The National Park Service (NPS) will begin charging international visitors $100 per person to enter 11 popular national parks starting Jan. 1, while maintaining current fee structures for U.S. residents.
The move is aimed at offsetting revenue losses and funding park maintenance, as federal officials prioritize affordable access for American taxpayers.
The U.S. Travel Association estimated that more than 14 million international tourists visited national parks and monuments in 2018. Yellowstone reported that 15% of its visitors in 2024 were from outside the country, down from 30% in 2018.
The fee increase will affect parks including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite, according to a statement from the Department of the Interior.
International visitors’ annual parks pass will also rise to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to pay $80.
Only about 100 of the more than 400 parks in the national park system currently collect entrance fees.
According to an article published by CBS News on November 25, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on X that the policy ensures U.S. taxpayers “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”
The fee change coincides with resident-only “patriotic fee-free days,” which will exclude foreign tourists from certain free-entry periods, including Veterans Day.
The policy stems from a July executive order from President Donald Trump directing the parks to increase entry fees for foreign visitors and provide U.S. residents preferential access to recreational permits and lotteries.
In its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, the Interior Department projected the surcharge on international visitors could generate more than $90 million annually.
Kati Schmidt, spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, noted that implementation raises questions.
“There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement, including many questions on its implementation – all which NPCA will raise with the Department of Interior,” Schmidt said.