In most cases, no: you cannot fly a drone in a national park. The National Park Service (NPS) prohibits launching, landing or operating drones from or on the lands and waters it manages unless the park superintendent approves it in writing, and that approval is rarely available for recreational flying. The rule applies to hobbyists and Part 107 pilots alike, covers drones of every size, and a violation is a federal misdemeanor. National forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land are often good alternatives, as long as you stay out of designated wilderness and follow FAA airspace rules.
Below, we explain what the NPS rule covers, the penalties, which nearby public lands allow drones, how commercial permits work, and a checklist for your next park trip. It is general information based on current NPS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM and FAA guidance, not legal advice.
Why Drones Are Restricted in National Parks
The NPS treats drones as aircraft regardless of size or weight. In June 2014, Policy Memorandum 14-05 directed every superintendent to use the authority in 36 CFR 1.5 to close their park to launching, landing and operating uncrewed aircraft. That policy now lives in the NPS Reference Manual 60, Chapter 12 (updated September 2024), which requires each park’s compendium to include the closure.
According to the NPS, the restriction responds to noise and nuisance complaints, visitor safety concerns and incidents in which wildlife were harassed. The agency cites drones that crashed into geysers in Yellowstone, tried to land on Mount Rushmore and were lost over the edge of the Grand Canyon.
What the National Park Service Rule Covers
The standard compendium language prohibits launching, landing or operating an uncrewed or remotely piloted aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the NPS within the park’s boundaries, except as approved in writing by the superintendent. Grand Canyon National Park’s 2026 compendium, for example, uses this wording and notes that the park does not allow recreational drone use by the public.
It applies to every type of NPS unit
The closure is not limited to the famous national parks. It applies across NPS-managed units, including national monuments, seashores, lakeshores, recreation areas, historic sites, battlefields and parkways. If the NPS manages the land or water you are standing on, assume the closure applies and check that unit’s compendium on its official website.
Where NPS jurisdiction ends
The NPS states that its jurisdiction ends at the park boundary and that its policy does not change any FAA requirement for the airspace. Launching from private land or a national forest outside the boundary is therefore not covered by the NPS closure, but you remain responsible for FAA rules, and other federal laws, such as those on wildlife harassment, can still apply. The respectful and lowest-risk choice is to keep your flight outside the boundary and away from wildlife and visitors.
Penalties and Other Park Rules That Apply
According to the National Park Service, violating the drone closure is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Park rangers enforce the closure and have discretion to look at potential violations case by case. Other park regulations can also apply to a drone flight:
- 36 CFR 2.2: pursuing or harassing wildlife, or intentionally disturbing nesting, breeding or other activities.
- 36 CFR 2.34: disorderly conduct, including unreasonable noise or a hazardous condition that creates a risk of public alarm or nuisance.
- 36 CFR 2.12(a)(3): operating a device powered by a portable motor or engine in non-developed areas without a permit.
Many parks also contain designated wilderness, and the NPS permit guidance allows parks to bar drones from wilderness areas even when a special use permit is issued.
Where You Can Fly Instead: Other Federal Lands
Many national parks border land managed by other agencies, and the rules change at the boundary. The table summarizes what each agency says about recreational drone flights on its land.
| Land manager | Recreational drones | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service (parks, monuments, seashores, recreation areas) | Prohibited unless approved in writing by the superintendent | Park compendium closure under 36 CFR 1.5 |
| U.S. Forest Service (national forests and grasslands) | Generally allowed if you follow FAA recreational rules | No takeoff, landing or operation from designated wilderness (Wilderness Act; 36 CFR 261.18) |
| Bureau of Land Management | Generally allowed; check the local field office | No launching or landing in BLM wilderness (43 CFR 6302.20) |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (national wildlife refuges) | Prohibited | No unauthorized takeoff or landing, and no wildlife harassment (50 CFR 27.34 and 27.51) |
The Forest Service also asks pilots never to fly over or near a wildfire or prescribed fire, to stay out of temporary flight restrictions, and to launch more than 100 meters (328 feet) from wildlife. A BLM drone fact sheet for Utah notes that drones there must launch and land on designated routes under off-highway vehicle rules. The Fish and Wildlife Service warns that drone apps do not always show public lands where drones are prohibited, so confirm with the land manager. For trip ideas outside park boundaries, see our guide to the best places to fly drones in the U.S..
FAA Airspace Rules Still Apply Everywhere
Permission to launch from the ground is only half of the question. The FAA controls the airspace, so every flight must also meet federal aviation rules.
Recreational flyers
Hobbyists fly under the recreational exception in 49 U.S.C. 44809, summarized on the FAA’s Recreational Flyers page: pass the free TRUST test and carry proof, register and mark drones of 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more, broadcast Remote ID when registration is required, keep the drone in visual line of sight, stay at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and get LAANC or DroneZone authorization before entering controlled airspace.
Part 107 pilots
Any non-recreational flight, including selling photos or video, requires an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. The FAA requires you to be at least 16, pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center, and complete online recurrent training every 24 calendar months. Our in-person Part 107 test preparation covers the airspace and chart skills the test expects.
Security restrictions over national landmarks
Some NPS sites also sit under FAA drone flight restrictions issued under 14 CFR 99.7 for national security sensitive locations. These prohibit drone flights from the ground up to 400 feet above ground level, apply to every type of drone operation, and include landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. Check the FAA restriction maps, temporary flight restrictions and no-fly zones and restricted airspace before every flight.
Commercial and Permitted Flights in National Parks
Written approval is possible in limited cases, but it is not routine. Under Reference Manual 60, a special use permit that authorizes launching, landing or operating a drone must be approved in writing by the NPS Regional Director, after the superintendent decides the activity is appropriate for the park. Recreational use will not be approved under a special use permit, apart from model aircraft fields that a park identifies in its compendium and manages through a permit issued to a local model aircraft organization.
For filming and other commercial requests, the NPS permit guidance lists required conditions, including:
- An FAA Part 107 certificate, plus FAA approval for the operation before the NPS can issue the permit.
- Flights only within the designated areas named in the permit, with no reckless flying.
- No disturbance or harassment of wildlife and no interference with search and rescue, law enforcement or emergency operations.
- Visual line of sight with no visual aids, and no flying directly over people, vessels, vehicles or structures.
- Sufficient liability insurance, and prompt reporting of any accident or damage to the NPS.
Start by contacting the park’s special park uses office well ahead of your planned dates, and expect that some parks will decline.
A National Park Drone Checklist for Your Next Trip
- Look up who manages the land at your launch point: NPS, Forest Service, BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, state or private.
- If it is an NPS unit, read the compendium on the park’s website and leave the drone packed unless you hold written approval.
- Outside the park, confirm the area is not designated wilderness or a wildlife refuge.
- Carry your TRUST certificate or Remote Pilot Certificate, and confirm registration, marking and Remote ID.
- Check airspace, temporary flight restrictions, wildfire activity and FAA security restrictions near landmarks.
- Launch well away from wildlife, campgrounds, trailheads and visitor centers.
Training for Individual Drone Pilots
Drone Universities has trained drone pilots since 2014 and is based at 7222 Canoga Ave., Los Angeles, CA 91303. If you are new to flying or want hands-on coaching before a big trip, our drone flying lessons for individuals cover safe flight skills and airspace planning, and our instructors travel to you. To book, request training online or call 1.818.255.0406.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a national park if I have a Part 107 certificate?
Not on that basis alone. A Remote Pilot Certificate meets the FAA’s requirements, but launching, landing or operating on NPS land still requires written approval, which for commercial work usually means a special use permit approved by the Regional Director.
Do the rules apply to small drones under 250 grams?
Yes. The NPS treats drones as aircraft regardless of size or weight, so a drone that does not need FAA registration is still covered by the park closure.
Can I fly a drone from outside the park boundary?
NPS jurisdiction ends at the boundary, so launching from land outside the park is not covered by the NPS closure. You must still follow FAA rules and the land manager’s rules where you stand, and you should avoid disturbing wildlife or visitors inside the park.
Can I fly a drone in a national forest?
Generally yes, for recreation, if you follow FAA rules. Drones cannot take off from, land in or be operated from congressionally designated wilderness, and they must never be flown near wildfires or inside temporary flight restrictions.
What if I do not pass the Part 107 test after training?
If you do not pass the FAA Part 107 exam after completing our training, we will either refund your training fee or retrain you at no additional cost.
