New US National Parks Fees For International Visitors Draw Scrutiny

U.S. citizenship will determine how expensive it is to access America’s national parks beginning next year, the Interior Department announced yesterday. Prices for non-U.S. residents to purchase an “America the Beautiful” pass, which grants the holder access to all of the country’s national parks for a year, will more than triple, rising from $80 to $250.

The department is also instituting a new $100 fee for non-U.S. residents who visit one of the county’s 11 most popular parks, most of which are located in the western half of the country. The new changes go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

“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,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, in a press release accompanying the announcement.

Charging higher fees for non-U.S. visitors is not a new idea, but the announcement was met with skepticism from environmental groups, who fear the price change could threaten revenue for the National Park Service, which is already reeling from significant staffing cuts imposed by President Donald Trump’s second administration. 

“Donald Trump is setting the Park Service up to fail,” said Gerry Seavo James, deputy campaign director for the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. “For nearly a year, the Trump administration has worked to undermine the National Park Service, slashing its budget and firing its dedicated staff. Gouging foreign tourists at the entrance gate won’t provide the financial support these crown jewels of our public lands need. Without that support, we run the risk of our true common grounds becoming nothing more than playgrounds for the super-rich.”

Others say how the Interior Department would implement these fee changes will go a long way towards determining whether they are successful in raising more revenue for parks while keeping visitation high. 

Emily Thompson, executive director of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a nonprofit comprised of former National Park Service employees, worried that, if rolled out poorly, the proposal could create chaos at park entrances.

“We might already be operating with less staff in these fee booths,” she said. “How are we gonna confirm who’s a U.S. citizen here? Does it imply that American citizens are gonna have to bring their passports to prove residency? I struggle to understand how that’s gonna work practically.”

Affordability was another of her concerns. Thompson, a former park ranger now married with two kids, tried to imagine what it would be like for a four-person family to visit the U.S. and go from paying a $35 per vehicle fee, a common price to enter most parks that is not determined by citizenship status, to having to pay an additional $400 for the family to visit a popular park.

“This isn’t a minor increase. This is clearly meant to make a statement,” she said. “I do worry that it’ll deter folks from coming to national parks, which is gonna hurt local economies, too.”

According to a New York Times report, foreigners authorized to live in the U.S. will not be charged the new fees.

Some businesses operating in the orbit of national parks also wonder how the new rules will play out on the ground. “I do see the possibility that it could put my staff in some awkward situations,” said Taylor Phillips, founder and president of Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures, an outfitter that leads trips in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, in reference to potential new protocols at gates to determine who is a U.S. citizen.

But Phillips still thinks that visiting a National Park is a great deal for anyone, even with the new fees. “International visitors are [already] paying for gas or airfare, hotels, meals. An extra hundred bucks, I don’t think that’s gonna make a significant impact.”

He was more concerned about a new online purchase the Interior Department announced yesterday. At least 80 percent of the fees collected at an entrance gate go back to the park, but any purchase made online goes to the agency in Washington, D.C., Phillips said. “I’m concerned that park units will see fewer of those dollars,” he said.

“We just need to be thoughtful and need to ensure the dollars actually reach the parks that need them,” Phillips continued. “That’s how we keep these places world class for everyone.”

The Interior Department also announced changes to passes for motorcyclists, more free-entry days for American citizens and revamped park pass designs.

Two of the new designs feature images of Trump.