The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced sweeping changes (opens in new tab) to national park access beginning New Year’s Day, kicking off the country’s semiquincentennial year with higher prices for international visitors and nonresidents.
The annual America the Beautiful pass, which covers entrance and day-use fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites, will continue to cost $80 for U.S. residents. Starting in the new year, however, it will cost $250 for nonresidents.
Additionally, nonresidents will be charged $100 to enter 11 of the most-visited parks, including two in California: Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon. The higher fee will also apply to Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Zion.
An Interior Department spokesperson said the revenue from passes purchased online will support the entire parks system, while on-site purchases will “primarily benefit the park where they are sold. This revenue will help keep our parks beautiful and running well, including for [addressing] the deferred maintenance backlog.”
The spokesperson described the nonresident surcharge as “a small fraction of total trip costs (airfare, lodging, transport) for foreign tourists” and said the hike is a “response to the President’s Executive Order that directed us to improve the affordability of visiting national parks for U.S. residents and increase fees on nonresidents visiting national parks to help fund our parks.”
The department said the changes reflect President Donald Trump’s commitment to making national parks more accessible for American families while generating additional revenue for park maintenance and improvements.
“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,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said.
The department also touted free days, when all National Park Service sites waive entry fees, but said that offer would apply only to U.S. citizens and residents.
The department announced eight free days in 2026, including Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and July 3-5. National parks will also be free for U.S. residents to enter on Aug. 25, the National Park Service’s 110th anniversary; Sept. 17, Constitution Day; and the birthdays of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Trump.
Physical and digital passes will be sold at Recreation.gov (opens in new tab). Annual passes, including those for military members, seniors, and grade-school students, will move to a digital format.
National parks have endured a turbulent year, beginning with deep staffing cuts carried out by the Trump administration. Yosemite saw the firing of a ranger and a ban on flags over a certain size. And a record 43-day government shutdown saw several parks under-staffed while employees were furloughed and, in some cases, damaged by vandals (opens in new tab).