

Voyageurs National Park

National park in Minnesota

Voyageurs National Park in late 2026: no entrance fee, $50 to $85 ranger boat tours, Kettle Falls Hotel by water, houseboat permits, ice roads, the drive.

Wind Cave National Park

National park in South Dakota

Wind Cave National Park in 2026: free entry, cave tours from $6 by card only, the winter schedule, the elevators, boxwork, bison and the park's GPS warning.

The West

Arches National Park

National park in Utah

Arches without timed entry in 2026: the Delicate Arch hike, short arch walks, Fiery Furnace permits, Devils Garden camping, the heat and the $30 fee.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

National park in Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison in late 2026: roads open to mid-November, $30 a car and cashless, the 2025 fire's closures, the North Rim, permits, Montrose.

Bryce Canyon National Park

National park in Utah

Bryce Canyon's 18-mile rim road and shuttle, the trails among the hoodoos, snow and lightning by month, the night sky and what a visitor from abroad pays.

Canyonlands National Park

National park in Utah

Canyonlands' districts and the roads that do not join them, Mesa Arch and the Needles trails, day-use permits, NOAA's seasons and the 2026 entrance fee.

Capitol Reef National Park

National park in Utah

Capitol Reef roads after the October 2026 flood, as listed on 29 October, fruit picking in Fruita, trails, the $20 Scenic Drive fee and the drive from Bryce.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

National park in New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 2026: $15 a person plus a $1 timed entry, the elevator or the Natural Entrance, two ranger tours, the bats and El Paso.

Channel Islands National Park

National park in California

Channel Islands National Park in winter 2026: no entrance fee, $72 boats to Santa Cruz Island daily, other islands unconfirmed, $15 camping, Santa Rosa fire.

Crater Lake National Park

National park in Oregon

Crater Lake National Park in winter 2026: Rim Drive closed since 26 October, $20 a car from 1 November, no shore or boat access, snowshoe walks, routes.

Death Valley National Park

National park in California

Death Valley in 2026: entry costs from abroad, the roads closed by the October storm, first-day sights, the summer heat, fuel, water and where to sleep.

Denali National Park

National park in Alaska

Denali National Park in 2026: the 92-mile road and the Pretty Rocks bridge, bus prices and 2027 bookings, the $15 fee, bears, campgrounds, winter and the train.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

National park in Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park: no entrance fee and no road in, flights and ferries to Gustavus, the day boat's price and season, cruise ships, camping, winter.

Glacier National Park

National park in Montana

Glacier National Park in 2026: no vehicle reservations, the Going-to-the-Sun Road season, what visitors from abroad pay, the hikes, the lodges and the bears.

Grand Canyon National Park

National park in Arizona

South Rim or North Rim, the shuttle routes, which trails are open after the 2026 flood, the best months to go and what the gate charges a visitor from abroad.

Grand Teton National Park

National park in Wyoming

Grand Teton for visitors from abroad: why a Yellowstone ticket does not cover it, which roads close in winter, the classic viewpoints, the park lodges.

Great Basin National Park

National park in Nevada

Great Basin National Park in late 2026: no entrance fee, Lehman Caves tours after the lighting rebuild, the Wheeler Peak road closure, camping, Pacific Time.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

National park in Colorado

Great Sand Dunes in 2026: the $25 car fee and the cash question, Medano Creek in a dry year, hot sand, sandboard rentals outside the park, camping, Medano Pass.

Haleakalā National Park

National park in Hawaii

Haleakalā National Park in 2026: the $1 sunrise reservation, one $30 pass for both districts, summit cold, Sliding Sands, the Pīpīwai Trail and the drive.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

National park in Hawaii

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in 2026: Kīlauea's paused eruption, where to see the glow, Chain of Craters Road after the sea arch fell, trails, fees, lodging.

Joshua Tree National Park

National park in California

Joshua Tree in 2026: entry costs from abroad, the three entrances, the short walks, the summer heat, why to bring water and fuel, camping and the dark skies.

Katmai National Park and Preserve

National park in Alaska

Katmai National Park in 2026: no road and no entrance fee, flights to Brooks Camp, the bear months, the Brooks Lodge lottery, camping and Fat Bear Week.

Kenai Fjords National Park

National park in Alaska

Kenai Fjords National Park: no entrance fee, the Exit Glacier road closed for winter, 2027 boat-tour prices, the Coastal Classic train, cabins and trails.

Kobuk Valley National Park

National park in Alaska

Kobuk Valley National Park: no road, fee or campground, the air taxi from Kotzebue or Bettles, the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, caribou, the river float, weather.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

National park in Alaska

Lake Clark National Park: no road and no entrance fee, flight times to Port Alsworth, coastal bear viewing, Proenneke's cabin hours, cabins and weather.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

National park in California

Lassen Volcanic National Park in late 2026: when Highway 89 closes for snow, $30 card-only entry, Bumpass Hell's season, Manzanita Lake shut, routes in.

Mesa Verde National Park

National park in Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park after the 2026 tour season: Cliff Palace from the overlooks, $20 a car from 23 October, how tour tickets work, roads and weather.

Mount Rainier National Park

National park in Washington

Mount Rainier National Park in late 2026: the Longmire gate to Paradise, winter road closures and chains, fire and bridge closures, the inns, fees, routes.

North Cascades National Park

National park in Washington

North Cascades National Park in late 2026: no entrance fee, when SR 20 closes for winter, Diablo Lake Overlook, Stehekin by ferry after the flood, campgrounds.

Olympic National Park

National park in Washington

Olympic National Park in 2026: no road across it, the Hoh Rain Forest and its queues, Hurricane Ridge after the lodge fire, beaches and tides, lodges, fees.

Petrified Forest National Park

National park in Arizona

Petrified Forest National Park in 2026: a road open 8 to 5, cards only at the gate, the visitor centre shut, Route 66, the log trails and Holbrook as a base.

Pinnacles National Park

National park in California

Pinnacles National Park in late 2026: two sides with no road between them, $30 card-only entry, talus cave status, where to watch condors, camping, routes.

Redwood National and State Parks

National park in California

Redwood National and State Parks in 2026: no entrance fee, the Tall Trees and Fern Canyon reservations, winter roads, campgrounds, elk and the drive north.

Rocky Mountain National Park

National park in Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park in 2026: timed-entry permits, what visitors from abroad pay, Trail Ridge Road, the Bear Lake hikes and the elk rut.

Saguaro National Park

National park in Arizona

Saguaro National Park in 2026: two districts either side of Tucson, one $25 pass, cards only, the closed Bajada Loop, summer heat and when the cactus blooms.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

National park in California

Sequoia and Kings Canyon in 2026: the General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock, fees from abroad, the Generals Highway, Cedar Grove, lodges and the snow season.

White Sands National Park

National park in New Mexico

White Sands National Park in 2026: the $25 car fee, sunset closing times, missile-test closures, the Dunes Drive safety corridor, trails, sledding, no camping.

Yellowstone National Park

National park in Wyoming, also in Montana and Idaho

Yellowstone for visitors from abroad: the geysers and valleys worth the drive, which entrance to use, when the roads close, the fees, and the rules near bison.

Yosemite National Park

National park in California

Yosemite in 2026: no entry reservation, fees from abroad, the Valley, Glacier Point and Tioga Road, the shuttle, first hikes, waterfalls and where to sleep.

Zion National Park

National park in Utah

How the Zion Canyon shuttle works, which hikes need a permit, the months that are too hot or too busy, and what Zion costs a visitor from abroad in 2026.