Those planning to visit U.S. national parks from outside the country will have to pay stiffer fees in 2026. New rules announced Tuesday, Nov. 25, will require an additional $100 for non-U.S. residents entering 11 of the country’s most popular national parks. The fee will be charged in addition to the standard park entrance fee.
The higher fee will apply to the following national parks: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.
International tourists will also face increased prices for annual passes. Currently, anyone can purchase an America the Beautiful pass for $80; in 2026, non-U.S. residents will be charged $250 for the same pass. Further, non-residents will be excluded from the park system’s eight “fee-free holidays” for U.S. residents next year. In the past, international visitors paid the same entrance fees as U.S. residents and were also allowed to enter for free on holidays.
There is no change to the fees charged to U.S. residents in 2026.
National Parks Facing Shortfall
In a statement to GearJunkie, a representative from the Interior Department said that the “revenue will help keep our parks beautiful and running well, including to address the deferred maintenance backlog. The nonresident surcharge is a small fraction of total trip costs (airfare, lodging, transport) for international tourists.”
Those buying an annual pass will need to provide their ZIP code and a photo I.D. for the U.S. resident price.
The increased cost for international visitors, meanwhile, “will be invested directly back into America’s national parks, supporting upgrades to visitor facilities, essential maintenance, and improved services nationwide,” according to the announcement.
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in the news release. “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.”
Additional funds for national parks are deeply needed for ongoing maintenance backlogs, according to park advocates. The Trump administration’s proposed budget for 2026 included deep cuts to the National Park Service, and according to the National Parks Conservation Association, an estimated $41 million was lost during the protracted government shutdown that ended this month.
New Look Pass
In addition to the fee changes, the DOJ announced a new annual pass for the national parks that includes both Trump’s and George Washington’s faces. This stirred some consternation among conservationists, who prefer past passes that featured native flora and fauna instead of political leaders.
Regardless, the White House maintains that its new policies benefit U.S. taxpayers. As a DOJ representative reminded GearJunkie, annual passes will also now admit two motorcycles instead of one, “making national park adventures more accessible for riders and families who travel on two wheels.”
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