Helllloooo, my lovely elopers! As your adventure elopement guide, I’m coming to you hot off the press on how the National Park rules 2026 affect your elopement. Where to go, what to know, and breaking down all the headline delusions. 

National Park Rules 2026 & America the Beautiful passes

According to the Department of Interior: Under the new system, the America the Beautiful passes – including Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, and Access – will be available in a fully digital format through Recreation.gov. Visitors will be able to purchase and use their passes instantly, store them on mobile devices, and link them to physical cards for added convenience. Digital validation tools and updated training for field staff will ensure faster entry and a smoother visitor experience across the National Park System. 

We are definitely pro mobile access, but we also love having a physical card. You do you.

National Park Pass Cost

The Annual Pass costs $80 for  U.S. residents. While the headlines make it sound new, the cost has been the same since 2017. What has changed is that this used to be the cost for everyone, and now it’s exclusively for U.S. residents. Non-residents will now pay $250 for the annual pass. 

If you’re eloping in America from a different country, let’s talk. An annual pass may not make sense for you, and the daily per-person fee of $100 may be your better option. 

National Park Rules 2026, Should You Elope on a Holiday?

Starting in 2026, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that there will be resident-only patriotic fee-free days for 2026: 

• President’s Day (February 16, 2026)
• Memorial Day (May 25, 2026)
• Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday (June 14, 2026)
• Independence Day weekend (July 3–5, 2026)
• 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25, 2026)
• Constitution Day (Sept. 17, 2026)
• Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27, 2026)
• Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2026) 

These are almost entirely different from the six “entrance fee free” days from 2025. The only consistency is Veterans’ Day. I would assume the dates listed above will hold through 2030 under the current administration. 

You can elope whenever the hell you want, we’re big on that! But I will caution, if you’re looking googly-eyed at the free days plus possible paid Holiday, so is everyone else. The parks will be crowded these days, which will make it harder to find a secluded spot for your elopement ceremony, and you’ll be fighting against driving traffic and people traffic, and if you’re staying nearby, those costs will be hiked up. Now, if this is your DREAM, let’s do it! I’ll be up early with a headlight and a gallon of coffee for you! But I can guarantee this won’t be a cost saver. Do it because you love the date!

Choosing a National Park

There are 63 national parks in the United States. If you’re looking for the top national parks for eloping, we have you covered with some of the best places and what to be on the lookout for. 

The Grand Teton National Park Rules 2026 Affect Your Elopement

The most common question I get for The Grand Teton is whether wed there or go to Yellowstone. Grand Teton’s rugged mountains offer beautiful valleys, lakes, and rivers, making it a fantastic place to hike, ride a bike, kayak, fish, and GET MARRIED!  When I get to know you and your honey, I’ll do extensive location-matching. There are so many great areas on that route! I orchestrated an epic proposal at Grand Teton. I also have to shout out the town at the base. Downtown Jackson Hole is so romantic, and it feels like an old-timey place. Cue Taylor Swift’s vault track – Timeless! It’s a next level special, a perfect place to be after an elopement.

2026 Update: Renewing Life at Mormon Row

The historic homesteads of Mormon Row constitute one of the best representations of an early 20th century farming community within the National Park system. Over the past 25 years, various planning efforts have occurred to maintain Mormon Row’s historic integrity and make improvements to the visitor experience.

Mormon Row Project | Grand Teton National Park Foundation
In 2026, Mormon Row will be undergoing site improvements! These will improve the experience and address parking, safety, and accessibility. If you’re planning to elope at Grand Teteton, we’ll keep this in mind and check your dates to make sure there are no conflicts to see what you want!

Proposal in Grand Teton

Elope at Yellowstone and National Park Rules 2026

Just across the Montana border is Yellowstone in Wyoming, and daaaamnnnn is it something to see. 

Hayden Valley, centrally located in Yellowstone National Park, is the first place to go to see wildlife. As you drive along this beautiful, broad valley, you are likely to see herds of bison, scattered elk (and the occasional herd), and the occasional grizzly bear. You are also likely to see waterfowl, including ducks, Canada geese, and pelicans, swimming in or lounging near the Yellowstone River.

Elope at Yellowstone National Park

There are a ton of great spots for your ceremony when you elope at Yellowstone National Park. For our last Yellowstone couple, we put together a 56 page guide for them. If you know in your bones that this is where you want to go, let’s get started.

Contact Kelsey

2026 Update: Yellowstone River Bridge

The Yellowstone River Bridge project started in 2022 and is estimated to be completed by the end of 2026. Huzzah! This project replaces the 1963 Yellowstone River Bridge near Tower Junction, relocates the junction, and modernizes 3.5 miles of roadway, pullouts, and ancillary facilities. 

The new bridge is being built upstream of the existing bridge on a brand-new alignment. The existing bridge is approximately 604 feet long and 70 feet high. The new bridge will be 1,175 feet long and 162 feet high. Other project highlights include the construction of the new Yellowstone River Overlook Trailhead Parking Area and the expansion of the Yellowstone River Picnic Area. 

Investing in Infrastructure – Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Utah National Parks

Moab, moab, moab. There are so many options for a Moab elopement!! It’s giving rugged red rocks, desert sunsets, and just enough wind to keep you from sweating your extensions out. We had a Moab elopement with dirt bikes, which was not your average “kiss under a tree and call it a day” vibe. No no. This was an adventure elopement with a capital A—and it hit every mark. Honestly, the forecast pulled through like an emotional support bestie. It was supposed to be hot-as-balls, but instead we got 70s, sunny, and breezy. Freakin’ perfect.

Moab Elopement with Dirt Bikes – EPIC wedding day!

Another option is to CAMP for a week in Utah! We did this a few years ago and our couple LOVED the Sand Flats Recreational Area. The rocks are out of this world and totally made us think we had stepped off the rocket on Mars. We found lots of living soil at Juniper Trail, and we were trying not to step on it so we didn’t disrupt the fragile ecosystem happening there. A bonus? It’s dog-friendly!!!

Moab Elopement at Sand Flats

2026 Update: Grand View Point Construction

In 2026, Canyonlands, near Moab, will complete Phase Two of a multi-year reconfiguration of the Grand View Point parking lot to improve visitor access and vehicle and pedestrian safety. Visitation to Canyonlands has increased by over 200% since the 1990s, with nearly half a million annual visitors. This parking lot is overfull most days, with 40-50 cars routinely parked along the roadside, contributing to road edge deterioration and damaging native plants and soils. Large vehicles parked this way sometimes prevent emergency vehicles from completing the one-way driving loop, delaying the arrival of rescue personnel.

To minimize the impact on park visitors, work will be done on weekdays only during July–September 2026, when visitation traditionally slows down. 

Grand View Point Construction – Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Arches National Park

Are you looking to elope with jaw-dropping views around you? Look no further than Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Waterfalls, canyons, ARCHES, mountains, lakes, and cliffs provide a gorgeous and memorable location to marry that sweet partner of yours! Moab is one of our favorite places to visit, explore, and share with our couples – we’re full of ideas if you need any help navigating ALL of your how to elope in Arches National Park questions!

Arches National Park Elopement

Dubbed a “red-rock wonderland,” Arches National Park has the highest concentration of natural stone arches found anywhere in the world – over 2,000! If you’re like us and nerd out on how these Arches are formed, check this out. The Arches are also the most visited area in Moab, so try to plan for a weekday elopement and arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to find space for your ceremony. Make sure to leave the Arches (and all of Moab!) the way you found it – avoid scrambling, walking, or standing upon, or rappelling off any arch in the park.

2026 POSSIBLE Update: Timed entry tickets 

In an interesting turn of events, as of this blog on December 7, 2025, there has been NO update on continuing the timed entry ticket. In 2025, Reaction.Gov released tickets on a first-come, first-served basis up to six (6) months in advance. Currently, the calendar is not open past December 2025. As reservations last year opened on January 2nd, we’re going to keep tabs on this.

Legally Elope in a National Park

While you may need a special-use permit or something similar, depending on the national park, eloping in a national park is no different from eloping anywhere else. Eloping is a legal marriage in the US. You will need to obtain your marriage license and complete the application.

Some couples ask what are the rules of eloping? Aside from making it legal (if that’s what you want to do), there are no hard and fast rules, which is why eloping is so much fun! You will do it, your way. Now, I say making it legal, but I have also had couples who want a symbolic elopemen,t which we can do as well. 

Let’s Get This National Park Party Started

Whether you’re looking for a two-day elopement experience (think: two 8 hour days of documentation, or mix it up and do a 12 hour day and a 4 hour day), a full day elopement experience (up to 12 hours of coverage), an 8-hour elopement experience, or a partial day elopement experience (up to 4 hours of coverage), we can’t wait to plan your dream national park elopement experience. Reach out today and let’s dream together!