The Trump administration is making major changes for international tourists planning a visit to national parks in the United States, including a hike in annual and daily fees for any nonresident visitors starting next year.
The Department of the Interior announced its new “modernized” park access system on Tuesday, which aims to make it easier for U.S. visitors to access national parks.
Among its changes, the Interior is making all annual, military, senior, fourth-grade, and access passes available in digital format, allowing tourists to purchase and use their passes instantly through their mobile devices.
The agency will also be implementing “America-first entry fee policies” by increasing visitor fees for those who do not live in the U.S.
“U.S. residents will continue to enjoy affordable pricing, while nonresidents will pay a higher rate to help support the care and maintenance of America’s parks,” the Interior said in a press release.
Under the current fee structure, annual passes to national parks cost $80 for all visitors. U.S. residents 62 years and older receive a $60 discount, or can purchase a lifetime pass for $80.
Meanwhile, U.S. military personnel and their dependents, U.S. citizens and permanent residents with permanent disabilities, and federal recreation site volunteers can obtain passes for free.
Now, starting Jan. 1, annual passes will still be available for U.S. residents for $80. Nonresidents, however, will be faced with a $250 fee for an annual pass.
Any nonresident visitor who does not have an annual pass but wishes to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, such as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, will have to pay a $100 per person fee in addition to the standard entrance fee.
“President [Donald] Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “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.”
The agency also released new, modernized graphics for all annual passes and expanded “resident-only patriotic fee-free” days for visitors to travel within national parks at no cost.
In 2026, these fee-free days will occur on:
- President’s Day (Feb. 16)
- Memorial Day (May 25)
- Flag Day (June 14)
- Independence Day weekend (July 3-5)
- 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (Aug. 25)
- Constitution Day (Sept. 17)
- Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27)
- Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11)
The decision comes just months after Trump signed an executive order calling for the fee raise.
“To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park system, I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans,” Trump said in July. “The national parks will be about America first.”
Revenue generated from the foreign visitor fees is expected to be used to upgrade visitor facilities, complete essential maintenance, and improve park services nationwide.
While seemingly dedicated to conservation efforts, conservation groups such as the Sierra Club have slammed the administration’s new park access systems, claiming they will put the parks at a disadvantage after being hit with repeated funding and staffing cuts and strain during the government shutdown.
The National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group with nearly 2 million members, estimates that 4,000 staff have been lost since January.
TRUMP ORDERS HIGHER NATIONAL PARK FEES FOR FOREIGN VISITORS
“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,” Seavo James continued. “Without that support, we run the risk of our true common grounds becoming nothing more than playgrounds for the super-rich.”
