The U.S. National Park Service says it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular sites, while leaving them out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents. The fee change will impact 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The announcement declaring “America-first entry fee policies” follows a July executive order in which Donald Trump directed the parks to increase entry fees for foreign tourists.
A White House post on X laying out the increased fees ended with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.”
As part of the changes, which are set to take effect Jan. 1, foreign tourists will also see their annual parks pass price jump to US$250, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80, according to the department’s statement.
Current sample fees (valid for seven days) at the Grand Canyon are $35 per private vehicle, and $20 for pedestrians or cyclists.
The fee hike comes as national parks deal with the strain of a major staff reduction and severe budget cuts, along with recovering from damage during the recent government shutdown and significant lost revenue due to fees not being collected during that time.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on the social platform X that the changes make sure U.S. taxpayers who support the park service “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations!”
The U.S. Travel Association estimated that in 2018, national parks and monuments saw more than 14 million international visitors. Yellowstone reported that in 2024, nearly 15% of its visitors were from outside the country, which was down from 30% in 2018.
The money made off the new fees will help support the national parks, including with upgrading facilities for visitors and maintenance, according to the statement.
Among the several “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” are Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, and National Public Lands Day.
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