U.S. National Parks to Introduce Tiered Pricing for International Visitors
The U.S. Interior Department has announced that the National Park Service will begin charging international tourists a higher entrance fee to visit some of the country’s most popular national parks. As of January 1, foreign visitors will be required to pay $100 per person to enter 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. This change aims to ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who support the park service, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving the parks.
Impact on International Visitors and U.S. Residents
The new pricing structure will also affect the cost of annual parks passes for international visitors, which will increase to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to pay $80. It’s worth noting that only approximately 100 of the over 400 parks in the national park system collect an entrance fee. The Interior Department estimates that this surcharge on international visitors will generate more than $90 million annually, which will be used to support the national parks, including upgrading facilities and maintenance.
The announcement follows a July executive order by President Donald Trump, directing the parks to increase entry fees for foreign tourists and give U.S. residents “preferential treatment” over foreign visitors regarding recreational access rules. The U.S. Travel Association reported that in 2018, national parks and monuments saw more than 14 million international visitors, with Yellowstone alone receiving nearly 15% of its visitors from outside the country in 2024.
Implementation and Response
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has expressed concerns about the implementation of the new fees, stating that there are many questions that need to be raised with the Department of Interior. The NPCA spokesperson, Kati Schmidt, emphasized the need for clarity on the implementation of the new fees. The U.S. Travel Association has also noted that the new fees may impact the number of international visitors to the national parks.
The “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” will include Veterans Day, which was previously one of the parks’ eight free days open to everyone. The Department of the Interior had announced these days to ensure that “everyone, no matter their zip code, can access and enjoy the benefits of green spaces and our public lands.” The new tiered pricing structure is set to take effect on January 1, and the money generated from the increased fees will be used to support the national parks.
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