Foreign tourists visiting popular U.S. national parks will be required to pay extra fees and increase the price of annual passes next year, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced Tuesday.
In a statement, the department welcomed “a new, resident-focused pricing structure that puts American families first,” saying that as of January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents will have to pay $250 to obtain an annual pass, more than triple the standard $80 that U.S. residents will continue to pay.
Foreign tourists who do not purchase a pass will pay an admission fee of $100 per person on top of the standard admission price to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the statement. The department co-manages the America the Beautiful Path series, which manages more than 70 percent of all federal public lands.
“These policies will continue to provide affordable access for American taxpayers who already support the National Park System, while allowing international visitors to contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our national parks for future generations,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
The rationale behind the new prices is summarized in a White House social media post, which states, “Americans are getting affordable prices, while foreigners are paying more.”
The price hikes announced today come amid a decline in international tourism to the United States due to changes in customs policy and immigration crackdowns. Yellowstone has reported a decline in international visitors, dropping from about 30% in 2018 to 14.8% in 2024.
The increases also come on the heels of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, with an already depleted National Park Service struggling to maintain some national parks with limited staffing and dwindling resources.
The National Park Conservation Association recently estimated that parks lost about $41 million in uncollected admission and recreation fees during the government shutdown.
The Interior Department statement also highlighted next year’s “Resident-Only Patriotic Free Days,” including Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend, and June 14th, “Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday.” The launch of an upgraded reservation system and improved access for motorcyclists across the park was also announced, described as “the most significant modernization of access to national parks in decades”.
Other countries, such as Egypt, Thailand and Cambodia, also charge higher entrance fees to foreign tourists visiting their national parks and tourist attractions.
