America’s National Parks Set To Charge Foreign Visitors One Hundred Dollar Fee Beginning January First, Shifting How The U.S. Funds And Maintains Its Scenic Landmarks

Published on November 28, 2025

Starting January First, U.S. National Parks will implement a $100 entry fee for foreign visitors, a bold move aimed at addressing the financial challenges of maintaining these iconic sites. The new fee is designed to ensure that international tourists contribute to the preservation and upkeep of America’s natural wonders, helping to secure the necessary funds for infrastructure improvements and conservation efforts. This change marks a major shift in how the U.S. funds its national parks, aligning with global practices of charging higher fees for foreign visitors to popular attractions.

Starting January 1, a new $100 entry fee will be imposed on foreign visitors to some of America’s most famous national parks, including Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and other popular locations. The initiative is intended to increase funding for the upkeep of these parks, which have long been under financial strain. While proponents argue that it’s a necessary move to ensure international visitors contribute to park maintenance, there is concern that this new fee may discourage tourism, particularly from foreign markets.

Under the new policy, foreign tourists will face a per-person charge of $100, along with a sharp increase in the price of an annual parks pass, which will rise to $250 per vehicle. U.S. residents, on the other hand, will continue to pay the current $80 fee for an annual pass. This adjustment brings the United States in line with global standards, where many countries already impose higher fees on foreign visitors to access major attractions.

For many businesses that depend on tourism, this change is generating anxiety. Local establishments, such as the Whistling Swan Motel near Glacier National Park, are concerned about the potential decline in foreign visitors. The motel’s owner, who estimates that around 15% of his guests are international tourists, worries that the added fee will significantly reduce the number of foreign travelers willing to visit the park. Tour operators are also voicing concerns. A Yellowstone tour operator points out that the fee hike will be particularly impactful on the roughly 30% of his clientele who are from overseas. Although the operator expects that tourists will still come to the U.S., the question remains whether they will choose to visit the national parks.

This new fee will also be applied to other major national parks, including Acadia, Bryce Canyon, the Everglades, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Zion, among others. Proponents of the policy argue that it is a fair and practical approach, as it ensures international visitors contribute to the financial support of the parks, which have long been struggling with underfunding.

Supporters also point out that the policy could generate substantial revenue. For instance, Yellowstone National Park alone could raise $55 million annually with the new $100 charge. This additional income would help to address the maintenance backlog in the park, including the repair of aging infrastructure like trails and bridges. Furthermore, some analysts predict that the national parks could generate over $1 billion annually if this fee structure were extended to other park sites across the country, based on the estimated 14 million international visitors who visit U.S. parks each year.

There is a belief that U.S. citizens already contribute enough to park funding through taxes and that the new charges will create a more equitable system for foreign visitors. Other countries, like Ecuador, have similar policies in place, where foreign tourists pay significantly more than locals to visit protected sites. For example, visitors to the Galapagos Islands are charged $200, while Ecuadorian nationals only pay $30.

However, not everyone is supportive of this change. Some employees of the National Park Service have criticized the new fee, arguing that it places an additional burden on already overworked staff. The staff cuts that have occurred in recent years have reduced park personnel by nearly 25%, and critics worry that the new fees will exacerbate the challenges faced by park employees.

Environmental groups are also speaking out against the surcharge, saying that the increased financial burden on foreign tourists could ultimately harm the long-term sustainability of the parks. Critics argue that instead of generating the necessary funding, the fee may turn national parks into exclusive destinations that cater only to the wealthy, thus making these public treasures less accessible to the general public.

The Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, has defended the move, stating that it will help ensure the long-term viability of the parks. The department has also noted that starting in January, they will begin collecting data on international visitors to better understand the impact of the new fees.

In response to the announcement, several Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill in Congress that would formalize the surcharge for foreign visitors. The bill is being led by Representatives from West Virginia and Montana, who believe that the policy is a fair way to ensure international visitors contribute to the parks’ upkeep. They also argue that the policy reflects a “America-first” approach, ensuring that U.S. taxpayers are not solely responsible for the costs of maintaining national parks.

Despite the political and economic debates surrounding the new fee, the broader question remains: will foreign visitors continue to flock to America’s national parks, or will this new fee deter them from experiencing these natural wonders? Only time will tell how the new pricing structure will impact both tourism and the parks themselves.