On Tuesday, the U.S. Interior Department announced that the National Park Service will begin charging international tourists $100 per person to enter select national parks, which are among the most visited in the country. Notably, these fee obligations will exclude fee-free days reserved for American citizens.
This new fee structure will affect 11 national parks, including renowned sites like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite, as stated by the Interior Department.
Starting January 1, foreign visitors will also see the price for their annual parks pass increase to $250, while U.S. residents will still pay $80, according to the department’s release.
Only about 100 of the more than 400 parks in the national park system charge an entrance fee.
The announcement regarding the “America-first entry fee policies” comes as national parks face challenges from significant staff reductions and budgetary constraints, alongside recovering from the recent government shutdown that caused lost revenue due to fees not being collected. During the shutdown, the park service furloughed over half its workforce.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in a post on the social platform X that these adjustments ensure U.S. taxpayers who fund the park service “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to the upkeep and enhancement of our parks for future generations!”
A White House social media message detailing the increased fees concluded with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.”
This announcement follows a July executive order from President Donald Trump instructing national parks to raise entry fees for foreign visitors.
At that time, Mr. Trump also mandated the Interior Department to ensure “preferential treatment” for U.S. residents over foreign visitors concerning “recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery criteria” that parks might apply.
In its budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026, released in May, the Interior Department projected that this surcharge on international tourists could yield over $90 million each year.
“There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement, including numerous questions about its implementation – all of which NPCA will address with the Department of Interior,” said Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association.
The U.S. Travel Association reported that in 2018, national parks and monuments welcomed over 14 million international visitors. Yellowstone recorded that in 2024, nearly 15% of its guests were from abroad, down from 30% in 2018.
Proceeds from the new fees will aid in supporting national parks, including improving visitor facilities and maintenance, according to the statement.
Next year’s “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” will include Veterans Day, which previously was one of the eight free days for all in 2025. The Department of the Interior expressed that they wish to ensure “everyone, regardless of their zip code, can access and appreciate the benefits of green spaces and our public lands.”
