Fort McHenry fee-free days in 2026: the eight dates
The 2026 dates in full
- Presidents Day — Monday, February 16
- Memorial Day — Monday, May 25
- Flag Day — Sunday, June 14
- Independence Day weekend — July 3 to 5
- National Park Service Birthday — Tuesday, August 25
- Constitution Day — Thursday, September 17
- Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday — Tuesday, October 27
- Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11
What a fee-free day actually changes
Only one thing: the $15 adult charge for the star fort and outer battery is not collected. The grounds, the seawall, the visitor center and the film were already free, and under-16s already paid nothing, so for a family with young children a fee-free day may make no difference at all. Hours do not change either. Last entry is still 4:45 p.m. on weekdays and 5:45 p.m. at weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and the fort still closes 15 minutes before the park.
If a fee-free day is the only reason you are choosing a date, price the alternative first. A $45 annual pass covers the holder plus three adults for twelve months, and it works on any day you feel like going.
Worth planning around?
For one adult, a fee-free day saves $15. For two adults with children, $30. That is a real saving and I am not going to talk you out of it, but I would not build a trip round it if the weather or the diary says otherwise, because the park’s best free asset, the two hours between the grounds opening at 7:00 a.m. and the registers opening at 9:00, is available every single day. More on that in the best time to visit, and the full fee picture is on tickets and prices.
Booking around your dates in Baltimore
If your date is fixed by a fee-free day, the harbor cruise and the other Baltimore activities on this site run to their own schedules. None of it includes entry to the star fort. That is a National Park Service ticket, sold at the gate and nowhere else.
Frequently asked questions
When is Fort McHenry free in 2026?
Eight days: February 16, May 25, June 14, July 3 to 5, August 25, September 17, October 27 and November 11. On those days the star fort and outer battery are free for everyone.
Does a fee-free day change the opening hours?
No. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the grounds open at 7:00 a.m., last entry is 4:45 p.m. on weekdays and 5:45 p.m. at weekends, and the fort closes 15 minutes before the park.
Is the rest of the park free on other days?
Yes. The fee covers the star fort and outer battery inside a wooden fence. The rest of the 43-acre park, the visitor center and the film cost nothing on any day.