US National Park Fee Hike for Foreign Tourists: Impact on Visitors to Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and More, Here’s All You Need to Know

Published on December 5, 2025

A new policy by the Trump administration has stirred significant controversy over whether it is fair for foreign tourists to pay substantially more to visit national parks in the United States. The Interior Department has just announced it is more than doubling the fees for foreign visitors at some of America’s most popular national parks, on the grounds of upgrading and favoring access for American families. Critics counter that these increases go too far and create a two-tier system that could dampen international tourism and have other unintended consequences on the tourism sector and wider economy.

The New Policy: What’s Changing?

The new fee structure set to take effect on January 1, 2026, is described as the most significant modernization of national park access in decades. While fees for domestic visitors remain relatively unchanged, foreign nationals will now face a $100 surcharge per person when entering premier national parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. These parks are among the most visited in the United States and are significant draws for tourists worldwide. For example, a visit to Yellowstone will see the entry fee for foreign families skyrocket from $35 per car to $107 for a carload, with each foreign national required to pay an additional $100 fee.

The Rationale Behind the Fee Increases

According to Doug Burgum, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the primary justification for this drastic price increase is to ensure that international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving the national park system. With the increasing strain on these parks due to rising global tourism, the argument is that foreigners should help shoulder the financial burden of maintaining the parks for future generations.

The policy is presented as a way to put American families first, with Burgum stating that the hikes will help ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already contribute to park funding, continue to enjoy affordable access. This approach reflects a broader nationalistic sentiment, suggesting that American citizens should receive priority when it comes to national resources.

Comparative Pricing: A Global Perspective

While charging foreigners more than locals for access to attractions isn’t unprecedented, the scale of the fee increases in the U.S. is unprecedented in its aggressiveness. Many countries already implement pricing models where residents pay less than international tourists. Iconic locations like Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Great Wall of China offer significantly lower rates for locals compared to foreign visitors, and in some cases, such pricing is seen as a way to compensate local communities for the strain brought by tourism.

On a smaller scale, even local attractions in countries such as the UK, where residents of Bath pay a discounted fee for the city’s rooftop pool, have implemented similar structures. The intention behind these discounts is to provide a reward to locals for the potential disruptions caused by tourism. However, the extent of the surcharge proposed for foreigners in U.S. national parks—particularly the $100 per person fee—raises ethical concerns. Critics argue that this measure goes far beyond fairness, creating a system that might alienate international visitors and discourage tourism.

Impact on Tourism: Could This Policy Backfire?

The new fee structure has raised serious concerns about the impact on international tourism to the United States. For many foreign visitors, the new pricing model may discourage them from visiting the U.S. national parks altogether. For example, a family of five visiting Yellowstone could face an increase from a relatively affordable $35 car fee to a staggering $535, a price tag that could push iconic U.S. parks off the list of many international travelers’ bucket lists.

Travelers seeking to explore the U.S. on a budget will likely reconsider their options, given the increasing financial burden. The $100 surcharge per person creates a disproportionate cost for those who may already be stretching their travel budgets, potentially diminishing the appeal of U.S. national parks in favor of more affordable international destinations.

Potential Workarounds: How Tourists Can Save Money

For foreign visitors planning to visit the U.S. in the coming year, there is a way to avoid the dramatic price hike. Visitors can purchase an annual park pass for $80 before December 31, 2025. This pass will grant access to all of the 11 affected parks at the vehicle rate, which could save visitors from paying the new, per-person fees. For those traveling with family or friends, this could represent significant savings, as the pass covers a vehicle with up to three additional passengers.

However, the price of the annual pass will more than triple to $250 after January 1, 2026, still offering a better deal than the new per-person fees. Even with the pass, international visitors will find that the cost of visiting U.S. parks has risen considerably, potentially diminishing their enthusiasm for American travel.

Unintended Consequences: A Shift Toward Neighboring Destinations

One of the most significant unintended consequences of the fee hike could be a shift in international tourism towards neighboring countries, such as Mexico and Canada. Both countries offer world-class natural attractions comparable to those found in U.S. national parks. In Mexico, the Copper Canyon provides an awe-inspiring natural landscape on par with the Grand Canyon. Canada’s Banff and Jasper National Parks offer stunning mountain vistas and pristine wilderness areas, often at more affordable entry costs.

These destinations could become even more attractive to international travelers, who may now view the U.S. as an expensive, less hospitable option for outdoor exploration. This shift could bolster the economies of these neighboring countries, while reducing the revenue that the U.S. national parks would have received from foreign tourists.

The Political and Economic Fallout: Will the Policy Be Reversed?

The new fee increases have sparked outrage from the tourism industry, and many in the travel sector are predicting a backlash. Tourism associations and businesses in the U.S. may push back against the policy, arguing that it will hurt their bottom line and discourage international visitors from coming to America. While U.S. citizens might benefit from the preferential pricing, the impact on the broader tourism economy—both in the parks and the surrounding regions—could be damaging in the long run.

In addition, if international visitors begin avoiding U.S. parks, the resulting loss of revenue could push the government to reconsider the policy. As tourism to the U.S. falls, American businesses that rely on the influx of foreign tourists may advocate for a return to more equitable pricing models.

The Future of U.S. National Parks and International Tourism

While understandable, the intention-behind-the-fee hikes prioritizing U.S. citizens and ensuring that tourists pay their fair share toward park maintenance-the approach might be too extreme in the case of the Trump administration. The increased expenses will supposedly keep many international tourists away from visiting the U.S., and this could affect the entire tourism industry, as well as the economy in general. As more foreign travelers see the wonders of Mexico and Canada, among other neighboring countries, the U.S. will perhaps finally begin to experience the economic repercussions of exclusionary policies. The fallout of the pricing structure will continue to evolve, and it remains to be seen whether the policy will be reversed once the full impact becomes clear.