The rule is simple and absolute: you cannot launch, land, or operate a drone in a U.S. National Park. The National Park Service banned it across the entire park system in 2014, and the ban covers recreational and commercial flights alike. The good news: plenty of other public land is open to drones, often just outside the park boundary. Here's the line, and where you can actually fly.
Key facts
- The ban
- No launching, landing, or operating drones in National Parks
- Authority
- NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 (2014), under 36 CFR 1.5
- Applies to
- Recreational AND commercial: all purposes
- Covers
- All lands and waters the National Park Service administers
- Exceptions
- Rare: only with explicit, case-by-case NPS approval
- Penalty
- Citation and fines; it's a violation of federal park regulations
- Often OK instead
- National Forests, BLM land, many state parks (verify each)
What exactly is prohibited
The ban comes from NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, which directed every park superintendent to prohibit drones using the authority in 36 CFR 1.5. It bars three specific acts on park lands and waters:
Launching a drone from anywhere inside the park.
Landing a drone anywhere inside the park.
Operating (controlling) a drone while it is over or within the park.
The airspace is still the FAA's
The NPS ban is a ground rule: it governs launching, landing, and operating on park land. The FAA still controls the airspace above. So you cannot dodge the ban by launching outside and flying in: operating over the park is itself prohibited, and FAA airspace rules apply on top.
Why the ban exists
The NPS pointed to real incidents: drones crashing into Yellowstone geysers, a drone lost over the edge of the Grand Canyon, attempts to land on Mount Rushmore, plus noise complaints, visitor-safety concerns, and wildlife harassment. The park-wide ban was the response.
Where you can fly instead
“National Park” is a specific designation; it does not cover all public land. Many other federal and state lands allow drones, and they're often right next to the park you wanted to shoot.
Usually allowed (verify each)
- National Forests (US Forest Service)
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land
- Many state parks and state forests
- US Army Corps of Engineers areas (varies)
Off-limits
- National Parks (all of them)
- National Monuments managed by NPS
- National Wildlife Refuges (generally banned)
- Wilderness Areas (generally banned)
Always check the specific land manager
Rules differ by agency and even by individual unit; some National Forests have local restrictions, and many state parks set their own. Confirm with the managing agency before you fly, and check the airspace too.
Tool
Can I fly here?
Check the airspace and land restrictions at a specific spot.
Related rule
Airspace
The FAA airspace rules that apply even outside park boundaries.
Sources
Rules current as of June 2026; verify at faa.gov/uas. Educational, not legal advice.