The U.S. National Park Service has declared it will be charging international tourists an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular national parks, and leaving them out of fee-free days which will be reserved for American residents. The announcement, which declares “America-first entry fee policies” comes as National Parks are facing major staff reductions and budget cuts, while also recovering from damage due to a government shutdown.
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 changes will take effect from Jan 1. Foreign tourists will be charged $250 for their annual parks pass, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80. Foreign tourists who don’t purchase the pass will pay a $100-per-person fee, in addition to the standard entrance fee, to enter.
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“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 in the statement.
A White House post on X laying out the increased fees ended with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.”
This comes following a July executive order by President Donald Trump, where he directed national parks to increase the fee for foreign tourists.
“There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement, including many questions on its implementation – all which NPCA will raise with the Department of Interior,” Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email.
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This comes amid a decline in international tourism to the U.S., brought on by changes to the tariff policy and immigration crackdowns, according to CNN. Yellowstone has reported a decrease in international visitation, down from approximately 30% in 2018 to 14.8% in 2024.
In addition to this, the government shutdown saw an already-depleted National Park Service struggle to upkeep some of nation’s parks due to limited staffing and fewer resources. According to a recent estimate by the National Parks Conservation Association, parks lost roughly $41 million in uncollected entrance and recreation fees during the government shutdown.
The Interior Department’s statement also mentioned “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” for next year which includes Memorial Day, Fourth of July Independence Day weekend and June 14, “Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday.” The launch of an upgraded booking system and better access for motorcyclists across the parks was also announced, described as “the most significant modernization of national park access in decades.”