Increases to national park visitor fees for non-residents of the US are due to come into force from 1 January 2026, in a move that promises to raise funds for park maintenance while protecting American family budgets. But critics fear the impact on the already struggling US tourism sector.
From 1 January, foreign tourists visiting 11 parks, including some of America’s best-loved natural attractions, will be asked to pay $250 (around €215) for an annual pass or $100 (around €86) per person. And that’s on top of any standard entry price. American residents, meanwhile, will enjoy the same access as before, as well as “patriotic fee-free” days for 2026, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans’ Day.
EFFECTIVE 1/1/26:
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 25, 2025
An annual National Parks/Federal Recreational Lands pass will remain $80 for Americans, but increase to $250 for nonresidents.
Nonresidents will pay a new $100/person fee (in addition to the usual entry fee) at 11 of the most visited Parks.
AMERICANS FIRST. pic.twitter.com/l8kYaz5vgA
The parks in question are Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park.
According to the National Parks website, all the affected parks already charge up $30 or $35 (€26-€30) for vehicle access, while, at the time of writing, only Yellowstone charges a per person fee of $20 (€17).
The decision to change the entry prices for foreign visitors is being billed by the Trump administration as putting American families first. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said: “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”
We’re making it easier & more affordable for Americans to experience the beauty & freedom of our public lands!
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) November 25, 2025
In 2026, we’re launching:
– America-first pricing 💵
– Digital passes 📱
– Patriotic pass designs 🇺🇸
– Expanded motorcycle access 🏍️
– 5 additional fee-free days 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/a2SvHNBdSP
The US is not the only country to charge different prices at various attractions for local visitors or national residents compared to foreign tourists. But amid questions over how the charge will be administered by staff whose numbers have already been cut 25%, some are also asking about the policy’s potential impact on a travel and tourism sector that has seen losses since President Trump took office, with many foreign visitors shunning the idea of a US vacation. That includes neighbouring Canadians and Mexicans who have been infuriated by Trump’s trade tariffs and rhetoric about annexation, as well as other visitors following a suite of official updates to travel advice from countries around the world, which have warned of difficulties at the US border.
It’s estimated that the $100 charge could generate $1 billion per year for park upkeep, according to Brian Yablonski of the Property and Environment Research Center, whose analysis indicates visitor numbers will only decline by around one percent in response to the fee.
Black Friday deals are IN!
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) November 28, 2025
This week, @Interior announced that in 2026, we are delivering a U.S. resident-focused fee structure for our national parks that puts Americans FIRST! pic.twitter.com/0WnNXn1lkz
But Gerry Seavo James, deputy director for Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign, said the introduction of the fee is a way of price “gouging” foreign tourists and represents just another attack on the park service, after job and budget cuts.
In addition, hospitality owners and tour operators at both Glacier and Yellowstone have questioned whether visitors will keep coming to the parks under the new regime or simply choose to spend their vacation money elsewhere. Mark Howser of the Whistling Swan Motel near Montana’s Glacier National Park has called the policy “a sure-fire way of discouraging people.”
But, despite the so-called “Trump Slump” and extended periods of federal shutdown affecting US tourism, defenders of the new park charges point out that the country’s national parks have welcomed record numbers of tourists since 2019, attracting 331 million people in 2024 – an 18% rise. As the price change is implemented, industry stakeholders will be watching next year’s figures closely.
