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3w ago

Interior Sets Residency-Based Park Fees for 2026, Adding $100 Surcharge for Foreign Visitors

Officials say the higher nonresident charges will be reinvested in park maintenance and services to keep access affordable for U.S. taxpayers.

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Yosemite will be among 11 national parks to have “America-first” entry policies
Visitors watch a sunset on a rock ledge near Taft Point in Yosemite National Park, Calif., Oct. 30, 2025. Photo by Stephen Lam /AP /Postmedia News
A Yosemite National Park sign is seen in El Portal on Oct. 31, 2025. Foreign tourists will face a $100 surcharge and a $250 annual pass under new “America-first” fees at Yosemite and 10 other major U.S. national parks.

Overview

  • Starting Jan. 1, 2026, non‑U.S. residents will pay a $100 per‑person surcharge at 11 high‑traffic national parks, and $250 for an annual pass, while U.S. resident pricing remains unchanged at $80.
  • Impacted parks include Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
  • New resident‑only fee‑free days in 2026 include Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day (which the department notes is President Trump’s birthday), Independence Day weekend, the NPS 110th birthday, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday and Veterans Day.
  • Access is being modernized with fully digital America the Beautiful passes via Recreation.gov, redesigned physical passes featuring George Washington and Donald Trump, and expanded coverage allowing two motorcycles per pass; some outlets report ZIP code and photo ID checks for resident pricing.
  • The changes follow a July executive order from President Trump and arrive as international visitation has been declining, with park advocates and gateway businesses warning of potential economic impacts and questioning whether new fee revenue will offset recent staffing cuts and shutdown-related losses.