Top U.S. destinations: national parks, cities and the ID you need

Facts last checked October 27, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. Rules, fees and advisories change; confirm with the official source before you book. Not a government website.

The United States has more big-name destinations than any one trip can cover. This guide focuses on what to sort out before you go: the ID you need at the airport, whether a passport card is worth getting, and the national park passes, fees and reservation systems in place for 2026.

REAL ID: what you need at the airport

REAL ID has been enforced at TSA checkpoints since May 7, 2025. Adults need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID (usually marked with a star) or another TSA-accepted document to fly within the U.S.

TSA's acceptable IDs include:

• a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID,
• a U.S. passport book,
• a U.S. passport card,
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST),
• U.S. military IDs, permanent resident cards and several others on TSA's list.

Expired ID: TSA currently accepts the listed IDs up to two years after expiration.

No acceptable ID? Since February 1, 2026, travelers without one can pay a $45 fee for TSA ConfirmID, after which TSA attempts to verify their identity. TSA suggests paying online before heading to the airport. Children under 18 traveling with an adult do not need ID for domestic flights, according to TSA; airlines may have their own rules.

The passport card: a cheap backup ID

The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized card issued by the State Department. Two things make it useful for U.S. travel:

1. It is a REAL ID-compliant ID for domestic flights. If your license is not REAL ID-compliant, or you do not want to carry your passport book, the card works at TSA checkpoints.
2. It works for land and sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda, according to CBP's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative rules. That covers a day trip to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, a drive into Mexico from San Diego, or a closed-loop cruise.

What it cannot do: the passport card is not valid for international air travel. If there is any chance you will fly abroad, you need a passport book.

Cost: for an adult applying for the first time, the card is much cheaper than a book; adults who already have a book can add a card. Check current numbers with our passport fee calculator, and see whether you can renew by mail or need to apply in person.

National parks: passes and fees in 2026

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites for 12 months. From the National Park Service:

The $100 non-resident fee: non-U.S. residents age 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person at Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass.

Free entrance days in 2026 apply to U.S. citizens and residents only. Passes cover entrance fees but not separate reservation fees, campsites or tours. You can buy a digital pass on Recreation.gov; mailed physical passes can take weeks to arrive.

Parks with reservations or timed entry in 2026

Reservation systems change every year. These are the rules the parks posted for 2026; always check the park's own site before you travel.

The big national parks

Grand Canyon

The South Rim is open year-round and is where most visitors go. The park says no reservations are needed to enter. Spring break and Memorial Day to Labor Day are busiest; the park suggests arriving before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. The North Rim is seasonal and much more remote. It reopened May 15, 2026, with limited services after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, so check what is open before planning a visit.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Yellowstone, mostly in Wyoming, is the world's first national park, famous for geysers and wildlife. Most park roads close to regular vehicles in winter. Stay on boardwalks in thermal areas, where the ground can be thin crust over scalding water, and keep the distances from wildlife that the park requires. Grand Teton sits just to the south and is easy to combine.

Zion and the Utah parks

Zion charges $20 to $35 for a standard entrance pass and has a shuttle system along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive for much of the year; check the park's site for current shuttle dates. Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches are within a day's drive, making southern Utah one of the best road trips in the West.

Acadia and the Everglades

Acadia, on the Maine coast, is busiest in summer and fall foliage season. The Everglades, in South Florida, is best in the dry season, roughly December to April, when mosquitoes are fewer; summer brings heat, storms and insects.

Cities

• New York City: see our first-trip guide.
• Washington, D.C.: the National Mall's monuments are outdoors and free to visit, and most Smithsonian museums charge no admission, though some popular exhibits use free timed passes. Tours of the White House and the Capitol have their own booking rules.
• Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas: all are easy to visit by air and public transport except Las Vegas, where most visitors drive or use rideshares.
• Hawaii and Alaska: U.S. citizens flying directly from the mainland do not need a passport. Driving to Alaska means crossing Canada, so bring a passport book or card.

Before you book: a quick checklist

1. Check every traveler's ID. Adults need REAL ID or an alternative like a passport card or book.
2. Check reservation windows. Some park reservations release on set dates and sell out quickly.
3. Buy passes in advance if you want a physical card; mailing takes time.
4. Check seasonal road openings. High-elevation roads in many western parks open late and close early.