On November 25, 2025, the US Department of the Interior announced a new fee program aimed at international visitors.
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Starting in 2026, international tourists will pay hiked fees for their annual pass that grants access to the U.S. national park system. The new setup is designed as part of a ‘resident-focused fee structure that puts American families first’, charging $80 to American families and $250 for non-US visitors.
International tourists who visit without the $250 National Park System pass (called the America the Beautiful Pass) will pay the standard entrance fee with a $100 per-person upcharge.
What’s with the change?
While it’s a hefty price jump, the move isn’t totally unprecedented. Around the world, one way that local authorities and hospitality groups have tried to offset overtourism is by hiking fees. The goal is to keep popular activities affordable and accessible to residents while pocketing a bit of extra cash from tourists, which is often used to fund local initiatives.
For example, New Zealand outlined a similar reduced-fee setup for its own natural landmarks network. Japan has also outlined new tourist fee setups for 2026, which will set different fees for a range of infrastructural needs, from visas to nightly taxes.
For the National Parks System, however, it’s also about recouping the $40 million that was lost during the government shutdown. The National Parks System is also adjusting to major cuts made during the summer, which have severely limited resources for staff and visitors alike.
What to know about the new National Park System fee
Obviously, Americans won’t be impacted by this new setup. However, if you know anyone who’s planning to visit the United States and wants to visit its national parks, here’s what they should know.
- The $100 per-person fee only applies to the US’s 11 most popular national parks
- Those parks include: Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park
