Drones in national parks and on other federal land
Four federal agencies manage most public land in the United States, and they do not agree about drones. The short version: parks and refuges no, forests mostly yes.
At a glance
- National parksClosed to drones
Launching, landing or operating a drone is prohibited in national parks, with rare exceptions by special use permit. The Park Service treats a violation as a misdemeanor that carries a fine of $5,000 and up to six months in jail.
- National forestsOpen, with limits
Recreational flights are generally possible under FAA rules. You may not take off from, land in or operate from a designated Wilderness Area, and you must stay out of temporary flight restrictions such as those around wildfires. Launch more than 100 meters (328 feet) from wildlife.
- Wildlife refugesClosed to drones
No. Launching, landing or disturbing wildlife with a drone on a national wildlife refuge is prohibited (50 CFR 27.34 and 27.51). The Fish and Wildlife Service warns that flight apps do not always show these closures.
- BLM landDepends on the spot
In BLM wilderness areas, launching or landing a drone is prohibited (43 CFR 6302.20). Elsewhere FAA rules apply and some monuments and recreation sites publish their own limits, so ask the local field office about the place you have in mind.
National parks
In June 2014 the director of the National Park Service issued Policy Memorandum 14-05. It directed every park superintendent to use the authority in 36 CFR 1.5 to prohibit launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft on land and water the Park Service manages. The agency says the memo is still in force, with a few exceptions.
In practice this covers the whole system — national parks, monuments, seashores, historic sites and parkways. Rangers handle possible violations case by case; the Park Service describes a violation as a misdemeanor that carries a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Other regulations can apply as well, including the ban on harassing wildlife (36 CFR 2.2).
Exceptions exist mainly for the agency’s own work — search and rescue, fire operations, scientific study — and for outside projects that receive a special use permit. Recreational flying is possible only where a superintendent has designated an area or issued a permit, which is rare.
Source: National Park Service — Uncrewed aircraft in the national parks (updated May 22, 2025). As of October 2026.
National forests and grasslands
The Forest Service does not ban recreational drones across its land. You follow the FAA rules, plus a few of the agency’s own:
- No wilderness take-offs. Drones count as motorized equipment and mechanical transport, so they cannot take off from, land in or be operated from a congressionally designated Wilderness Area. The agency also asks pilots not to fly over wilderness.
- No flights in temporary flight restrictions. Wildfires are the usual reason for one on forest land.
- Distance from wildlife. Launch more than 100 meters (328 feet) away and do not approach animals or birds vertically. Intentionally disturbing animals while they breed, nest or raise young is prohibited.
- Distance from people. Keep away from campgrounds, trailheads and visitor centers.
Source: USDA Forest Service — Recreational drone tips. As of October 2026.
National wildlife refuges
The Fish and Wildlife Service answers the question with a plain no: launching, landing or disturbing wildlife with a drone on a national wildlife refuge is prohibited under 50 CFR 27.34 and 27.51. The agency adds a practical warning — do not rely on flight apps alone, because they do not always show where drones are prohibited on public land. Questions go to the manager of the individual refuge.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — May I fly a drone on a national wildlife refuge?. As of October 2026.
Bureau of Land Management land
BLM manages more land than any other federal agency, most of it in the West. In BLM wilderness areas, launching or landing a drone is prohibited because drones are aircraft (43 CFR 6302.20). Outside wilderness there is no single nationwide page that settles the question; individual monuments and recreation sites publish their own fact sheets. Ask the field office that manages the area you want to visit.
Source: Bureau of Land Management — Permits and regulations. As of October 2026.
Flying over a park from outside its boundary
The Park Service notes that its jurisdiction ends at the park boundary and that its memo does not change any FAA requirement. A flight that starts outside is therefore an airspace matter under the FAA rules — line of sight, altitude, other aircraft. Disturbing wildlife or visitors inside the park can still have consequences under other regulations, and the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service both ask pilots to keep clear of sensitive areas.