U.S. National Parks To Implement One Hundred Dollar Fee Increase For International Tourists, Supporting Beautiful Park Upgrades And Sustainable Maintenance

Published on November 26, 2025

Starting in 2026, U.S. National Parks will introduce a $100 fee increase for international tourists, a move designed to support essential upgrades and ensure the long-term sustainability of these iconic sites. The increase will directly contribute to the preservation of natural landscapes, enhanced visitor experiences, and ongoing infrastructure improvements, making the parks more accessible while safeguarding their beauty for future generations.

The National Park Service (NPS) has recently announced a significant change in its entry fee policies, which will begin in January 2026. As part of an initiative dubbed “America-first entry fee policies,” international tourists visiting some of the United States’ most iconic national parks will be required to pay an additional $100. This fee hike, aimed at addressing the increasing financial challenges facing the National Parks system, will also introduce a more distinct separation between residents and non-residents when it comes to fee-free days.

The National Park Service has long been a vital institution, offering visitors a chance to experience the beauty and grandeur of the United States’ vast natural landscapes. However, as national parks continue to grapple with a series of financial difficulties, including severe budget cuts and a major reduction in staffing, the need to generate more revenue has become apparent. The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, highlighted the financial strain caused by the recent government shutdown. During this period, parks were unable to collect entry fees, further exacerbating the budgetary issues the system already faced.

Starting January 1, 2026, the fee changes will affect 11 high-traffic national parks, including some of the country’s most famous and heavily visited locations such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. These parks, which attract millions of visitors each year, will see the entry fee for international tourists rise significantly. International tourists will now be required to pay an additional $100 when entering these parks, a policy aimed at increasing revenue. The money generated from these fees will be allocated to the parks to help fund improvements, including upgrades to visitor facilities and essential maintenance projects.

In addition to the individual entry fee changes, the cost of an annual parks pass for international tourists will also rise. Starting in 2026, foreign visitors will be required to pay $250 for an annual parks pass, up from the previous price of $80. Meanwhile, U.S. residents will continue to pay the standard $80 for their annual pass. This shift in pricing is designed to help cover the increased operational costs faced by the National Park Service while still ensuring that U.S. residents are not burdened with the higher fees that international visitors will face.

The impact of these changes is expected to be significant, particularly for international tourism to national parks. In 2018, the U.S. Travel Association reported that national parks and monuments attracted over 14 million international visitors. This figure was a considerable portion of the parks’ total visitor numbers and a major contributor to the overall revenue generated by these natural wonders. However, in recent years, international visitation has declined. In 2024, Yellowstone, one of the most visited national parks in the United States, reported that just 15% of its visitors were from abroad. This is a notable decrease from 2018 when international visitors accounted for approximately 30% of the park’s total visitors.

While the number of international visitors has decreased in recent years, the National Park Service anticipates that the fee increases will help to generate the necessary funds to address maintenance backlogs and enhance the overall visitor experience at these popular parks. The funds will also be used to support the parks in the wake of challenges posed by staffing reductions, aging infrastructure, and the need for enhanced sustainability initiatives.

A key component of the new fee structure will be the introduction of “resident-only patriotic fee-free days,” which will be designated specifically for U.S. residents. These fee-free days will not apply to international visitors, who will be required to pay the new entry fees regardless of the date. The Department of the Interior has announced that Veterans Day, traditionally one of the parks’ eight free days for all visitors, will now be reserved exclusively for U.S. residents. This shift is part of a broader effort to ensure that U.S. residents, who fund the parks through taxes and other contributions, have better access to these national treasures. The Department of the Interior emphasized that this change would allow for a greater emphasis on “America-first” policies, ensuring that the benefits of public lands are more readily available to residents of the United States.

The introduction of resident-only fee-free days is designed to provide a tangible benefit to U.S. residents while simultaneously ensuring that the parks remain financially viable. These fee-free days will also include key holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day, further emphasizing the importance of making the parks accessible to U.S. citizens. The Department of the Interior has stressed that these days are intended to allow “everyone, no matter their zip code, to access and enjoy the benefits of green spaces and public lands,” a reflection of the importance of national parks in the fabric of American life.

While these changes may be met with some resistance from international tourists, they reflect the ongoing financial challenges faced by the National Park Service. With a growing backlog of infrastructure projects and an increasing need for park maintenance, the revenue generated from the new fees is essential for the continued operation and improvement of these iconic sites. The policy shift also highlights the prioritization of U.S. residents, whose support is vital to the preservation and maintenance of public lands.

U.S. National Parks will raise fees by $100 for international tourists starting in 2026, with the additional funds supporting critical park upgrades and long-term sustainability efforts. This increase aims to enhance visitor experiences while preserving the parks’ natural beauty for future generations.

As these new policies take effect in 2026, the National Park Service will continue to monitor the impact on both international and domestic visitors. The revenue generated from these changes will be reinvested into the parks, helping to ensure that they remain accessible and enjoyable for generations to come. While the changes may initially be difficult for some visitors to accept, the long-term goal is to create a sustainable funding model that allows the parks to thrive and provide an unforgettable experience for all.